AREN’T SAM SMITHS PUBS GORGEOUS ?

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It’s such a shame we can’t take photos with our phones in Sam’s anymore.

Thank goodness for Kodak.

Vintage KODAK Duaflex Box Camera [PL2909]

My Sam Smiths experience came at the end of a Sunday spent in loud community pubs in east Lancashire.

Having checked into the Milton in Eccles (£31) I toyed with finding a new bar in the Quays, but it was scary and too close to the evil Beeb for comfort.

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Shiny. And scary.

So I popped back into Eccles town centre.

Eccles2

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Awaiting my pub choice outside

I’ve been staying in the Milton a bit lately; good transport, cheap cleanrooms and a chance to investigate the “real” Eccles, whatever that means.

It’s not as well pubbed as it was in, ooh, 2007.

Yes of course there’s always the Lamb, and there’s another Holt pub in the shopping street, but cask in particular is a bit thin on the ground till you get to Patricroft.

I always loved the Albert Edward. Shame it’s closed.

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aka The Stinking Stocking

Oh. It’s open again. As I was delighted to be able to tell Salford CAMRA, who will no doubt be campaigning for a barrel of Stingo ahead of my next visit.

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Multi-roomed gem

Unmistakably Sam Smiths, though Stafford Paul will probably remind me this was a Pound Pub in the 1870s or similar.

“Cut the history and show us the pub already” says Dave.

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Loads of warnings

There must be dozens of Sam’s like this, but the Crown in Glossop sprang to mind.

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Wow
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Ah ! Christmas already.

“But what about cask ?”

Don’t be daft. The full keg range by the look of it.

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Lovely light lager

Frankly, the Stout is the best bet.

The cheery lady told me they’d re-opened that Monday with a caretaker manager, and a fine job they’d done in creating such a warm pub.

I took my pint and Canon into the room with the library.

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Cosy

Popular Italian Cinema gave way to Ruth Rendell, and I actually managed a whole 12 pages of uninterrupted reading before the barmaid came and asked me how I was.

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Bit heavy for me

A nice touch, so I stayed for another.

And scratchings.

Actually, I asked what was in the fridge. Only the Chocolate Stout, which was impressive but a bit chocolate-y. I decanted it into my Stout pint glass cos I’m classy.

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Class

A dozen or so in on a Sunday evening, mostly in the back rooms, and as cheery as you could hope from a pub in transition. Great to have it back.

Of course, if I’d been allowed to use my mobile phone I’d have been able to identify the deep banging trance tunes for you, but rules are rules.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

27 thoughts on “AREN’T SAM SMITHS PUBS GORGEOUS ?”

  1. I’m really glad several of you got me past an unwarranted bias against Sam Smith’s pubs. They are truly special. I need to buy a few bottles this weekend. Great stuff. You ever figure those mysteries out?

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      5. While in Church Street did you get to the Old Bulls Head, a Holts pub that was very busy the morning I was in it last spring ?

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      6. Not this time, Paul.

        I only passed a couple of times later at night when it was quieter but I think it’s basically a daytime pub.

        Will go in next time. The pub across from the OBH had Hobgoblin and a bad pun on the pub sign.

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      7. Yes, a daytime pub.
        It was very busy between 10am and 11am – that’s after Tim’s nearby converted cinema and before Joey’s heritage pubs.

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      8. My name is Karen susan Philips I had the pleasure of working for Samuel Smith never did manage to meet Mr Smith the gentleman himself I enjoyed my training learning the cellar some how learning the lines mr Smith must be a great teacher thank-you for my time at the albert edward
        Maybe one day with write support karensusan247@gmail.com love to do my licence one day thank-you for valuable time sue here’s too the albert great teachings I have alot to learn small steps from a great gentleman

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Perhaps the Beer and Pubs Forum should have an EGM to discuss the eligibility of keg pubs on Proper Days Out 😉

      Yes, a classic interior. The Lamb has the trade, though.

      Thinking about it. Weaste has Sam’s Coach & Horses, just as good.

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      2. We have been in the Rifle Drum and (unofficially) in Sinclair’s. But I suspect there would be one prominent dissenter 😉

        Liked by 2 people

      4. But aren’t the Beer and Pubs Forum Proper Days Out all the better for not having meetings, rules and rigid itineraries no one can deviate from ?

        Liked by 3 people

  3. “Stafford Paul will probably remind me this was a Pound Pub in the 1870s or similar”.
    Yes, £1 might last you all week in there during the 1870s.
    Your use of the Albert Edward must have been since Monday 11th November when Stuart Potts, 38, let off two fireworks from the first floor of the closed Albert Edward while many local people were observing the 11am two minutes silence at the nearby war memorial.
    That was at least the third time the Albert Edward had been in the news.
    In May 1915 the pub’s landlord was Austrian Oscar Lorenz and after RMS Lusitania was sunk a large mob armed with bricks from a nearby building site shattered every window of the Albert Edward. The police were powerless to stop the mob who then began to hurl bricks at mirrors and glasses in the pub, smashing everything inside.
    Then on the evening of 27 September 1915 PC Bridge was shocked to see an Ann Clutterbuck staggering along the road and lurching through the doors of the Albert Edward to be “drunk and incoherent” in the pub’s lobby clutching a glass of beer.

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