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Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Old Black Bull, Preston
Preston
PR1 2AT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about The Old Black Bull
Disappointing. I came, as I am a sucker for external tiling. Its also on a Lancs CAMRA pub crawl itinerary and a former pub of the year.
I dont know what year.
The TT Landlord was in ropey condition. Not bad enough to take back but bad enough that you think the brewery would stop them selling it in inferior quality.
Signs on the walls saying "drug taking not tolerated". Which you know means there is a drug taking problem.
Slightly grim atmosphere that you can get when peed up thugs are mingling with students, who do not know about pool etiquette.
So many better places in town to spend your money.
On 9th May 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Old Black Bull
A fine-looking building with a Tudorbethan upper facade, but the glazed green tilework lower down is spectacular. Unfortunately, there is no character left in the comprehensively remodelled bar space, pool area or slightly lower side room. That just leaves the small front 'vault' where the dartboard is located as being the least altered part. As a Greene King house, it was no surprise to find IPA (£3.80) on the three handpumps, with Landlord available as a guest on another.
On 25th April 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Old Black Bull
Another change of course for this Greene King pub as the previous landlady of the Dog & Partridge has moved here and wants to make it the number one place for the loud heavy stuff in Preston. a few real ales on from the GK portfolio. Nothing to make a beeline for unless you have a thing for leather clad rockers.
On 10th February 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Old Black Bull
A lovely looking pub from outside with its green tiled frontage. Inside it is a comfortable, if basic, interior and consisting of 2 rooms. The larger room is nice and there were 8 real ales to choose from. None of the beers were any of your nationals such as Pedigree, Bombardier etc. Well worth a visit.
On 6th August 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Old Black Bull
A GBG from 1978 reveals that this was once a Boddington's house in the days when their bitter was still a legendary drink. This place still has a Boddington's sign right by the main road hoarding that mars the side view of this pub.
Inside it is essentially one large room but there is a tiny separate room at the front that I didn't venture into. There were some TV screens showing some sporting rubbish or other.
The bar has numerous hand pumps and I managed to note Blackedge Zinc & Treacle Stout, Prospect Silver Tally & Blinding Light, GK Old Golden Hen, Robinson's Dizzy Blonde, a couple from Moorhouse and a house beer by Tetley. I went for the Treacle Stout (£3.20) which was in excellent condition. Sadly I completely forgot about the CAMRA discount.
I quite liked it here but would avoid if there was live music or a major sporting event. One highlight was that halfway through my pint a man with a pint of lager sat near me who was the spitting image of Phil Mitchell in Eastenders, although his head didn't look as though it was about to explode!
On 26th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about Old Black Bull
Never alters but why should it got 10 hand pulls on the bar proper ale house like they used to be always call in when in that part of preston
On 23rd November 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 122 recommendations about 122 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Old Black Bull
There are plenty of pubs to choose from along Friargate, but with only enough time to visit a couple, I turned to the local CAMRA magazine in the hope of identifying one with a decent ale range, and the end result was a visit to the Old Black Bull. The pub was in the middle of a Welsh Beer Festival when I arrived, with a staggering number of Welsh brews listed on the bar, although only a selection of them were available at any one time. The handpulls were dispensing New Plassey Cwrw Tundo and New World Pale, Tiny Rebel Dirty Stop Out, Moorhouse Bitter, Grey Trees JPR’s Ale, Old Black Bull Cask Ale, Celt Experience Brigid Fire, Otley Colomb-O, Fuzzy Duck Drunken Duck and Fullers Chiswick. A fine selection and very difficult to choose between, although I eventually opted for the JPR’s Ale, which was in very good shape.
The pub is fairly prominent, occupying a corner site where the A59 cuts through Friargate. You enter through a frosted glass ‘Old Black Bull’ door into the main bar with the servery running down the left hand side of a checkerboard floor room. The servery has plenty of dark wood, but much of it was obscured by ugly Six Nations flags and bunting. To the right, hidden behind a couple of broad pillars, there is a comfy looking seating area, decorated with some frosted glass partitioning screens. Beyond, to the rear, there is a large opened out room with bare floorboards, button backed leather banquettes around the perimeter and standard and low stool seating elsewhere. A large fireplace on the back wall had frustratingly been obscured by a high backed pew positioned in front of it, which seemed a shame. Most of the pub has half panelled walls with a dark paint scheme above, which isn’t quite as bland as it sounds. The front corridor also gives access to a small, public bar on the left hand side, but I only spotted this as I was leaving, so I didn’t get a good look. There were lots of TV screens showing coverage of the Cheltenham Races during my stay, with the commentary playing throughout the pub. A large group of lads behind me got very excited and vocal when their horse stormed to victory in one of the races, but this was treated with good humour by the staff and customers alike and didn’t seem to represent the norm.
This is a nice traditional style pub in which the beer really takes centre stage. It’s a shame they’ve covered up some of the more potentially attractive features, but it doesn’t detract too much from a very enjoyable pub experience.
On 24th April 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Old Black Bull
The pub is mentioned in a document of 1776. This pub really stands out on its own on a corner along Friargate. The pub features a very elaborate example of glazed brick work, which incorporates door pediments and corbels. With the upper floors finished in Brewers Tudor. The interior consists of a small front bar, a large room with the main bar and a small private room on the right. The main bar is traditional in style with a brass rail along the counter. The main room has a magnificent tiled floor.
Another attractive feature was the choice of ten handpulled ales. We went for the Winston Valley Brewery Lakes Blonde.
On 25th February 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
T VALTOJOS left this review about Old Black Bull
A fairly big watering hole. Pub was full on our visit but still managed to get served fairly easily.
One of the better pubs in Preston. Good sport coverage.
On 22nd September 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 24 recommendations about 24 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mat Nichol left this review about Old Black Bull
Not to be confused with The Old Bull, just a few hundred yards away, this pub is a pretty good starting point for your night out. Its opposite Greyfriars (if I've got the right pub).
On 3rd May 2007
- rating: 6
[User has posted 115 recommendations about 115 pubs]