John Bull Chophouse, Wigan

This is a Thwaites house selling 6 of their beers on handpump including a couple from their now parent brewer Marston's. It's a bit hard to find with the entrance being up an alley. I walked past, once in each direction before I spotted it. A bare flag floor and bare brick walls make this look "old" although I'm pretty sure the decor is fairly new. Thers's an upstairs area with a pool table and a dartboard. There's a very good jukebox downstairs which was playing the Jam, Stranglers, Clash etc during my visit. Friendly bar staff add to the positives. This is a very good pub, in fact it's probably the best Thwaites pub I've ever been in.

I only had time for a very fleeting visit here. It doesn't look much like an original pub but is quite old inside with wooden beams and a tiled floor. It's long and narrow with a small bar at one end and a small upstairs area. There is a prominent jukebox. I found it quite dark but the wooden tables had lighted candles on them. It was fairly quiet on my Thursday evening visit. The bar has six hand pumps which as it is a Thwaite's house had mostly their and Marston's beer, although it may be all from the same source by now. I noticed Titanic Steerage (£2.95) so thought I would give it a try as it normally flies under my beer radar. It was in excellent condition but would probably have made a better first pint of the day. I didn't really take to this pub that much as it struck me as a late night music sort of place but would be happy to return even if just to check out the jukebox.

Official site of The John Bull Chophouse - www.johnbullchophousewigan.co.uk

Official site of The John Bull Chophouse - www.johnbullchophousewigan.co.uk

A good pub that likes its rock music. 6 handpumps dispensing Thwaites beers. A rock jukebox that would be greatly enhanced with the addition of Sonic Youth and Half Man Half Biscuit tunes.