please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Oh dear, how things change.
I'm sure this pub was in the Good Beer Guide a few years ago.
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A missed opportunity. A great looking buiding, nicely renovated inside the other year - but insists on serving keg beers only aiming at those drinkers who aren't bothered about what it tastes like as long as it's cheap. I think this comes down to the policy of whichever company owns it . Would attract so many other drinkers in if it sold the right product.
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Why is all the beer super chilled?
Awful stuff, cross the road to the Crown for a decent pint with actual flavour.
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No real ales on despite the comment made over a year ago now.
This pub is best decribed by a four letter word begining in S, ending in T and its not soot.
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Was in there Saturday & was a very good night
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Don't suppose they fancy coming back? Its never been the same since they left
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Any old Toll Bar regulars from the 80's and 90's may like to know that I met former landlord & landlady George and Daphne today - both are looking well 12 years into their retirement from the pub.
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No real ale at present.
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Great news about the cask ale, will definitely come in and give it a try. Good to see that an effort is obviously being made to match what has already been achieved with the building and decor.
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ladbehindbar, thats good news about the real ale but what a shame you've felt the need to stoop to the "if you don't like it don't come in" mentality.
The pub may have changed, what a pity the management haven't.
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thanks too everyone who's wished us good luck so far the pub is on the up the dickheads have kept away and for all you real ale drinkers call sometime in feb cos its on its way in. as for the loud music its hardly on and the banging tunes will never be played again and if it is too loud have you not got a voice all it takes is too ask. it also is'nt aimed at "the drinker whose priority is how much the beer is rather than the quality." if you think its shit then say so but all i get told is that its nice tasting. anyway am sure i'll get some bad replys but do you know what if it really pisses you off that much dont bother comeing in.
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What a diference the Toll Bar has made to the beer and service that other pubs in Horwich have negleted to do in the past.A pleasant atmosphere and good service.Totally turned itself around inside and out.Many others would no doubt agree that certain other pubs in Horwich need to bring themselves upto speed and follow the example set by the Toll Bar(WELL DONE!). Riky.
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I agree with boltonbloke in that effort has been put into the pub itself, what a shame that it has been aimed at the drinker whose priority is how much the beer is rather than the quality. Maybe it is a reflection of the current financial situation, but a quality cask beer on sale would, I think, justify itself by the drinkers who would use the pub as a result. At least it is still a pub and not a restaurant or another boarded up former pub.
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Now reopen.
I really wanted to hate this place but I have to say despite the wide screen Tv's constantly showing sports it looks very smart indeed, definantly the smartest pub in Horwich. Lets hope it stays that way and they keep the idiots out, dropping sales of alchopops would be a good start.
What a great pity then they haven't chosen to put any real ales on, they could have been on to a real winner here
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Perhaps Yamato Horwich gets the pubs it deserves...!
Anyway hope it go's ok
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The mural which once proudly adorned the Toll Bar has been removed in what can only be described as an act of cultural vandalism. Has it been replaced by something even better? No of course not, this is Horwich and what we have now is a list of the classy beverages on offer including Carling, John Smiths and Alco Pops. Absolute class, why not rename the place "The Scumbag Arms". Sorry to be so negative, but what is wrong with the Toll Bar returning to its halcyon days of good beer and the best jukebox in Horwich. How long I wonder before there is a return to some pimply youth spinning the decks playing 'top toons' to an equally pimply group of tracksuited trash.
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I have to say that when I first saw the rather smart new signage for the pub I was feeling somewhat optimistic. This mood was however very short lived when I read that the pub will have wall to wall football. What sort of people will this attract? As boltonbloke has noted, the football theme failed miserably at the Queens. Why repeat a formula that obviously does not work? Surely the key to success is the quality of the beer, here the Toll Bar could steal a march on the competition (such as it is)and become a real haven for the serious beer drinker. The alternative is something of a self fulfilling prophesy, fill the place with noisy lager swilling yobs and it will turn into a carbon copy of the Queens.
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Come on yamato give her a chance first and lets see what happens before we make premature judgments, I do take your point about a simple no frills pub though, isn't that what Sams bar is supposed to be?. This pub has all the right elements to be a great pub, it even has parking, not that a serious drinker would be driving I hope, Good luck to the landlady, I assume she is the same one as before the refurb?, lets hope that the ale is ok and that music isnt to loud, once again good luck, you will need it to run a busy pub in Horwich theese days.
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Unfortunately, it appears that the rumours concerning the redevelopment of the Toll Bar are true. The new signage adorning the pub advertises it a having large screen televisions showing Setanta Sports. What a great shame, another opportunity to do something positive with this pub missed. No doubt all the gobshites who until recently frequented the Albert and the Queens will relocate here. Why oh why is it all to much to ask for a simple no frills pub selling decent beer. Horwich does not need another chav paradise complete with wall to wall football and super chilled 'premium' lager. Typical Horwich, no imagination.
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I could not agree more with boltonbloke's sentiments. Why do most pubs in Horwich cater for either chavvy gobshites or rednecks. The one notable exception is the Crown which unfortunately is let down bt its revolting (Holts) beer. Could I suggest that the pub chain looking at the Toll Bar should take some ideas from the Crescent and the New Oxford in Salford, not forgetting of course the Ship and Mitre in Liverpool. Perhaps they may be inspired to provide something decent in this otherwise lacklustre town. Alas, not much hope of that as what we will inevitably get is another burberry paradise complete with super chilled lager and wall to wall football. I would rather the place was turned into flats.
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Rumoured to have been bought out by a major pub chain and down for a much needed overhall.
