Profil von knibbd

A wonderful, riverside pub with a great selection of real ales and a lot of other choices. The food can be brilliant and is always good.
Regular festivals and meetings, for example the Harley-Davidson owners groups meet during the summer for a massive fun day.
One word of warning; don’t go during very wet weather. Previous seasons high tides are marked on the bar!
Additional; 13.05.2013 – We have just presented the landlord and landlady with a CAMRA Certificate acknowledging fifteen continuous years in the Good Beer Guide. This is a very rare happening!

This was officially opened on 17th May, 2012, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It was created to replace a number of local functions, placing them all on one, easy to access, site.
Among other things, there are;
A large, fitness-style swimming pool (that is, NOT a "fun pool" like others in Warrington).
A Beginners Swimming area
A multi-function sports area
A local library
A number of Doctors' surgeries/medical centre
Cafe
Creche.

This is still being completed in a few parts, but is up-and-running for all the major units. I was especially pleased, as can be seen above, by the fact that the swimming area is actually conducive to fitness swimming, as, since the Victorian baths were bulldozed, there has been nowhere for us to exercise in the water. Woolston is a "fun pool" - designed for children and impossible to "swim lengths" as it has no length as such.
The local doctor's surgeries have all moved into the building and seem to have extremely modern, hygienic facilities, although there are teething problems with the telephone system.
The library is extremely up-to-date, with computerised scanning so that members can return and borrow books without the need for taking up a librarian's time. There is even a section which is accessible when the main part is closed, complete with terminal/scanner and a small selection of books.
The small cafe is excellent for a snack or coffee with friends or after exercising.

I really believe that someone has designed this centre after finding out what people wanted and with locals in mind. I am looking forward to many years of use - especially when I retire.

My wife and I have recently been part of a charity fun day on behalf of McIntyre and, consequently had experience of the various rooms and areas available on different floors. I am even more impressed now! All of the teething problems seem to have been sorted out and the hub is a thriving part of the Warrington community now. Please note that it is not just for the Orford area - this is a genuinely Warrington-wide resource.

I have visited this hotel a number of times but, due to its proximity to home, never to stay there. It is a venue for Haydock Male Voice Choir, numerous community groups and teams and quite a popular local "watering hole". The facilities are excellent and the welcome from the staff has always been faultless - they seem genuinely pleased to see all customers and knowledgeable about their product, whether the drinks or the hotel itself.
My only "gripe", and it is purely personal, is that I cannot review this pub for CAMRA's site as they don't serve any real ale. It is a Samuel Smith's bar, with the result that it is the cheapest beer in the area - currently Best Bitter is £1.70 per pint! This is a full pound less than anywhere else.
There are a number of bars and secluded areas, a couple of which have large-screen, 3D TVs which regularly show sports channels. I was impressed by the 3D football - especially when, according to my optician, I don't have 3D vision!
When visiting the bars or clubs, parking can be tricky, but there are plenty of side streets with available spaces within a minutes walk.
There is an attached food bar which serves excellent "All Day Breakfasts" as well as the usual items from the same - sausage butties and the like - at competitive prices.

It is very conveniently placed, being a couple of minutes walk from Newton-le-Willows railway station, on a bus route and a few minutes drive from the M6 and East Lancashire Road junction. There is a wonderful view from most windows as the hotel is directly opposite a quite beautiful church and churchyard.

A welcoming, family-orientated foodie pub.
Although one of our areas most recommended pubs, this is the first time I have been in since the early 1980's and it is very different!
The interior decoration/furnishings are warm and customer-friendly.
There is an impressive selection of well-kept and well served cask ales, as well as the usual lagers and smoothflow keg beers. The range of non-alcoholic drinks and spirits/liqueurs is, likewise, comprehensive.
All of the staff we encountered were knowledgeable and friendly but, it being a Monday lunchtime, there were not many customers to talk to.
Perusing the menu is very rewarding; there are some good bargains to be had and the choice of meals is promising - I have never seen T-Bone pork steaks before!
Pricing seems a little variable on the drinks; Marston's EPA is quoted on the menu as £1.99, yet we paid £3.06 for a pint from the next pump along.
There is a more than adequate car park and extensive outside seating with play area.

