The Saddle Inn, Stanley Park, Blackpool

One of the best locals pub in Blackpool always been a good house and always busy will always call when in the area and a very nice drinking area out the back

Located just a short distance from Stanley Park and well away from the tourist masses, the Saddle Inn is a wonderful traditional pub which has retained its multiple room layout. A blue plaque outside explains that the current building dates back to 1776 and was owned by a saddler by the name of Richard Hall. It also notes that the pub is currently the longest continuously licenced premises in Blackpool. You enter directly into the bar area which feels a bit like a corridor bar, although the front left room has been opened out slightly to joint this space, allowing a bit of light around the otherwise gloomy servery, which runs in an L shape in the rear left corner of the pub. There is a small seating area in the front left with banquette seating and bell pushes as well as a TV showing rolling news. The right hand side of the pub sees two charming and almost identical lounges, laid out in an elongated fashion, running from the bar. They are carpeted and have long leather banquettes, also with bell pushes, tiled fireplaces and lots of photos and paintings on the wall, with the rear lounge having a distinct sporting theme to these images. A muted TV was on in at least one of the lounges, showing coverage of the Winter Paralympics. The pub is run by the Stonegate company and their reasonably priced pub grub menu was proving quite popular with a steady stream of locals who popped in throughout my Monday lunchtime visit. Perhaps it was the timing of my stay that meant that I was a good 40 years younger than the average age of the other customers, but they seemed like a friendly bunch and strangely enhanced the traditional feel of the place. Perhaps the most satisfying thing about the pub was the fact that the rooms were all used for seating, whilst so many other old Blackpool boozers have stripped rooms out for pool tables and the like. There's a pretty large car park to one side of the pub and a decent enough outdoor seating area. I counted six handpulls on the bar which were dispensing Bass, Lytham Royal and British Pride, Wentworth Heartbeat and Greene King IPA with Milestone Luck of the Irish due to come on soon. I tried the Royal which was in pretty good shape and served up by a friendly barmaid. I wasn't really expecting anything special on this visit, but ironically this was probably the best pub I visited over a weekend in Blackpool. This is a must do for pub traditionalists and well worth a look for those wanting an good pint in sociable surroundings.

Official site of the Saddle Inn, contains menus - www.thesaddleblackpool.co.uk

Official site of the Saddle Inn, contains menus - www.thesaddleblackpool.co.uk