CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

MANCHESTER, GREATER - Westhoughton, White Lion

National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part One

2 Market Street, Westhoughton, Westhoughton, BL5 3AN

(B5235)

Tel: 01942 811991

Draught Beer & Cider: Holts real ales

Public Transport: Railway Station: Westhoughton

Listed Status: Not listed

View this pub on a local map

A plain corner-site pub with a remarkably intact interior refitted probably in the 1920s. A lobby with a tiled dado leads into a large drinking lobby also with a tiled dado. The centre-piece of the pub is the servery which has still-working etched rising sash screens and a tile-fronted counter in buff, blue-grey and a few multi-coloured patterned tiles. A door on the front left leads into the vault with four sections of the screened servery, the two on the left being curved, there is a 1920s tiled and wood surround fireplace and original fixed seating. Note the old gas water heater for hot toddy's. A disused central door has 'vault' etched panel and recently a new door was added on the far left to give access to the modernised toilets.

At the rear is the so-called ‘ugly’ room with another two sections of screened server, a fine but disused tiled and wood surround fireplace and more original fixed seating. On the right of the drinking lobby is the small 'John Hyde Suite' named after a former local which retains original fixed benches that have been refurbished. In this room, the ‘ugly’ room and, unusually, in the vaults there are bell pushes for table service which operated right up to the 1970s. There is an opened-up darts room on the rear right which has been completely refitted, and a 'Gentlemen' etched panel in the door to the gents'. There is quite a good selection of original 'White Lion' etched glass windows all around the pub.