Unfortunantley if the Rumours are to be believed that involves a football themed re-fit and large screen Tv's throughout.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't that idea tried and the Queens a few years ago with disastrous results? It became a Mecca for every dickhead for miles around.
Here's a whacky idea, why not re-fit it in the theme of a nice pub were you could take your wife for a pleasent drink surrounded by pleasent people?
That would be a real novelty in Horwich
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CAN,T comment again Sue did try to give you some support but I,ve upset FENNEL
Twiga - 21 May 2008 17:18 |
Good for you love seen the paper !!! you,ve been slated enough ,you show,d em.
BOB67 - 21 May 2008 13:12 |
Also believe the pub having a full re-furb should be nice after go on Sue you show em !
Twiga - 20 May 2008 18:34 |
Well done to the landlady for successfully being the only pub in Horwich who got a visit on Friday night to be absoloutly squeeky clean in the eyes of the law, well done Sue, can the same be said for all the other pubs that got the same visit?, I think not, again well done for being drug free and passing all the said criteria.
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Absolute dump frequented by local low-life, if it wasn't for the bacteria in here this place would have no culture at all.
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Currently up for sale though still open. Will some kind soul please buy it and turn it back into the superb pub it was ten years ago before it becomes yet another ex-pub turned Italian/Indian/Chinese restaurant or gets demolished for a block of flats?
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I would not deign to be seen in here - don't you know I'm a lady? Basil, my young paramour, used to drink here, but even he is now too old for the hoop earring infestation.
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This was a great pub before the moronic element gained control turning into a chav paradise. It
would be something to have a return to its heyday,
great jukebox and good beer instead of top toons
and wkd. I have little hope however as we all know
what Horwich really needs is yet another food outlet
or perhaps a tanning salon.
Its grim up north.
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Now up for sale. Hopefully will remain a pub, but in this day and age the chances of it becoming another pub turned Indian/Italian/Tapas restaurant have got to be a possibility.
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do us all a favour mate and keep your opinions to yourself.Like the last comment says u obviously didnt kno the lad so if you aint got anyfin nice to say about him dnt say anyfin at all and stop upsetting people with youre nasty words
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To put it straight about the tribute night for the DJ,he DID NOT take an overdose.If u knew the family then u would know of the facts.
anonymous - 16 Oct 2007 20:40 |
Makes me feel sad to look at it when I remember how good it used to be in the days of George & Daphne and Vinny and Sheila. This pub has great potential, it just needs someone with the ability to realise it.
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I think the last poster must be getting confused with another pub! Called in on Saturday night around 10pm, the DJ was playing chart "toons" to a packed pub of four people but the first thing that hits you is the horrible smell when you walk through the door. I gave the drinks a miss!
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there is nothing wrong with this pub.it has been a bit quiet recently but is starting to pick itself up again.no more of the headbanging music is played the dj has decided to go for all types of music including 70s and 80s an excellent idea.will be visiting more often.the last comment is an unfair one as there have never been drugged up yobs in when i have been in there just regulars having a good time.great dj in there now and the bar staff are friendly which is a bonus for a pub in horwich.
anonymous - 2 Apr 2007 13:47 |
cant believe it,s still open no one goes in apart from drug takin yobs
anonymous - 27 Mar 2007 10:40 |
If you are a 'Shameless' fan (I'm not) Maxine Peake has been known to call in the Bridge
anonymous - 3 Aug 2006 14:02 |
The young DJ's who seem to think that they are playing the Dance Tent at Glastonbury but are in relaity playing to 4 tracksuited "Shameless" lookalikes in an otherwise empty pub could be the key. Dump them, complete with the lazers and smoke machine and people MAY start drifting back in. If people want to go clubbing - and are old enough to get in the clubs - the will go to the real thing.
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Trying for but so far not attracting the older drinkers back. Entertainment choice of DJ with dance mixes and lazer light shows visible from outside could be something to do with this. If it stops trying to be a club, ditches the DJ and concentrates on being the traditional stone built pub it is it could take off again quite successfully.
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I hope that the landlady can drag the pub back to being among the best in Horwich as it once was, and as anyone who drank in there up to the end of the Vinny and Shiela era would recall. I think that there are a lot of Horwich drinkers waiting for this pub to come back in from the cold.
anonymous - 5 Jun 2006 15:06 |
Dont believe everything you hear about this pub.Im a regular drinker in the pub and have never seen a 15 year old let alone a 15 yr old druggie in there.As for the music how anybody can describe that as ear splitting is beyond me.Not everybody that goes in htis pub is a thug there used to be a bit of trouble but has not been for the past 6 months.The landlady knows what shes doing and can handle any situation before it goes out of control.The staff in there would not let any one under the age of 18 to drink in the pub.I think the review are appaling you m,ust be listening to the rumours that always circulate around horwich.
anonymous - 30 May 2006 16:00 |
What a dump this pub has become, this used to be one of the best pubs in Horwich when Daphnie was the landlady, if you used the f word out loud you were told to shut up or leave. Nothing as trivial now though, fights on the hour every hour it seems. Over the last year every one of the beautiful, original stained windows has been put through by yobs barely old enough to drink, the police are never away unless they are at the Albert or Queens. Have a drink in here and you will be convinced you are on the set of channel 4's Shameless.
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A criminal waste of what used to be a lively and thriving stone built pub with big open fires and Thwaites cask beers. Over the last 10 years following a change of landlord it has degenerated into a hang out for 15 year old druggies. Ear splitting dance music of the type normally heard coming out of hot hatchbacks, and don't go in if you aren't wearing a tracksuit and a baseball cap. A crying shame. Apparently the Police allow it to go on like this as they feel it keeps all the yobs in one place (apart from the ones in the Queens and the Albert of course).
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