The Bank Top Brewery Tap, Astley Bridge, Bolton

Another bus trip out of town to get the GBG Tick. A traditional two roomer, full with horse racing fans and men with dogs. A bewildering array of nine handpulls from the brewery on. I went for the dark mild, a champion winner. Full of life, if you catch it at the right time.

Our final pub of an 18-pub Greater Manchester crawl was the Bank Top Brewery Tap. This was actually the first pub of the day that I was re-visiting after being last in here in 2013 possibly prior to a football match. It is very much the same as I remember, being a two-room backstreet pub with welcoming staff. I wasn't quite sure what welcome we would get, as we were arriving close to last orders. However, I managed to get two swift halves in with no pressure to leave. Bank Top beers generally include Dark Mild, Flat Cap, Pavilion Pale Ale & Palomino Rising. Also on from Bank Top were Bad To The Bone, Drayman's Draught, Port O'Call & Harlequin. The guest beer was Acorn Summer Pale. Real ciders were Sandford Orchards Devon Mist, Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon & Red Bank Autumn Orchard. Situated a little north of the town centre, this is still one of the most consistently reliable pubs in Bolton.