Preston Crawl, Friday 22nd April 2022

[sheffield hatter]

This is from the original Northern crawl thread, but will do to kick off discussion about the route:

Preston is pretty good, but there's quite a long way between pubs. I was there in August with a crew from Beer and Pubs Forum - see this thread: my post on 13 August has itinerary and walking distances, to save you reading the whole thing. Their suggested lunch stop in the Wellington was pretty awful, despite being in the Good Beer Guide, so in the interest of research I also visited Hogarths (cheap beer but good condition), the Princess Alice, the Wellfield and the Plug & Taps microbar (standing room only at tea time). My idea of the best of Preston based on this visit would be as follows:

Continental
Old Vic
Hogarths
Old Blue Bell
Guild Ale House
Moorbrook
Vinyl Tap
Market Tap
Black Horse
Plug & Taps

Others that may be worth a try: The Orchard, Plau, The Northern Way or even the (no longer Mad) Ferret. Any more, anyone?

Suggested route:

Old Vic
Continental
Plug & Taps
Black Horse
Plau/Northern Way/Ferret (wild cards)
Vinyl Tap
Moorbrook
Guild Alehouse
Twelve Tellers/Olde Blue Bell/Hogarths
Market Tap

Haven't checked opening times except Plug & Taps which is 1pm, so should be open by the time we get back from the Continental.

This is only a rough draft and it's more than three months until the day, so I hope there'll be some more ideas.

[Aqualung]

Suggested route:

Old Vic
Continental
Plug & Taps
Black Horse
Plau/Northern Way/Ferret (wild cards)
Vinyl Tap
Moorbrook
Guild Alehouse
Twelve Tellers/Olde Blue Bell/Hogarths
Market Tap

When I visited Preston 5 years ago I went to the Old Black Bull which was probably GBG listed at the time. It's close to the Black Horse etc, but has it gone to pot?

[sheffield hatter]

When I visited Preston 5 years ago I went to the Old Black Bull which was probably GBG listed at the time. It's close to the Black Horse etc, but has it gone to pot?

Yes. At least, the review from Jon B in 2018 would suggest so. However, WhatPub from last August says there are two hand pumps with beers from micros or small independent breweries.

[Spinko]

When I visited Preston 5 years ago I went to the Old Black Bull which was probably GBG listed at the time. It's close to the Black Horse etc, but has it gone to pot?

It went to pot during my time there from June 2016 to August 2018. The crawl looks well planned, I'd perhaps switch the Conti and Old Vic around but I suppose as it stands is useful for the station.

[Brainypool]

I like Preston, a quite vibrant city centre which has been revitalised in recent years. And pubs don't really get much better than The Black Horse as far as I'm concerned.

Old Boots covers most pubs that are worth visiting. I would also mention the Roper Hall which is a chain student pub but with very good beer, the Otters Pocket which is a pie and ale place with three good ales on (I usually eat here when I'm in Preston) and Wings & Beer Co which is an American sports bar with five good ales on. The Princess Alice is also handy for the Moorbrook but not worth going out of your way for.

The Dog & Partridge, Old Black Bull, Stanley Arms, New Brit, and Ale Emporium/Speakeasy all used to be very good pubs but I would not recommend any of them now. The Wellington has been GBG listed recently but it's Marstons and mediocre in my opinion.

[Aqualung]

It went to pot during my time there from June 2016 to August 2018. The crawl looks well planned, I'd perhaps switch the Conti and Old Vic around but I suppose as it stands is useful for the station.

It sounds like a waste of time now!

[Aqualung]

I'd perhaps switch the Conti and Old Vic around but I suppose as it stands is useful for the station.

I tend to agree with that. I would only go to the Continental if I could get a bus there but the Vic opens at 10:00 rather than midday.

[oldboots]

The Old Vic is probably best placed as a meeting point being handy for the station and the better pubs, there are worse pubs in Preston. I've never been in the Continental due to its location.

[sheffield hatter]

I would only go to the Continental if I could get a bus there

How about a taxi share with three other non-walkers?

[sheffield hatter]

The Old Vic is probably best placed as a meeting point being handy for the station and the better pubs, there are worse pubs in Preston.

Couldn't be much better placed for the station.

I've never been in the Continental due to its location.

The most direct route to the Continental from the railway line is to leap from the train just after crossing the Ribble (if approaching from the south). Probably not advisable.

There is a fairly pleasant walk of just over half a mile*, for those with the legs, lungs and heart to take it on, but the bad news is that it's a similar distance back, and uphill.



* West on Fishergate, crossing the railway bridge and passing County Hall, then left on Walton's Parade, right as it peters out, then left on West Cliff. This looks like it's heading for a dead end, but it continues as a footpath into Avenham and Miller Park. Avoid the railway underpass by turning right on a path and following the railway track (from below) as it approaches the river. Google maps loses the path at this point, but on the ground it emerges beside a sports ground with the pub in sight just before the river, on the corner of South Meadow Lane to the right.