Morning all,

On this horrible, dreary Monday morning, I'm already thinking about the weekend.

I'm bringing my father-in-law to the match on Saturday so I'm looking for recommendations for real-ale serving pubs where we're likely to get a seat, within a decent walking distance to the ground. For reference, I usually park up near Manchester Rd station and go to Inn on the Wharf, but with the newly extended walk to my seat at the away end of the Longside, that's probably a bit far. If I can shave 10 mins or so off the walk, that would be great.

Oh, for the Talbot to still be open!

Thanks in advance

Finsley Gate Wharf doesn't get too busy (although from limited experience). Plenty of street parking around there too.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 11:15 am

Finsley Gate Wharf doesn't get too busy (although from limited experience). Plenty of street parking around there too.

That isn't somewhere I've ever thought of going, but looks a good shout. Thanks!

Hatters Bar and New Brew-m on St James's Row, just off St James Street, are good for real-ale.

Leisure wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 11:19 am

Hatters Bar and New Brew-m on St James's Row, just off St James Street, are good for real-ale.

I know them well, just think parking might be an issue. Finsley Gate Wharf looks to have a few ales on and the walk wouldn't be too bad.

Inn on the Wharf is the best pub (i haven't been in FGW though).
If walking is the problem, a taxi should only be a few quid and should be able to drop you off at the back if the park view if it goes past Townley.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 11:59 am

Inn on the Wharf is the best pub (i haven't been in FGW though).
If walking is the problem, a taxi should only be a few quid and should be able to drop you off at the back if the park view if it goes past Townley.

IOTW is lacking in real ales. Think it has bitter, Guiness and that's about it in addition to the usual lager and cider.

Another shout for hatters bar. Though I’m biased as it’s my sister and brother in laws bar

Fretters wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 12:09 pm

IOTW is lacking in real ales. Think it has bitter, Guiness and that's about it in addition to the usual lager and cider.

IOTW is a great setting, but their beer selection is really disappointing.
I was in there on Saturday for a while, and unless you're into Worthys or Guinness, you're on a selection of euro-lagers or Dark Fruits.

To be fair it's their pint of Peroni that makes me go there.

And being allowed to sup it out of a glass.

Hummm have not had a pint of Guinness since May and it will be another 8 months till the next one as I refuse to drink anywhere other than in Ireland .
As for pints and parking god knows .

Shaun1983 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 12:25 pm

Another shout for hatters bar. Though I’m biased as it’s my sister and brother in laws bar

Fantastic bar.

Hatters has really taken off and deservedly so. He's worked hard to build it up and yesterday he had 4 excellent real ales on and was very busy. Hatters fits in great alongside The Brewn and The Bridge which are also superb and the rumour I heard yesterday was that Hatters only missed out on inclusion in this year's latest CAMRA Good Beer Guide along with the two already mentioned plus The Boot, because he hasn't had the increased selection of ales on long enough as yet.

Fretters wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 11:12 am

Morning all,


Oh, for the Talbot to still be open!

I say that every matchday!

Must be 40 years I worked as a cellar man in what was a real ale pub and just hated when the camra lot turned up . Just a bunch of alcoholics really with a note pad .

Fritters the Crooked Billet in Worsthorne serves Real Ale and they run transport to the ground and back after the game. You would be able to park in the village and there’s little walking, other than where the transport drops you off. You’d be better ringing Alison the Llady to book seats early on. Pie and peas are also available in the pub.

New Brewm Great local beers at daft prices.
Spoons is always an obvious.
Can't go wrong with The Bridge.
Those on Bank Parade are good.

Can't beat Bootleggers near the bus station. An experience in itself. Does real ale and also a number of local characters 🫤

Bfc wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 8:49 pm

Fritters the Crooked Billet in Worsthorne serves Real Ale and they run transport to the ground and back after the game. You would be able to park in the village and there’s little walking, other than where the transport drops you off. You’d be better ringing Alison the Llady to book seats early on. Pie and peas are also available in the pub.

Please can we stick to sending townies to Barley thank you!

