please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Yes it is indeed CLOSED. I'm not at all surprised (See my previous review.)
It is now student accommodation.
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'tis no more. RIP
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Made a trip to this secluded place and must agree its hard to find if you don't ask the right person. Looks like its up for sale which is a shame because its a nice pub that backs on to a bowling green. Only one real ale on which was Timothy taylor which was ok. Maybe worth a visit if your walking to the beer fest this weekend.
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Traditional, relatively unspoilt boozer in an incongruous location on the edge of the town centre. It lies just outside the ring road in an area of modern developments, and seems to be the only original building left standing, it was probably once mid-terrace. As such it's pretty difficult to find.
Inside, the pub has retained a multi-roomed layout, with a vault with pool table and a curious snug in the middle of the pub, surrounded by rooms on both sides. Two larger areas are connected to this, the second with a raised area where an LP playing session was being planned- good luck to that.
Unlike the previous reporter, I found real ale to be available on my visit, in the form of Landlord and Greene King. Moorhouses Pride of Pendle was turned round. Landlord was in decent nick.
It was quiet on a Wednesday afternoon but I imagine it gets busier later on. In the GBG 2011.
Worth a visit in my view, especially if you're doing a crawl around Bolton.
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Strange goings on at the Howcroft called last night and no cask beers at all. Hope another closure isnt in the offing ?
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Terrible!! The beer was cloudy (Banktop) so I took it back to ask for a replacement. The lady nearly bit my head off claiming that Banktop is always cloudy!!
I have been supping banktop for 8 years and have been on numerous brewery trips and have not once had a cloudy flatcap. Her attitude stunk somewhat rotten, so much so that i will NEVER frequent that place again. When I said its not cloudy in Barristers or Wetherspoons she replied that they probably water it down. How ludicrous?
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In tonight for an fine couple of Bank Top Santas Claws followed by TT's Landlord. Excellent night with a fire roaring in the snug!
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Oh dear two recent visits and the Landlord pump was dry! Hope this isn't a sign of things to come!
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Back in on a fairly regular basis and beers up to scratch. Could do with a good tidy up outside.
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I hope people will support the Local Pubs Week and come and see us for a game of bowls on Wednesday 29th July @7pm, Fun Quiz on Friday 31st July 8pm, Poker night on Sunday 2nd August 7pm and try out our fantastic cask ales including Bank top new brew Barley to Beer
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Been in several times since my last report. Taylors Landlord always up to scratch and cheerful staff. Pleased to see the snug fireplace is back in use.
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Called in last night, not been for ages. A decent pub, 4 well kept cask ales and a welcome escape from the usual town centre pubs! Worth a visit.
alexw - 22 Mar 2009 10:02 |
I am the new landlady of the Howcroft Inn and am pleased to see the reviews are now improving. We are hoping to bring the pub back to life and people will come in and enjoy the facilities we offer i.e. real ale, home cooked food, open fires and a wam welcome. Thankyou for the support we have been receiving it has been a fantastic start to our new venture. The new telephone number if you wish to contact us is 01204 366042.
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Glad to see this great pub back open again. Called in last night for a drink and had a good chat to the very pleasant new landlady - definitely got the feeling that the new owners want to recapture the pub's former charm, and this can only be great news for the many people for whom the Howcroft used to be a regular haunt. Place looks a lot cleaner than in recent times too. Sky Sports and Setanta on as well for the sports fans - look forward to Rugby League Fridays and the live Wanderers games in there again!
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In early on Saturday and had 3 excellent pints of Landlord. Quiet when we arrived but filling up when we left about 21:00. Good luck to them I hope its a new lease of life for this fine boozer.
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We called last night to see what's what and alas the landlady told us the Taylor Landlord and Black Sheep weren't ready. We declined the offer of John Smiths Smooth but we'll be back there shortly.
Nice to see the place lit up again and cleaned up inside.
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Does anybody know who runs the pub now? the names?
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The Howcroft has re-opened under new managment. The pub has been spruced up somewhat and the new landlord &landlady are friendly and experienced. The landlord will be putting the real beer back on as soon as possible. As a long standing regular of this pub I wish them both well and and hope to enjoy many an evening at the bar!
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A sad end indeed, perhaps if the landlord had listened to the "real ale fundamentalists" instead of catering for the lowest common denominator it may still be a thriving pub.
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Called last night and the place was locked up the usual 'Business Opportunity' board displayed outside. A sad end.
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I'm sorry to hear if the pub is having difficulties, and would be interested to hear the latest news.
I visited the pub on August 2008, I thought it was pretty well preserved and entirely recognisable as the special place (you could call it a miraculous place) it was 20 years ago when I was a more frequent visitor. It had one real ale on, Bank Top, a Bolton-brewed ale, so what's wrong with that, better than the Walkers of old. The bowling green looked like it was still looked after, again a remarkable survival.
A pub like this ought to be preserved by the National Trust or someone, but in the absence of that I hope the freeholder does the right thing by the place. I thought the landlord was doing OK and entirely undeserving of too much over-the-top vitriol from real ale fundamentalists.
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The comments below by Howcroft are most odd, the Howcroft is currently shut and has been for the last couple of days, there is a sign outside simply saying it is closed until further notice. Local rumours are the landlord has done a bunk, I hope this is not the case.
Either way, hardly the sign of a thriving pub.
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I would like to thank the persons who made the comments about the Howcroft. The Howcroft is still the same character pub that it has been over the years. Myself and wife have been the new tenants since March and have changed nothing to the interior. We have however added extras such as Sky Sports, pool tables and team football (The Howcroft Elite). We still hold small functions with bookings up to January next year.
