Forester's Call, Ashton Central, Ashton-Under-Lyne

The Forester’s Call has a nice brown tiled exterior with two large arched front windows. To the left of the entrance is a dartboard and red banquettes with tables and matching stools are found in the left rear. To the right of the entrance is a pool table and a small bar runs across the rear. standard keg is available and one of the hand pumps was unused and the second was reverse clipped with Wychwood’s Brewdolph. Some old pump clips on the brown painted ceiling beams suggest regular cask ale. A couple of televisions were playing ITV News, live football is advertised. This was my fifth pub of the day and the first that I would consider returning to.

A friendly if basic pub. Only the one cask ale despite the 2 handpumps and this was Pedigree. Its not a bad place and better than the one opposite. Being an afternoon drinker I've no idea what its like of a night. And I ain't from round here so never will.

Simply furnished one roomer with a variety of seating areas. There's a small beer garden at the rear and there's also pool and darts. Large screen TV showing cricket when I visited early on a Friday evening. A real mix of clientele and a friendly barmaid added to the pleasant ambience of the pub. There are 2 handpumps, but only one was on which was Howard Town Wren's Nest. The barmaid told me that they usually only have the one on as current trade doesn't allow for more except occasionally. The one beer is a constantly rotating guest from a selection of local breweries. There's a CAMRA discount of 10p per pint. I liked this pub, it's definitely one of the better pubs in Ashton.

When i visited this pub it was called Hollys,the pub is on the opposite corner to the Star Inn. Once inside the pub had recently been done up,there was a decent sized single room,the room was bare boarded and had lots of normal tables and chairs. The pub was a Vaux house at the time of my visit,there was one real ale on the bar,this was Vaux Samson,this was quite a nice drink. It is nice to see the pub reverting back to its orignal name. Pub visited 29/7/1995

A street corner community local with a very fine glazed tile exterior and traditional etched glass windows.The interior is now open plan but the supporting beams hint at an older two room layout.To the right of the entrance there is a pool table ,while to the left there are three large banquettes with many tables and chairs .There is a dart board and two flats screens that show Sky Sports and ESPN but on my lunchtime trip sadly Dickinson's Real Deal was being aired,why bother ? The bar is in the right corner and there was a very friendly welcome.Two handpumps but only one operational, serving a decent pint of Holt's Maplemoon and very good value at £2.10.There is a good collection of pump clips on the beams and clearly the pub's description as a freehouse is accurate. The lunchtime crowd was a mature group who didn't seem to mind having strangers in their midst,and given the good beer quality,I would try a revisit to see what ales are featuring on the bar in future.

Called in on the 20th of Feb very frendly people a bit rough and ready sort of a bunch a place if you want a fight you will get one. Will call back