Wigan Central, Wigan

Being housed under a couple of railway arches Wigan Central has a rail theme running throughout, from train compartment like booths along the right wall and rail signs on the walls to a carriage shaped bar on the left rear wall and signals on the tables that can be raised for table service. This bar supports seven handpumps that, on a recent Monday afternoon visit, were drawing Bank Top Signal, Deeply Vale Brewery’s Sirrilo, Red Rose Brewery’s Treacle Miners Tipple, Mallinsons Shifting Sands, Wishbone Brewery’s Abyss, Peerless Brewing’s Kaibosh and Ben's Brewery’s Blighty. There are also seven fonts for pouring premium and craft keg. To the right of the bar is a long shelving unit that stocks lots of craft cans and bottles for drink-in or take-away. A screen above this unit displays available beers and adverts for upcoming events, which are held in the second railway arch to the right. A second screen displays Wigan Railway Station’s departures board. The service was polite and there was a good atmosphere. This, added to the proximity to the station means that I’ll certainly be visiting here again at some point in the future.

Visited on a recent weekday late afternoon, and Wigan Central was pretty busy. Seven hand pulls at the bar with one off. A mix of styles though the two stouts I had were both a bit liquoricey - one was advertised as such, the other not. They set me back £1.80 and £1.85 for a half. Various keg options too, if the cask doesn't float your boat. Pork pies are sold at the bar, and possibly scotch eggs too. In the main room there are some booths made to look like train carriages plus standard tables and chairs. The tables have railway style signals fixed to them, that you can apparently raise for table service - though nobody appeared to be using these at the time of my visit and I didn't even realise their purpose until I clocked the sign later on. There is a separate room extending into the unit to the right; this contained additional seating but I did not investigate. A popular place and well worth a visit when in the area.

Housed in a couple of the arches on the south side of the North Western station, the decorative theme is naturally railway-related and this extends to three train compartment-style booths opposite a reconstructed ticket office façade, and the bar counter is also styled to look like a open-sided carriage. Several small tables can be found out on the pavement, and the next-door arch (The Platform) may be used for events? However, the weekly quiz was in full swing during my Monday-night visit, and live music is advertised for every Sunday afternoon. Although seven real ales in a range of different styles were available from the seven handpumps, I opted for the regular Totem from the owning Prospect Brewery (£2.90).

Wigan Central has now been extended with the use of arch 2 and is called The Platform which includes more beer barrels and a stage in the left hand corner.Very busy on our Saturday evening visit.