When was your first served beer?

[colnegeezer]

1979 aged 16 in norway house colne (now carlos) and within a couple of months had moved down the hill to the crown

[steve1264b]

Steve 1264b.....The borough ( spelling ? )

Thank you terrier

[claptrappers_union]

Circa 1998. I played for a Manchester City Supporters team. We played a game at Stalybridge, ‘Moonchester’ the mascot was even there. With my mate, I was the youngest of the team of 30-somethings. I was about 15.

After the game, we went back to Haslingden were there was a spread on at the Black Bull, or Bulls Head… I can't remember it's name - the one opposite the Commercial at the bottom on Deansgate.

Anyway… after a bit of bickering about who was going to the bar, I picked up the courage and asked for two Budweisers… the only brand of beer I knew. And I got served. I couldn't believe it.

I even got another round in later on. I was a man.

[pureclaret]

Dog and otter greatharwood in about 1973 , a few of us had walked up to it from Bowley scout camp was served even in my Venture scout shirt. id be 14 .

[ALHAMBRA 1925]

1970, I was 14, the Ribble club opposite the cop shop in Burnley.
A lot of drinkers went there at 3pm when the other pubs shut.
Had it's fair share of characters, definitely not for the easily offended.

[turbo5]

Most probably Sundays Disco at Cats whiskers when I was 14 . It was over 18's upstairs and over 14's downstairs about 1978
Pub wise I had just turned 15 years old in the Smacks. I hung around with older lads from Accy road so was doing the full circuit in town by the time I was 15 years old. Wood top, Fleece,Alma Peeps, St James Bar, Empress Grill Broadswords, Carlton, Red Lion, Swan, White Lion , Concorde then try to get in the Circ or Cats on a Friday or Saturday. Rarely got challenged.Found ten Broadswords the strictest so always sent somebody else to get served.
My lad is 15 now, 16 in September I take him out match day around town , it's much stricter today. My lad is nearly 6 foot, bit of facial hair etc decent build, No way he would get served even though he looks much older than I did at his age.

[A.Claret.Fan]

What a fantastic dump it was it was just around the corner from the north street baths and Barden school were I went from 1977 to 82

Indeed it was, many a character in there.

I was at Barden '75-'80

[JLaw]

Another one for the Baltic Fleet, 1983 aged 16, a few of us took turns to go up and order a pint of mild ( we had no idea of the concept of rounds)

[RammyClaret61]

1976 aged 15. Pint of Heineken at Ramsbottom Cricket Club. I think it cost 25p.

[Rowls]

19th February, 1997.

Football Tavern, Derby.

[forzagranata]

A summer evening, 15 year old, sat outside the Shooters with a pint of bitter.

[Dressinggown]

Aged 13 (I looked about 10) on a school trip staying at a Chateau in Normandy. A small group of us 'escaped' and crossed farmland to a tiny bar in the middle of nowhere.

Upon arrival it was a case of who dared to go in and order the beers. Someone drew the short straw and went in whilst we sat nervously outside. He came out with a couple of pints and then went back a couple of times to pick up the rest. Bonus! I went next and the owner was already pouring the next ones. I brought the beer out feeling on top of the world.


Time was short so a number of beers went down quickly. On our staggering return across the fields the lad who went to the bar first touched an electric cattle wire which knocked him on his back and at the same time caused him to lose control of his bowels and bladder.

Moments later we all lost control of our bladders we were laughing that much.

Happy days.

[Indecisive]

Memories a bit hazy but bootleggers, smacks, Manor barn were the go to's back circa 2000. I'd say Manor Barn was probably the first one aged 15.

[joey13]

14 years old in the Ashworths Arms in Rawtenstall...pint of mixed about 14 pence out of my paper round money which was £1.50 a week for morning & nights

I’m betting you know my cousin , Mr Shoesmith ?

[tarkys_ears]

15. Hebden. Shoulder of mutton. Stella. Cost about £2.40

...ain't looked back since!

[joey13]

Most probably Sundays Disco at Cats whiskers when I was 14 . It was over 18's upstairs and over 14's downstairs about 1978
Pub wise I had just turned 15 years old in the Smacks. I hung around with older lads from Accy road so was doing the full circuit in town by the time I was 15 years old. Wood top, Fleece,Alma Peeps, St James Bar, Empress Grill Broadswords, Carlton, Red Lion, Swan, White Lion , Concorde then try to get in the Circ or Cats on a Friday or Saturday. Rarely got challenged.Found ten Broadswords the strictest so always sent somebody else to get served.
My lad is 15 now, 16 in September I take him out match day around town , it's much stricter today. My lad is nearly 6 foot, bit of facial hair etc decent build, No way he would get served even though he looks much older than I did at his age.

I remember getting served at the Broadsword aged 15 only to return to the table to find my mates had been kicked for being underage, always found the Broadsword a strange place

[Belial]

Age about 14/15 in the pub that is now Mario's in Bacup - can't remember the name but it was blatently obvious we were way too young. Wasn't long before we'd ventured into Horaces either

[JohnMac]

Can't honestly remember but it was probably the Canal Tavern on Manchester Road and I will have been 15. Before that though we used to take milk bottles and buy Cider by the pint from Byron Street Off Licence.

[chipbutty]

15 in a pub near to manchester rd train station, think it was Tetleys but cant remember its name?

The Borough

[chipbutty]

Lucas aerospace club...somewhere near the bus station. Age 16...went to play table tennis and had a pint of Stones for 19p. Circa 1976.

Didn't that end uo bring Chalkers then Savannahs? Upstairs opposite Golden Fish Bar

[chipbutty]

What was Spoons called before it was Spoons? Memory a blank
Been on a day trip to Malham Cove. Got back and chanced a quick half with a couple of lads
Circa 68/69.

