Yellow Monkey, Wigan

Attractive modern café / bar, with the light furniture and decor very much giving the appearance of the former. However, once past the salads, cakes and nuts in the display cabinet, you find a bank of five handpumps offering the 'house' DHB, York Guzzler, Prospect Silver Talley, Martland Hill D-Day Dodger and Irlam Works Breadcrumbs (£2.80). There is also a fount on the counter with two craft keg taps and another five on the side wall dispensing Avalon 'cydra' and a few standard keg beers. Not one for the traditionalists, perhaps, but worth seeking out.

A well run Micro this one, with a choice of five ales. There was also a varied choice of snacks kept in a refrigerated counter under the bar. Offerings ranged from small pork pies to small bowls of olives, which were all a premium price. There was a long shelf and bar stools along the front window, so we took up residence there for a while quaffing their ales. I found the majority of ales on this visit to be too sweet and The Martland Mill Brewery Lancashire Loom was about the best choice.

Opened in August 2014 in an old florists shop by the former proprietors of the nearby Royal Oak, this place has kick-started a bit of a micro-pub revolution in and around Wigan, with several others following swiftly in its wake. This pub has a pretty good location opposite Mesnes Park, not too far from the town centre but far enough to prevent constant over-crowding. As with most micro pubs, it's a single room affair, set in an angular bare boarded room with the servery and a small deli counter on the left hand side, next to the entrance. The room has been filled with several chunky square tables surrounded by padded high backed chairs which were pretty comfortable. A couple of drinking ledges next to the bar and on the rear wall, coupled with an upturned barrel or two, offer a few more surfaces on which to rest your pint, but space is obviously at a bit of a premium, which is of course, part of the appeal. The décor is pretty unusual, with brick effect wallpaper to the side of the bar and a strange animal themed wallpaper covering the rear wall, depicting images of kangaroos in boxing gloves, dogs with birthday cakes and frogs supping ale among other things. It's all rather unconventional and whilst it doesn't really work to enhance a traditional drinking environment, it's not entirely out of place in what is essentially a quirky, modern pub concept. The light fixtures include light shades made from antlers and there is a window on the rear wall that lets a bit more daylight in and had a pile of CAMRA literature on the sill. There are also some café style tables and chairs on the pavement outside and anyone hoping to attend with kids or dogs in tow will need to be aware that they would have to remain outside. The bar supports five handpulls - probably the most I've seen in a micro pub to date - and there was a good selection available on this visit comprising Bank Top Bad to the Bone and Flat Cap, Blackedge Black and HoP and Weetwood Cheshire Cat which was later replaced by Prospect Silver Tally. There are no keg fonts, but there was a small range of bottled beer options in the fridges. I tried the Blackedge Black, a favourite of mine, and found it in superb condition, prompting me to abandon plans to visit another pub and instead stay for a very good pint of the HoP. Staff and clientele all seemed very friendly and there was a good deal of trade passing through during my stay, without it ever getting too busy. I really liked this place from the minute I walked through the door. The pub is welcoming, comfortable, personable and serves excellent beer and whilst some traditionalists may find it too much like a café bar, the traditional values of a good pub remain apparent. I was very disappointed to learn that the Royal Oak was now closed, but its spiritual successor is a worthy replacement.