The Freemasons, Bolton

The Freemasons is a large open plan pub with a bar counter up the left-hand wall and banquettes around the exterior walls, including in a snug in the right front. There are a couple of fruit machines and on the rear wall is a dartboard. Televisions are found throughout and Sky and TNT Sports are advertised. There was no sport on during my Tuesday evening visit so some background music played. This was the busiest pub I visited during my crawl of the area, there’s not much competition. No real ale, just standard keg alongside Birra Moretti, Madri and Cruzcampo.

This is a big pub with an attractive red brick exterior. Inside is also nicely done with leather seating all around the walls plus a few more in the middle of the pub. It's all very pleasant if a bit generic. Three handpumps on the bar with two on, both serving Reedley Hallows beers. I decided to have a pint of the New Zealand Pale, this was a mistake. It was warm, badly conditioned and only just about drinkable, in fact I left about half of it. Worst pint this year so far.

This pub has recently reopened and renamed back to the Freemasons. Wonderful refurbishment and a wonderful warm welcome on arrival. Now serving cask ale again with ales coming from wells, robin sons and even Hogarths own brew from its sister pub in Bolton. Trading now as a traditional pub which specialises in live sports. No discos in the establishment as seen all the young trouble move away which has left a more mature clientale.