Always meet new friends down at the Bootleggers.

I'm afraid that those in the foreground were hospitaled shortly after.

Bfc wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 8:49 pm

Fritters the Crooked Billet in Worsthorne serves Real Ale and they run transport to the ground and back after the game. You would be able to park in the village and there’s little walking, other than where the transport drops you off. You’d be better ringing Alison the Llady to book seats early on. Pie and peas are also available in the pub.

Thank you, that's good to know.

Dressinggown wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 10:24 pm

Always meet new friends down at the Bootleggers.

Haha, used to enjoy Bootleggers for the lunchtime KO before the turf when i was Manc based

I'm surprised Bootleggers is still going. When i started going out about 2001/2 it was the place to start for the younger crowd. Packed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Doesn't seem real when you remember how busy town used to be compared to now, its sad to see.

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 11:08 am

I'm surprised Bootleggers is still going. When i started going out about 2001/2 it was the place to start for the younger crowd. Packed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Doesn't seem real when you remember how busy town used to be compared to now, its sad to see.

Its Wetherspoons but with sport on instead of microwaved grub. It knows what it is and does it pretty well. The loos absolutely hum, mind

Another vote for the New Brew-m good ale and very pleasant and welcoming owner.

Only problems with Hatters and The New Brew-m might be the getting-a-seat thing, they both get pretty damn busy.

Aye, we're all getting on a bit now.

Why I stopped going in The Bridge.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 12:45 pm

Aye, we're all getting on a bit now.

Why I stopped going in The Bridge.

Aye, i love the Bridge but i can't be doing with any pub when its as packed as that can get pre-match

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 1:28 pm

Hatters has really taken off and deservedly so. He's worked hard to build it up and yesterday he had 4 excellent real ales on and was very busy. Hatters fits in great alongside The Brewn and The Bridge which are also superb and the rumour I heard yesterday was that Hatters only missed out on inclusion in this year's latest CAMRA Good Beer Guide along with the two already mentioned plus The Boot, because he hasn't had the increased selection of ales on long enough as yet.

I'm going to give Hatters another go now that they have more choice.

Fretters wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 1:11 pm

Fantastic bar.

Owt off for Camra card carriers? I and the crowd would start going in if there wo.

basil6345789 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 1:51 pm

Owt off for Camra card carriers? I and the crowd would start going in if there wo.

If i ran a pub i think i'd be more likely to try and discourage Camra bores. What a tiresome entitled bunch.

Imagine asking for a discount on a pint ffs. Just pay and support them.

Shaun1983 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 12:25 pm

Another shout for hatters bar. Though I’m biased as it’s my sister and brother in laws bar

Tell them it's a very nice bar and keep up the good work.

Circ bar. Quirky, loads of mad things in there. Early game on tv usually too. Good pint.

Dyched wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 2:26 pm

Imagine asking for a discount on a pint ffs. Just pay and support them.

It flows both ways. Many places are happy to offer CAMRA members a discount because people who really love real ale tend to drink more of it. Many landlords and bar owners (especially those who are doing a good job of it) actively want to encourage people in who appreciate their product, tend to drink more of it and are active members of a society whose main function is encouraging more people to drink real ale.

Nobody has to offer a discount but there's no harm in asking.

Also, not all of us are complete bores. I once had an interesting conversation with somebody that wasn't about football or beer. I've still got the polaroid "proof" to back me up on this one.

Rowls wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 5:23 pm

Tell them it's a very nice bar and keep up the good work.

Will do, they will appreciate it

blatherwickstattoos wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 5:26 pm

Circ bar. Quirky, loads of mad things in there. Early game on tv usually too. Good pint.

Yep, agree, I've been going in a while.

Did I see you do a dj set in there?

I think for a small town, the pub selection is pretty good near to the ground.

Bridge, New-brewm, Hatters, Circ and the other bars on Bank Parade, Royal Dyche, The Boot, Miners (for a bene). Plenty to go at before and after the match to get a little stagger on.

UTC

IPAclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 4:30 am

I think for a small town, the pub selection is pretty good near to the ground.