I have driven past here a great many times, but last night was the first time I have had the opportunity to visit the pub itself. This was a local CAMRA meeting, so we were fairly confident of finding decent real ale.
The pub has obviously had a major refurbishment recently, resulting in a magnificent community pub- almost large enough to be a community itself! The bar and restaurant areas are welcoming and uncluttered. There is a large conservatory-type extension at the back for functions, plus a wonderful function room which gives all the feelings of a medieval banquet hall!

The outside areas comprise a more than ample car park, a beer garden which could seat forty plus and a superb children's playground area.

All areas were extremely clean and well-looked-after - the toilets being small but very modern and hygienic.
All staff encountered seemed to be interested in serving and knowledgeable about their wares - the landlord especially so.

The only minus points for me were the fact that I had to drive to get there and back, hence I could only have a few tasters of the beers, and the price of said beers. When pubs nearer home are selling real ale for between £2.30 and £2.70 a pint, £2.95 seems a bit much for somewhere that is "off the beaten track". That said, I am still going to recommend The Black Swan to any friends for a visit.

This is one of a number of really old pubs in this one street in Warrington. Although the outside is covered by its listed status, the interior was comprehensively changed a few years back (including removing an original wattle and daub wall as it was inconveniently placed!).
New management as of August 2008, so we have to wait to see how the pub character develops.
Serves at least one real ale.
There is a huge well-appointed function room with a fantastic view of the high quality bowling green at the rear of the pub. Major headache trying to park anywhere near.

Now serves a choice of guest ales – currently three.
Michelle (current manager) has persuaded the pubco to allow a number of local real ales and is serving them in very good condition and at extremely competitive prices. This is a very pleasant local pub and now has a good selection of ales and a very welcoming, expert staff.

Update; 12.11.2012
Unfortunately, the same thing has happened here as happened to ourselves at the Ring O’ Bells. The owners of the property (NOT a brewery or pubco this time) raised the rent to ridiculous amounts and it has, consequently, not been open since the summer. This leaves a large area of this side of town without a decent community pub. Personally, I cannot understand why owners get so greedy that they will forego all profits rather than keep rents at a reasonable level.

This is an excellent example of a well run community pub, with a landlord who cares about his products. Mark, the landlord, is very knowledgeable about all drinks, but especially good on real ales. Up until earlier this year, he ran the Baltic Fleet pub in Liverpool, complete with its own brewery in the cellar (see any CAMRA review of champion real ales). Food is a little hit and miss at the moment, but may well improve in the near future.
Pub also has a selection of real ciders and lagers.
April 2009 – Mark still hasn’t got his brewery up and running, but has all the necessary parts. Food definitely improving, which is extremely surprising to anyone who has seen the size of their kitchen! Smaller than almost all household kitchens!
April 2011 – STILL problems with the brewery licences, National Heritage by all accounts! The pub is still well worth a visit as they stock some superb beers and ciders and the welcome is still warm.
December 2011 – (30th actually!)
My wife and I spent Friday night here as I had a surprise night off work. Coincidentally, it happened to be the best possible night to choose as they had one of their mini Beer Festivals running AND it was the monthly open-mike night.
Altogether, I sampled five excellent real ales and two superb ciders. Contrary to usual, the ciders weren’t mindblowers – one was 4% and the other 4.5%, but both were extremely tasty.
The musical contributions were also good, with a number of people offering to sing and/or play. This was spoiled only by the others who insisted on talking right through many of the songs and, at times, shouting to be heard above it! Very bad manners, to my thinking.
I would heartily recommend the Albion on the last Friday of any month.