You can’t beat a beer with a kick

10:34am Sunday 27th August 2006

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FOOTBALL and beer have been linked since a ball was first kicked, but where are the best places in Bolton to enjoy a pre and post-match ale? Andrew Mosley takes a look at a new guide.

RICHARD Stedman has lived the dream of most men - three years ago he gave up his teaching career to devote his life to football and real ale.

The results of his devotion are the not-too-creatively named Football and Real Ale guides, which list the best boozers near every football league club.

Bristol Rovers fan Richard's research involved drinking in, photographing and writing about more than 300 top quality pubs, and he has now sold more than 6,000 copies.

Recommendations in Bolton include the Doffcocker Inn, the Hen and Chickens, the Hope and Anchor, the Howcroft Inn and the Sweet Green Tavern.

The book says of Bolton: "Bolton is probably just big enough and far enough away from Manchester to act like an independent town, but close enough to make it try and prove itself.

"This may explain one of the best designed set of town hall and council offices in the country, which includes a combined library, art gallery, museum and aquarium.

"Too many councils and opinionated Philistines thought, and think, these things were worthless, to be abandoned to decay in back streets or miles from town . . . so credit to Bolton."

Of The Doffcocker Inn, Chorley Old Road, Mr Stedman writes: "The building itself is something of a splendid memorial to pub architecture, the people who use it a testament to Northern good humour, the beer a tribute to how Holts is worth seeking out up North.

"Firstly, the building. It is designed to a calendar theme. Four floors (the seasons), 12 cellar rooms, 52 doors, 365 panes of glass, seven rooms on each floor.

"The early evening builders use the front bar and later return all spruced up to use the lounge.

"This is a proper suburban village pub in the grand old style, a roadside inn with a touch of class.

"I felt that this would be a good place to catch a glimpse of true Bolton life."

The Hen and Chickens in Deansgate is described as having variety and coziness to spare, and as being a "bit of a Bolton legend", and the guide says: "There are many places to hide away with a programme or beer guide, or, as the locals do, gather around the bar and engage in cross-bar Cheers style' conversation."

It says of The Hope and Anchor on Chorley Old Road: "In total contrast to others in the guide this place represents the fast-disappearing type of cosy front parlour pub that should be cherished."

The Howcroft Inn in Pool Street is singled out for extreme praise, and the guide says: "Holding a legendary status among those who offered suggestions to this guide, the Howcroft is a pub to cherish.

"The pub itself is often very busy on matchdays even though it is a taxi ride to the ground.

"It is one of those pubs that should be visited once in every beer drinkers' life. It is very traditional in the best sense of having a life to it that is born out of good management and loyal customers."

Readers of the guide are also reminded that the Howcroft has a beer festival that is the largest one of its type in the country.

The final pub to be singled out for praise is the Sweet Green Tavern in Crook Street, of which the guide says: "It is a well-established stopping-off point for many real ale and footie fans, not only those going to watch Bolton.

"Spotless, cosy, yet lively and eclectic - it has something for everyone and is comfortable for all folk.

"There is a strict no swearing policy, further helping to create the ambience of being a treasured friend rather than what it might be; a lonely, post-regeneration, Sainsbury's car park anachronism.

"You can imagine sitting in mid-winter beside the award-winning natural coal fire and wanting never to leave for that last train or to put the shopping away."

The guides are obviously more useful to fans of the Wanderers on their travels to away games.

And for Bury fans, there's a companion guide for Division Two, which features the Dusty Miller in Crostons Road, the Rose and Crown in Manchester Old Road, the Trackside on the East Lancs Railway on Bolton Street, the Two Tubs Inn in Wyledbury and the Wishing Well in York Street, Heywood.

It says of Bury: "Bury Market sold the best black puddings we ever tasted. Enjoy this traditional English cuisine before another part of our rich heritage is destroyed by a mob of idiots' health scare."

The guides retail at £5.50 and can be ordered from all book shops or bought from some of the featured pubs or online at www.footballandrealaleguide.co.uk

Do you have any comments about this report? Send your views to Internet Editor Chris Sudlow making sure you tell us whether your opinions are available for use on the Letters Page of the Bolton Evening News print edition.