Buck Inn, Clitheroe

A nice solid looking pub. Its open plan inside and a bit dull. To the left is a pool table situated in a largish area. To the left is what amounts to a dancefloor judging by the disco lights above. A number of handpumps on the bar dispensed Thwaites beers on my visit (Wainwright, Bitter and a strange named one which I can't remember).

This is an impressive looking town centre pub with large marble pillars and attractive etched glass windows bearing the pub’s name, which creates a grand façade, sadly let down by the drab, open plan interior. The large single room is bare boarded with a three sided servery protruding from the rear wall. I struggled to work up much enthusiasm for the décor, which consisted of half pine panelled walls with the top half painted an off white shade, leaving the entire room feeling bland and somehow incomplete. The front left side has a large open area with limited fixed banquette seating, a nice looking fireplace, a TV screen showing At the Races and a pool table. Similarly, there is another open space to the front right which has a couple of tables and standard chairs on what appears to be a dancefloor, with a DJ booth tucked away in one corner. Presumably this space gets cleared prior to the disco and karaoke nights that are promoted throughout the pub. In the rear right corner there is another pool table stood in a raised area which is fenced off by a filigreed banister. Several TV screens around the room were showing a ‘vintage’ music channel, playing various obscure hits from the ‘80’s with the sound left on. Live music was also being promoted and there were several framed 7’’ records on the walls, which looked like they’d been procured from the retro collectables shop next door. To the rear there is a two tier garden which my notes record as being a ‘bit scruffy’, although on reflection, I think that description is pretty generous. There were several handpulls on the bar, some of which has duplicated clips, so the entire ale range actually only amounted to three Thwaites beers – Wainwright, Original and Nutty Black. Somehow I’d not come across the Nutty Black during my time in Lancashire, so I decided to give it a try and thought it was well below par. The barman was a bit distracted and the locals didn’t seem like the most welcoming bunch. I’d earmarked this pub as being a good chance to sample the full Thwaites range, but I was disappointed in both the selection and quality of the beer on offer. The pub itself is a real disappointment and no doubt a mere shadow of its former self. This is one of those pubs best appreciated from the outside.