Top Lock, Chorley

The Top Lock is an appealing pub in a great location at Hillcock Top Lock. Inside it's a fairly dull, but not unpleasant, one roomed affair. The bar is to the right as you enter and you won't miss it because it's where all the vertical drinking is happening. Around the walls are tables and those to the left were popular with diners while the rest were, sensibly, being used for drinking. Don't be put off by the punters at the bar, we found them to be both friendly and knowledgable on the ale front. My guess is that if you were on your own the problem would be not getting involved in a session rather than getting to the bar. The food range is pub grub but is clearly home cooked although our experience was mixed and if you're eating go for whatever's on 'special' or is simple. The ale though is top notch. On our visit the choice was: Oakham Citra, Abbeydale Demon Drink, Jaipur IPA, Landlord, Bragdy Conwy Mulberry Dark, Rudgate Diamond Jubilee, Acorn Gorlovka, Holts Humdinger and Coniston Bluebird. A great range across both strength and styles and in top nick. Those vertical drinkers have a lot to be grateful for and us occasional visitors should thank them for managing to sustain such a range. A great ale house.

A stone built pub overlooking Johnson's Hillock Top Lock on the Leeds and Liverpool,the first floor is now a tea shop and ice cream parlour,while the real action is on the ground floor.You enter into what is a very large,square carpeted lounge with three huge banquettes along the wall with views over the lock.There are also a few dining tables and chairs while the bar runs along a back wall.The interior decor is pleasant but not unusual and standard pub grub is served until 8pm,mains generally £6-£8,apart from an additional curry dish on Tuesday evenings at £7.50 which proved very good and rightly popular. The remarkable thing about this pub is the fantastic ale range dispensed from nine handpumps.There is always a mild and the stout on our trip was Acorn Gorluvka,the bitters span across different styles which included a near perfect Oakham Citra.The GBG listing is full deserved and for my money this is one of the premier ale houses in the UK. The locals do gather around the bar,and appear to be blockers,but if you show interest in inspecting the handpumps,they will invariably part like the Red Sea, strike up a conversation about which ones they have really liked,and what's settling in the cellar.There are a lot of knowledgeable folk here on the ale front. The pub location does feel remote,there are only a few buildings nearby,but the locals,walkers and boaters have an absolute gem to savour.It may not have the most attractive interior,the food is adequate,but with that ale line up who cares.It's a must visit.