A Selection of Wigan Hostelries...
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 8:08 pm
Evening. I am a Barrow exile living on the edge of Greater Manchester, in the Borough of Wigan (albeit not in the town itself) and I thought some of you fine folk might appreciate a run-down of a few town centre hostelries in which you can refresh yourselves pre and/or post match...
THE SWAN AND RAILWAY
Right opposite Wigan North Western station (if you're coming by train, or even if you're not). It's a CAMRA pub (and in this year's Good Beer Guide I believe) so you'll get a good pint in there. It does Pieminister pies too, which are rather good.
JOHN BULL CHOP HOUSE
About 5 mins walk into town is this 500 year old boozer. Always got good beers on, and has a cracking jukebox. Worth a look in the evening too if anyone's around (good atmosphere and never any bother) and has a green outside, although that's perhaps not so attractive in December.
GRAND CENTRAL
Couple of mins from the station (towards the ground) is this nice bar beneath the railway arches. Has a station theme, good beers on, and the seats out front are always busy (suspect this is somewhere both sets of fans will end up).
WIGAN BREWHOUSE TAPROOM
Never been in here but they do some excellent beers which regularly grace my local. Worth popping in to sample some local produce. Open 1-8pm by the looks of it.
THE RAVEN
Another old pub on the main drag. Worth a look.
NEARER THE GROUND
There aren't many proper pubs down there really (the ones above are probably 25-30 mins walk away). There is a place called 'FEAST AT THE MILLS' which is kind of half way between town and the ground which, apparently (not been in) does decent food and decent beer.
A WORD ON PIES...
Of course, it's a myth that the Wigan pie thing has anything at all to do with everyone's favourite meaty, pastry-clad comestibles (it's all to do with the 1925 Miners' Strike, - we don't need to get into that) but the 'Wigan Kebab' is maybe worth sampling for those who don't mind their cholesterol taking a hit. It's basically a pie in what the locals call a 'barm'. It'll certainly soak the ale up if nowt else!
ONES THE AVOID
There are a few pubs around these others which might be best left. These include 'The George', 'The Dog and Partridge' and 'Harry's Bar'.
Hope you all have a splendid trip down and a top day out, and fingers crossed for the upset and a place in the third round.
Up the Bluebirds.
THE SWAN AND RAILWAY
Right opposite Wigan North Western station (if you're coming by train, or even if you're not). It's a CAMRA pub (and in this year's Good Beer Guide I believe) so you'll get a good pint in there. It does Pieminister pies too, which are rather good.
JOHN BULL CHOP HOUSE
About 5 mins walk into town is this 500 year old boozer. Always got good beers on, and has a cracking jukebox. Worth a look in the evening too if anyone's around (good atmosphere and never any bother) and has a green outside, although that's perhaps not so attractive in December.
GRAND CENTRAL
Couple of mins from the station (towards the ground) is this nice bar beneath the railway arches. Has a station theme, good beers on, and the seats out front are always busy (suspect this is somewhere both sets of fans will end up).
WIGAN BREWHOUSE TAPROOM
Never been in here but they do some excellent beers which regularly grace my local. Worth popping in to sample some local produce. Open 1-8pm by the looks of it.
THE RAVEN
Another old pub on the main drag. Worth a look.
NEARER THE GROUND
There aren't many proper pubs down there really (the ones above are probably 25-30 mins walk away). There is a place called 'FEAST AT THE MILLS' which is kind of half way between town and the ground which, apparently (not been in) does decent food and decent beer.
A WORD ON PIES...
Of course, it's a myth that the Wigan pie thing has anything at all to do with everyone's favourite meaty, pastry-clad comestibles (it's all to do with the 1925 Miners' Strike, - we don't need to get into that) but the 'Wigan Kebab' is maybe worth sampling for those who don't mind their cholesterol taking a hit. It's basically a pie in what the locals call a 'barm'. It'll certainly soak the ale up if nowt else!
ONES THE AVOID
There are a few pubs around these others which might be best left. These include 'The George', 'The Dog and Partridge' and 'Harry's Bar'.
Hope you all have a splendid trip down and a top day out, and fingers crossed for the upset and a place in the third round.
Up the Bluebirds.