We do have a variety of cask beers, including the new Bank Top award winning Dark Mild. We still serve food daily and do an excellent Sunday roast at �6 per head for 3 courses, �4.50 for OAP's and children.
The only change this year, is that the beer festival is being held at the Rugby Club. The reasons for this, are unbeknown to us.
The Howcroft will be holding its own beer festival at the same time, for those people who have supported the original festival over the last 10 years. There will be no charge for entry and we hope to carry on the festival over the years to come.
All the best and Thanks,
Joe & Joan, Landlord and Landlady of the Howcroft Inn, Bolton
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Never has a pub fallen so fast.
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Not hosting this years beer festival is the final nail in this pubs coffin, can't be long now before its shut and advertised for "re-development".
A shame but its hard to see how the Howcroft could ever recover
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This used to be a lovely pub serving a good variety of real ale and providing a good atmosphere. It is now run by an ignorant landlord who seems to have no interest in getting to know his customers and as a result now only serves one real ale and four "super cold" lagers.
I did keep popping in hoping for improvement, but the last time I did, they had run out of the one ale they still serve, and there was a group of teenagers cheering as they punched a punchbag arcade machine.
The general clientelle has gone very much down hill, and this is just one of many reasons I shall not be going back there. A while ago I would have recommended this pub to anyone, but now I would advise you to go elsewhere.
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Having witnessed the decline of a once fine pub, I was heartened when the present landlord took over. Alas, my optimism was misplaced. A few visits have confirmed that Flat Cap is to be the only offering. I will not be hurrying back.
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Two recent visits revealed only 1 cask pump with the poverty Flatcap on draught, finished up drinking bottled at the Doffcocker. I hope we arent going to see a similar decline as with the Kings Head at Dean.
Sad to see the Howcroft go this way it used to be a gem in a sea of mediocrity.
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Been an excellent pub in a run down area for a long time. We've had parties and a wake there in the past. Beer is (always) great and I find the staff (and locals)friendly and pleasant with genuine character!
However...it is a little run down, and certainly the upholstery in the little snug opposite the bar is dirty (my wife was not impressed) and needs a spruce up!
Must admit have not visited in the last month to comment on any management changes. Pubs like this need our support to survive!! Overall 7.
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I was in a few days ago and the barmaid told me there had been a change of manager.Certainly looked a lot cleaner no rubbish or remnants of previous meals maturing on the carpet.
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I used to spend a lot of time here and the place has a license to make money. Went bakc there recently after two years overseas and couldn't believe my eyes. I don't know if Clive still owns this place but he needs to spend some money and get a decent manager in. I went there mid week, the manager and his mate were stuffing their faces with chinese takeaway while we wanted serving, there was gartbage bags piled up in the back room and no interest from any of the bar staff, too busy checking out their facebook. gone downhill rapid
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Just recieved this in a Pm from the landlord
boltonbloke you seem to be very negative about pubs in Bolton. not one good comment in ages. karaoke on a saturday night the pub trade is hard enough now to make money with the added tax and cheap beer in supermarkets so us landlords will offer differet nights to make money - the karaoke has been very popular so will continue at The Howcroft Inn!
You (the landlord) seem to have missed the point of the Howcroft, its a drinking mans pub and should not need gimicks, it never did before you took over and the beer was decent........
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Now advertising karaoke every Saturday night, Has the landlord lost his marbels?
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The beer may be good but the place is filthy, you would not want to sit on any of those seats with clean clothes on.
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New landlord has taken over - he is a charming and fantastic guy, well worth the visit, nothng has changed and he assured me nothing will, a hidden secret. pay it a visit - well worth it
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Easily the best pub in Bolton probably helped by being out of the centre. Excellent staff.
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Excellent beer in a hidden away corner of Bolton. Good food as well. Assorted clientele, a great place to sample real beer in a real pub with a real atmosphere.
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Bank Top Volunteer was excellent, and things were improved by a friendly, knowledgeable and charming barmaid. No teenagers in sight on either of two visits, so I'm a supporter of the 'hidden gem' school of thought.
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Around 10 abusive drunken early teenagers on the carpark last night throwing their cans and bottles around. The landlord was reluctant to deal with the matter and as our nominated driver was worried about his car we were forced to leave early. A bad show that has left us in no huury to return.
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A hidden gem of a pub with real old world charm retaining many of its original fixtures and fittings. Excellent real ales served by friendly efficent staff, a must if you are in the Bolton area!
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Was shocked not find this added to the directory! This place has been a consistently good pub for years. Clive, the landlord, organises and hosts the Bolton Beer Festival every year, which is held on his bowling green out back. Sounds small but is in fact huge! It is a 5 day event with over 100 beers.
The pub normally has 3 hand-pulled beer taps. One is often Timmy Taylor's Landlord, the other two being shared by a local Bolton independent [Bank Top] and another independent from anywhere in the country. Is a great place to try beers you will have hardly ever heard of or seen.
Food selection is basic, but well prepared and good value.
Interior decor is beautiful, like being transported back to the turn of the twentieth century. Wood panelling and fittings throughout.
No music so is a place where you can chat andve a drink in peace.
Check out Clive's other pub, The Hope and Anchor Inn, 744, Chorley Old Road. This place stocks Lees Bitter and a great pint it is. Friendly, cosy locals pub.
Mark - 18 Aug 2004 08:34 |
