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My viits last year found the Peel Park in Turkey Street,site of the old ground and the Victoria in Great Harwood
ONE PUB ONLY?
Head for The Peel Park Hotel in Turkey Street. A bit of a trek but well worth it.
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUIND?
Start at the Nags Head, then the Abbey, on to Peel Park and then on to the ground.by Taxi
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Try the Victoria in Great Harwood.
CHANGES FROM GUIDE
Closed - Stag |  |  Abbey
46 Bank St. BB5 1HP T 01254 390798 Only takes incoming calls !
G Ken Sharles and Jacqueline Gregson
SP TV BM P D
O 11 to 11 Mon - Thu, 11 to 12 Fri – Sun
After chatting to the locals in the other two pubs I was lead by their recommendation to meet with Jacquie in the Abbey. This is the pub that those who migrate within the town centre choose as part of that real ale crawl. Everything about the layout of this pub is odd. It is a triangular building but within this the two rooms are similarly triangular and I defy anyone to describe or indeed explain the size and shape of the bar that serves the two. The whole pub is lovingly dated, in the traditional pub and lounge style and arranged in such a way that conversation is part of the requirement for drinking in the pub.
The locals have a definite influence on the pub. The landlord moved in last year and to his credit has removed the pool table to allow for more drinking space. More importantly he canvasses his customers to find good ale recommendations from those who enjoy drinking more unusual ales. The John Smith’s is always on, the local palate never changes but the guest ales are ever changing, from nationals when I visited to rarer independents on other nights. This was the last pub of my year - long research. No big celebration this time, just a quiet contemplation of near on 500 pubs. How appropriate then, that here in Lancashire, I end up drinking brews from my home area. Accrington and its pubs proved as friendly as I had wished and I know there will plenty more to review for next year.
BWV 6.06.06: Greene King Abbot, John Smith’s Cask Bitter, Theakston’s Best, Wychwood Hobgoblin
Stedders
update | |  Peel Park Hotel
Turkey Street, Accrington BB5 6EW Tel 01254 235830
G David Johnson
F Snacks, pie and peas
P SK BM D Beer garden
O 12 - 11.30
During my time running the Admiral Lord Rodney in Colne I was often asked of another good pub to recommend in the local area. Naturally, this was a bit taxing but I had no hesitation in suggesting visitors would best travel across to Accrington and visit the Peel Park. I would take friends, hold meetings there and indeed, secretly slope off for a quiet pint in a pub where the beer quality was good and the company friendly.
The pub is a success story, being rescued from pub oblivion by the clarion call of real ale and tasteful refurbishment. It offers local brews, from the many breweries that make this region of Lancashire such fun for the micro brew hunter. It is now on several levels within the original shell and has four distinct drinking or meeting spaces. Football historians will dwell in the car park noting the wall of the old football ground that stands forlornly overlooking what is now a school field where once the Accie faithful gathered. This is easily the best that Accrington has to offer the real ale scene. The trip to the ground is a mile or so trek across the suburbs, against the grain of the public transport spokes. Nevertheless, the trek will be well worth it as this pub is spacious enough for honest reflection on the eternal question of footie fans minds; “What are heck are we doing here, watching football at Accrington?” The Peel Park answers this question perfectly.
BWV 26.6.09 Cottage, Mini Cooper, Dent Rambrau, Mallinsons Quencher, Robinsons Nosey Parker, Tetleys Cask, Traditional Scottish ales Silver Mist.
Stedders
Taxis arrow 872999 | |  Nags Head
78 Blackburn Rd BB5 1LE T 01254 393392
G Irena Martin
F Sandwiches
MP SK JB P D
O 11-12 Mon - Thu, 11 - 1 Fri - Sat, 12 - 11 Sun
For the independent real ale traveller who arrives by train the Nags Head will be a welcome sight. Literally one minute from the platform on a street full of tired keg pubs you will find the Nags Head. It is a proper street corner local that has undergone a transformation in recent years that has given it both a new life and a new identity as a real ale pub.
The pub is owned by Clive Nightingale of the Howcroft fame and managed now by Irena. The pub was closed for some time and reopened in December 2006 in the modern style of dark pine furnishings and low seating. The pub has three rooms and retains the traditional pub feel having a bar area, a small snug and a great back room. The daytime crowd sees the old regulars returning to their old haunt now that the previous crowd has left. They are generally of the more mature type, visiting as part of a shopping trip or settling in for an afternoon of racing on the big screen TV. In the evening the local accountants and solicitors make it their stopping off point, often staying longer than they ought. The staff really do make a big difference, being young and, by design, people - friendly. I also had the chance to chat with Anthony of the Accrington Pipe Band, who have been known to meet and play here
BWV 27.6.09: Charles Wells Bombardier, Tetley’s Cask Bitter, Imperial
Updated July 2009
Stedders | |  Victoria Hotel
St Johns Street Great Horwood Lancashire BB6 7EP Telephone: 01254 885210 www.victoria-greatharwood.co.uk
Their website says:-
"Unpretentious, authentic, family orientated and relaxing are the words that come tripping off the tongue when describing the Victoria Hotel in Great Harwood. In an age when many pubs are uniformly plastic in both furnishings and atmosphere; it is refreshing to step inside the Victoria Hotel with its Art Nouveau style tiling, proliferation of polished dark wood furniture and usually around eight real ales to choose from - relax and enjoy a pub typical of the ones we remember from our childhood.
There are four other ‘snugly’ attractive rooms. These have bench seating some of which is wooden slatted – but surprisingly comfortable. Photographs and pictures of Victorian times, including Queen Victoria’s 1897 Golden Jubilee, continue to add to the atmosphere of the Victoria Hotel.
The Victoria Hotel is very much a “locals’ local” but one to which visitors to this region, just over four miles from Blackburn, are always welcomed. Call in next time you are in the Great Harwood area. Alternatively known locally as Arrod or Snuffy, Great Harwood is the name you will see on the road signs!" | | | EAST LANCS CAMRA | | 
FRASER EAGLE STADIUM
LOCAL BREWERY
Red Rose Brewery,
Unit 4, Stanley Court,
Alan Ramsbottom Way,
Great Harwood,
Blackburn, BB6 7UR
www.redrosebrewery.co.uk
| | WETHERSPOONS
Nothing in Accrington
The Boot Inn 18 St James' Street, Burnley, BB11 1NG Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
The Postal Order 15-19 Darwen Street, Blackburn BB2 2BY Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
The Brun Lea 31-39 Manchester Road, Burnley BB11 1HG Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am | |
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