The Blue Barrel, Castle, Northwich

The Blue Barrel has a pool room in the right side of the pub and a bar area in the left with a small L-shaped serving counter that faces banquettes up the left-hand wall. At the rear is more seating that was being used by some oldies who were playing dominoes. Televisions throughout were playing Tuesday evening Champs League via BT Sports. The bar is stocked with standard keg. The service was polite, but this is a very basic pub and, in my opinion, second to the Iron Bridge a few doors along.

The pub retains the old two room format with the lounge side and vault accessed separately from the street. The lounge side is divided into three connected areas and was fairly busy on an early Saturday lunchtime with most punters watching the early kick off match on Sky. Another screen was showing the horses, muted. Beamed ceiling, fireplace and bench type seating, the pub feels like it has been untouched for thirty years. There was no one in the vault but darts and pool are available in there. One hand pump, clip reversed but stated Blue Barrel Bitter, provenance unknown. I had a quick half of keg Stones Bitter, I haven't seen that for years. An available ale would improve this place but it had the feel of an old fashioned local so all the best for the future.