Depends on your age, but it was probably Yates's

[Jacob Rees Dogg]

North Valley Hotel, Colne.
1977, I was 15. You could get served in there no problem.

[RHansburyEsq]

Bloody hell I thought I was old. 1970s? You lot are ancient! 16. Bay Horse in Roughlee about 1990. No attempt at pretence as my dad was a regular, just a tacit agreement with the landlord to be vaguely sensible and not get hammered.

[California Colner]

Golden Ball in Colne
Age 15 got a pint of bitter can’t remember what ale it was, just was thankful I got served

[Clive 1960]

In the Swan in Burnley 1976 pint larger shandy

[fatboy47]

Age about 14/15 in the pub that is now Mario's in Bacup - can't remember the name but it was blatently obvious we were way too young. Wasn't long before we'd ventured into Horaces either

Waterworks? Or happen it'd be the Swan.

[thehistorylecturer63]

Waterworks? Or happen it'd be the Swan.

Yes Mario’s was The Waterworks … The Swan is an Indian now.

[ElectroClaret]

1972 i was16, Village Blacksmith Clayton le Moors (now no more)
Then the Plough Great Harwood.

All the landlords knew the score, didn't seem so fussy in those days.

[GetIntoEm]

El Trop in Nelson, approx 1997/98 at a guess

[Steve1956]

I’m betting you know my cousin , Mr Shoesmith ?

The Ashworths I refer to was the Burnley Rd one ...not the Bacup Rd one....if he was called Stephen and had a older brother I knew him yea.

[Cirrus_Minor]

I was 15 and bought my first pint in the Imp (Imperial Ballrooms), Nelson in 1970.

[Belial]

Waterworks? Or happen it'd be the Swan.

The Waterworks!! That was it. We ended up there quite a bit at the time knowing we'd get served, as well as the pub in Waterfoot (not the Royal ..further towards the Glen)

[Andy_G]

15 in a pub near to manchester rd train station, think it was Tetleys but cant remember its name?

The Borough. Used to go in there regular early on a Friday night when I was 14 before going to the youth club down Hargher Clough way about 7;30.

First bought beer was in the General Williams aged 13.

[Tomcat]

1965 Cricketers Aged 15 One pound, 10 pence a pint.

[ebby]

Rose Room, upstairs at Burnley Mecca, Sunday nights. 15, 1970.

[Hipper]

Aged 70, still waiting!

Had a sip of someone else's, didn't like it and therefore never had one. Same with spirits.

I did drink the odd cider to be sociable though.

[Sausage]

Pint of Heineken at Preston Guild Hall, 1 October 1990, aged 15, waiting for Iron Maiden to come on stage.

[Silkyskills1]

1965 Cricketers Aged 15 One pound, 10 pence a pint.

Have I misread this one? Surely not £1 10 p a pint in 1965? Even 10p a pint sounds dear for 1965.

[Volvoclaret]

£1.10? Must be based in that there London

[Claretmisterg]

A pint of Brew Ten in the Hole in the Wall in Foulridge (sadly no longer there) with the money my Mum had given me for pop and crisps at the youth club.

[Chobulous]

13 year old at Coachmakers. Had to wait until 15 before getting served at Face Winds

The Coachmakers was the pub of choice for all of us Stoneyholme lads but my first was the Liberal Club at Brierfield. You were there Carl as well as Adie Hoyle. 4 pints of Brew 10 were enough for a night of spinning ceilings and bed clothes covered in vomit.

[Tomcat]

Have I misread this one? Surely not £1 10 p a pint in 1965? Even 10p a pint sounds dear for 1965.

One shilling ten pence

[Stalbansclaret]

North Valley Hotel, Colne.
1977, I was 15. You could get served in there no problem.

Ha ...just seen this. See my post about 10 up from the bottom of page 1 of this thread

[CnBtruntru]

1975 aged 14 Waggon & Horses Brierfield, I hope I don't get the Landlady/Landlord in trouble it was about 8p or 11p a pint of mild

[ChrisG]

Old Bridge, Barrowford. Robinson's Best, £1.60 a pint. Was circa 1998/99 when I was 15

[Woody9229]

Talbot; 1968; age 14, almost 15; in walked Messrs Langstaff and Kelly. They said nothing but I got called to see Mr Kelly the following school day and received 4 strokes of his finest cane - and he had quite a few to choose from.

Mine was also in the Talbot a tad later in 73 I was 14. 17p for a pint of mild. Jeez. I was also at St Teds but never taught by Biddy as I wasn't a top scholar like you obviously were?

[Woody9229]

I remember getting served at the Broadsword aged 15 only to return to the table to find my mates had been kicked for being underage, always found the Broadsword a strange place

We spent many years based upstairs in the Swords most evenings. If you were not a regular I can imagine it wasn't the most welcoming place but "strange"?

[Steve1956]

The Waterworks!! That was it. We ended up there quite a bit at the time knowing we'd get served, as well as the pub in Waterfoot (not the Royal ..further towards the Glen)

The Moulders....even toddlers got served in there.

[Foreverly Claret]

1960.Aged 15.Used to go to a youth club most Friday nights at Salem congregational church on Manchester Road .With my best mate Canada Claret , we used to nip out to a little pub on Hammerton Street for a pint .Can't remember its name and have no idea if its still there but we never had a problem getting served.Happy days .

[Chobulous]

1960.Aged 15.Used to go to a youth club most Friday nights at Salem congregational church on Manchester Road .With my best mate Canada Claret , we used to nip out to a little pub on Hammerton Street for a pint .Can't remember its name and have no idea if its still there but we never had a problem getting served.Happy days .

Little White Horse maybe