The Brasserie Chalon, St. Helens

walked in to have a look and immediately back out again as loud dance music was playing at nightclub volume at 8pm. there's a nice beer garden at the back which was populated by some smokers. there were a few inside watching the rugby but I didn't really fancy joining them. it looked like a standard town centre pub and is probably okay in the afternoon.

The promise of real ale is emblazoned on the outside of this pub and 9 times out of 10 you will be severely mislead. Since it reopened a few years back I have yet to see any real ale on the two handpumps on the bar. Maybe I've been unlucky. Today was yet another day my luck was out. Its a single roomed pub and a decent looking one too but constant disappointment pervades. I've no doubt they serve the stuff just not when I'm in.

A busy corner pub this one, with a traditional L shaped lounge and bar. I was expecting this to be quite foodie hence the name. It's most definitely pub, with two handpumps, serving Black Sheep and a Hardy and Hanson's.