The White Lion, Wigan

What better place to start a pub crawl than a pub that opens at 10am! Having double checked the opening time in advance, I was amazed to arrive at this pub situated close to the M6 shortly before 11am only to find the large car park absolutely packed. It turns out that the world and its wife visits this pub for breakfast on a weekend morning. On entering, I was asked if I'd booked and invited to sit outside, as it was full inside. Needless to say, despite being undercover, the cold and drizzly Lancashire weather was not particularly conducive to outdoor drinking. So, I asked if I could stand at the bar and was surprised that they agreed. Jenning's Cumberland Ale is the regular beer here. Guests included some non-Marston's beers, which was a surprise considering this is a Marston's establishment. The selection was Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold, Marston's 61 Deep, Timothy Taylor Boltmaker, Eagle IPA, Bowland Boxer Blonde & Moorhouse's White Witch. Standing at the central bar, I could see that most tables were indeed occupied, primarily with families. Any free tables had reserved signs on them and just as I was about to bemoan the fact that some tables remained occupied during my visit, the one closest to me was soon filled with another hungry family. The pub was noisy and as has previously been said, it is primarily a dining location. Perhaps the pub takes on a different form later in the day/evening when diners have dispersed and perhaps my morning visit was inappropriately timed. But my first impressions mean that it's unlikely I'll ever find out for certain.

this is a very, very food led village ‘pub’. modern smart decor and there were only a few hi vis men at the bar to make me feel like I was in a boozer at all. Marstons staples and the odd guest ale available but I couldn’t care less I was itching to leave just to get away from waitresses asking to take my order!

Winner of Wigan CAMRA Pub of the Season award for Summer 2011

Official site of the White Lion, contains menus - www.thewhitelionlancs.co.uk

A country farmhouse style pub that was originally an ale house until the long standing landlord retired in 1976. The brewery then extended the pub by purchasing the adjoining cottages and turning them into the retsuarant that we see today. The name was also changed to the Tudor Inn but reverted back to the White Lion in 2007 when it underwent a further refurbishment which has ironically given it a bit of a dated look with contrived modern brickwork and features that don’t really fit in with the image of the pub from the outside. There were 4 Ales on my visit; Jennings Cumberland, Marsdens Pedigree, Titanic Iceberg & Banks Bitter and I managed to get thorugh all 4 during the course of my visit with the quality being very good on all counts (note – a further 4 ales have been added since my visit). We also dined here but the restaurant was full (usually a good sign) and, like several others, we ate in the bar area which I would have expected to be busier on a Saturday night given that the restaurant was full. The food was deent enough and value for money without being particularly groundbreaking or exciting. Service was good and despite being food orientated there was enough space for the drinkers, even given the dining overspill into the main bar although the locals tended to hog the bar itself rather than take up the tables. There is a decent garden with kids play area and it does strike me as being more of a summer place than one for the ravages of winter. I would certainly return if in the area although the décor is a bit to modern for my tastes. My notes also mention the word ghost but I don’t recall any out of the ordinary experiences!

Official site of the White Lion, contains menus - www.thewhitelionlancs.co.uk

This pub has now re-opened and is beginning to thrive again. Recently refurbished, it is now a Marstons' pub with a landlord keen on serving decent real ale. Well worth a visit.

Better know by many as The Tudor Inn but now reverted back to its original name - 'The White Lion'. Excellent food and decent real ale - a winning combination.