The pubs listed below have been serving cask beer more or less continually for the 50 years since the formation of Bolton CAMRA Branch in November 1976. For our anniversary year we aim to celebrate these pubs and their commitment to cask beer.
Duke of Wellington, Chew Moor
White Lion, Westhoughton
Finishers Arms, Heaton
Ainsworth Arms, Halliwell
Stork Tavern, Halliwell
Bob’s Smithy Inn
Bowling Green Horwich
Henighans Bar and Grill, Little Lever
Queen Anne, Little Lever
The Thomas Egerton
The Horseshoe, Stoneclough
As part of this celebration we have created a number of trips incorporating these pubs, alongside some other nearby pubs showcasing the best real ale and cider in the town.
The Branch will follow these trips during some of the regular Branch socials organised throughout the 50th anniversary year. Keep an eye on the social events page for dates and come along if you can.
Alternatively, follow the trips independently using the links provided to the CAMRA Pubs and clubs pages. Let us know how you get on!
Bolton CAMRA 50th Anniversary Trip 1 – Chew Moor and Westhoughton
Duke of Wellington, Chew Moor – 50th anniversary pub – one cask ale
Beer School – GBG – a range of independent ales and real ciders
Brewery Tap – GBG – a range of Blackedge beers (closed Mon-Tues)
Robert Shaw – (Wetherspoons) (food)
White Lion – 50th anniversary pub, heritage pub – Joseph Holt’s Bitter and occasionally one other
Public Transport – 520 Bolton-Westhoughton circular bus passes all these pubs
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Bolton CAMRA 50th Anniversary Trip 2 – Halliwell
Finishers Arms – 50th anniversary pub – three cask ales (food) (4pm opening during week)
Ainsworth Arms – 50th anniversary pub – three cask ales
Stork Tavern – 50th anniversary pub – up to five cask ales including Holt’s Bitter
Public Transport – 501 bus from Bolton to Finishers Arms then same bus back to Bennetts Lane from where there is a 5-10 minute walk to Stork Tavern and Ainsworth
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Bolton CAMRA 50th Anniversary Trip 3 – Horwich via 125 bus route
Bob’s Smithy – 50th anniversary pub – four cask ales including Bank Top (food)
Bank Top Brewery Ale House – Branch Pub of the Year 2026 – a range of Bank Top ales
B33R@33 – Branch Pub of the Year 2025 and Cider PotY 2026 – a range of independent ales and real ciders
Bowling Green – 50th anniversary pub – three cask ales
Public Transport – 125 Bolton-Horwich bus passes each pub
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Bolton CAMRA 50th Anniversary Trip 4 – Little Lever
Henighans Bar and Grill – 50th anniversary pub – one Bank Top beer
Queen Anne – 50th anniversary pub – three Thwaites cask ales
Stopes Tavern – One Moorhouses beer and one other (opens late during the week)
Public Transport – 524 Bolton to Bury bus passes all of these pubs
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Bolton CAMRA 50th Anniversary Trip 5 – Egerton
Cross Guns – Two local cask ales (food)
Thomas Egerton – 50th anniversary pub – up to six cask ales (food)
Masons Arms – Up to three cask ales (4pm opening during week)
Flag Inn – Six cask ales (food)
Public Transport – 533 Bolton-Egerton circular passes close to all the pubs or the No 1 Bolton-Blackburn bus is more frequent and passes Thomas Egerton and Masons and is a 10 minute walk to the Flag.
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One more 50th anniversary pub to be added to new trips very soon
The Horseshoe, Stoneclough