I left Great Ale at the Vaults last Saturday (20/1/18) greatly cheered by new Bolton. The Market Place shopping centre, helped by flashy cinema, seemed a lot more youthful than Bolton normally does. Stopfordians should visit and see what they could have had.
Saying that, central Bolton is still definitely a “work-in-progress“.
The indoor market is a little gem. For once I skipped the noodles for Nkono’s Cameroon cuisine, £6 for this huge goat curry. “Made with love and passion” by the shy and retiring Alain, and served in the sort of bowl that was fashionable in our house in 1975.
Bolton’s lifestyle hall can’t match Manchester or Leeds for exotica, but for cheap beer and scran it’s hard to beat. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t ask me what the ball at the top of the bowl is.
From the benches you get an excellent view of boozy Bolton.
You must never come to Bolton without visiting the free aquarium.
In honour of the chap we met in Northallerton. I’m calling this one Brian. He always seems pleased to see me.
His mate Simon was a bit shy though.
Many of Bolton’s GBG pubs are outside the central ring road, including Bunbury’s which under West Yorks geographic conventions would come under “Halliwell“.
It’s a half hour walk from the station, highlights on the way being Syd’s Chippy and Posh Living, which aren’t mutually exclusive.
I walked past Bunbury’s twice while looking for Bunbury’s. The pubbers’ brain is conditioned to look for signs with the words “King’s Head” or “Restaurant with rooms” sticking out in the air. No such extravagance with a micro.
Micros tend to fall into 3 main categories;
- Basic places with middle-aged men, pump clips, high tables down both walls
- Modern beer shops with high tables, taps on the wall, young enthusiastic staff
- Oddities. Like Bunbury’s
I like oddities. This is the back room;
More traditional seating in the front, where I was entertained by the owners’ charming children.
There was a beer board I could actually read.
The owner apologised for the clutter. I thought the clutter made the place.
Beer from Crankshaft, Leyland Badger was immaculate, cool and rich, perhaps my beer of the month (NBSS 4.5). Mrs RM would have loved it, and the super-strong Beavertown on keg.
A cracker, and a place that makes me even more confused in my feelings about micros.
Feeling guilty, I asked them to recommend a “strong and local” bottle to take back to Mrs RM. Pleasingly, I got a recommendation rather than the usual “Depends what you like” question. It went perfectly with a bag of peanut M&Ms (£1, Tesco).
retiredmartin 
I’ve finally worked out what micropubs’ decor reminds me of. It’s those holiday cottages that have passed from being an elderly relative’s home and are now stuffed with fittings that everyone in the family is desperate to get rid of. Add a few empty kegs, throw it all in a disused shop and you’re sorted.
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If you start one, I’ll visit it (once it’s in the Beer Guide).
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10 real ales, open for 2 hours a week and 20% CAMRA discounts. It should be a pre-emptive for GBG2020. Although CAMRA will have gone bust by then.
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Make sure the 2 hours you’re open aren’t the ones suggested on your website.
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I think they are opened by people who find out it’s cheaper than getting a storage locker. Possibly when they are getting closer to retirement age and downsizing is happening.
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You’be become quite the Bolton wanderer in the last day or two Martin …
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I know you’re jealous…
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Trump claims to understand you guys in today’s interview. You want him?
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I assume you mean Man City to sign him, possibly as cover in central defence?
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Trump can operate the VAR; I hear he’s good with buttons. BOOM (not literally).
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He’s yours for a bucket of balls as we say. Size of button notwithstanding.
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Well he can’t be a keeper with those small hands
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I can’t believe Russ hasn’t commented on crankshaft brewery yet???!!!
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I believe they need their beauty sleep over there !
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No blogging on Sunday.
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That’s a fair point!
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For your information I call my dear old Mum every Sunday around 7:30pm UK time (I call her during the week as well). 🙂
And besides, the crankshaft thing went right over my head. 😉
Cheers!
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I call my dear “Mrs RM”. She likes that.
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Bolton is one of very few towns that I wouldn’t regret never going back to, but I’d go a long way for a decent goat curry. I’m assuming that’s just a savoury corn ball of some sort – hopefully not a sweet one!
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Def. savoury, like a round Yorkshire pudding. Go back and give it a go.
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The shy and retiring Alain – very good.
If you want to find what people think about Bolton who are from Bolton read the comments on any article on the boltonnews.co.uk website.
Darryl is a top lad.
Fun personal fact, I used to work at the Co-Op opposite The Victory pub. Only its a McColl’s now and it wasn’t a Co-Op when I worked there.
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Bolton is a place that genuinely confuses me. Great countryside to the north, crumbling pubs, inconsistent beer, those new Great Ale places. Is it on the up or down ? etc etc (rhetorical questions)
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“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t ask me what the ball at the top of the bowl is.”
I’m feeling generous, so I shall acquiesce to your request. 😉
“His mate Simon was a bit shy though.”
That can’t be ‘our’ Simon; he’s not wearing anything orange!
“Not bench seating”
Good Lord! You have to buy your beer by the keg!
“A cracker,”
Yup, looks cracka lickin to me. (sorry, watched Madagascar 2 yesterday). 🙂
Cheers
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Have you met Simon ? How do you know he’s not a fish and the chap in his blog is an imposter ? Hmmm ?
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Good point. That would explain those earlier photos of him with bandages on? (trying to “transition” from one to the other?). 🙂
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