The Anvil, Wigan

The Anvil is an old school feeling boozer with at least three rooms / sections, and what looked like it could possibly be a function room at the end of the corridor near the gents. At the bar on Wednesday lunchtime I found five hand pulls offering cask ale, an additional two unclipped, and a final two dedicated to real cider. My Old Boston (plum porter) by Wigan Brewhouse slipped down very nicely. At least one or two other ales by this brewery were also available. A handful of what I assume to be locals / regulars were spread across the main section of the pub at the time of my visit, though I imagine it can get a bit livelier later on. Having said that, it doesn't seem like the kind of place that would attract or tolerate idiots. There is banquette seating, old worn varnished tables, and a slightly faded patterned carpet. There was a TV on in one of the rooms but not sure what it was showing. This is a clean pub (including the toilets) and there was a slight smell of bleach or chlorine throughout. Well worth a look.

The Anvil has a central bar that faces banquettes under the front windows. More seating is found in areas to the left and the right of the bar. Televisions are located throughout for airing Sky Sports. The bar supports nine handpumps, four of which were unused during a recent Monday evening visit. Mallinsons Brewing’s Motueka and Moutere, Wigan Brewhouse’s Dry Bones, Thwaites Wainwright and Thistly Cross Cider were the cask options. A standard and premium keg range is also available. This is a decent pub that’s well worth a visit.

Fine real ale pub, retaining three distinct areas in the partly opened-out interior, with the bar in the central section. Separate rooms can be found on either side; one refurbished in the same lighter style but the other darker despite it being on the corner and having windows on two sides. Patio seating can also be found out in the rear yard. An array of nine handpumps offers two draught ciders and seven cask beers in a wide range of styles, including Deception (£2.55) as one of a pair from Abbeydale.