Bridge, New-brewm, Hatters, Circ and the other bars on Bank Parade, Royal Dyche, The Boot, Miners (for a bene). Plenty to go at before and after the match to get a little stagger on.

UTC

Definetely, can't beat town centre grounds with loads of pubs.

Rowls wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 5:29 pm

It flows both ways. Many places are happy to offer CAMRA members a discount because people who really love real ale tend to drink more of it. Many landlords and bar owners (especially those who are doing a good job of it) actively want to encourage people in who appreciate their product, tend to drink more of it and are active members of a society whose main function is encouraging more people to drink real ale.

Nobody has to offer a discount but there's no harm in asking.

Also, not all of us are complete bores. I once had an interesting conversation with somebody that wasn't about football or beer. I've still got the polaroid "proof" to back me up on this one.

My brother and I enjoy a pint or two of real ale and can concur with Rowls on this one. I know what the previous poster means and the image of ‘real ale’ drinkers is perfect try satirised by the Facebook Viz feature “Real Ale Tw*ts”. Google it if you want a chuckle.

New BrewM is good for us on match days but good luck with getting seat. Very good beer at just a couple of quid.

Good luck to all.

Another vote for Hatters from me. The Bridge Bier Huis is still the best pub in town but a little too busy on a matchday (which is great to see!).

Joe and Sarah have done a fantastic job with Hatters and they really know their ale/beer. Some of the stuff they get in for the fridge is really interesting and not the kind of stuff you’d usually see outside of the big cities.

Believe they’ve managed to secure a cask of the newly relaunched Boddingtons (which is being brewed by John Willie Lees) which is going on this weekend.

Ightenhill_Claret wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 8:47 am

Another vote for Hatters from me. The Bridge Bier Huis is still the best pub in town but a little too busy on a matchday (which is great to see!).

Joe and Sarah have done a fantastic job with Hatters and they really know their ale/beer. Some of the stuff they get in for the fridge is really interesting and not the kind of stuff you’d usually see outside of the big cities.

Believe they’ve managed to secure a cask of the newly relaunched Boddingtons (which is being brewed by John Willie Lees) which is going on this weekend.

Interesting that Lees are doing it. Used to be Holts but guess Lees sold the offer better. Maybe they have more outlets?

Dressinggown wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 9:54 pm

New Brewm Great local beers at daft prices.

What do you class as daft prices for a pint of ale, say around under the 5% mark?

Clovius Boofus wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 12:18 pm

What do you class as daft prices for a pint of ale, say around under the 5% mark?

From the context of it being a recommendation, i'm gonna take a leap and he was meaning daft in a reasonably priced sense....

Clovius Boofus wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 12:18 pm

What do you class as daft prices for a pint of ale, say around under the 5% mark?

He means cheap at 2 quid.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 12:53 pm

He means cheap at 2 quid.

Haha yeah that's what i meant in a bit more concise form lol

He mentioned local beers at 'daft prices' in the New Brew’m. So, I'd like to know what he paid for a pint of something from Moorhouses or Reedley Hallows?

Clovius Boofus wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 1:11 pm

He mentioned local beers at 'daft prices' in the New Brew’m. So, I'd like to know what he paid for a pint of something from Moorhouses or Reedley Hallows?

£2.00

When I go on the Turf we always park away from the town centre, so I don't think I've been in any of the centre pubs in around 8 years.

Did Inn on the Wharf close for a time? I always liked it in there and was nice to chill out by canalside in the summer.

What's the place at the bottom of Hollingeave Road / top of Parliament street? I went in there when visiting a friend which I thought was nice.

ollieclarets8 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 1:25 pm

When I go on the Turf we always park away from the town centre, so I don't think I've been in any of the centre pubs in around 8 years.

Did Inn on the Wharf close for a time? I always liked it in there and was nice to chill out by canalside in the summer.

What's the place at the bottom of Hollingeave Road / top of Parliament street? I went in there when visiting a friend which I thought was nice.

Finsley Gate Wharf ?