White Lion

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Greater Manchester - Westhoughton

Three star - A pub interior of exceptional national historic importance

Listed Status: II

2 Market Street
Westhoughton
BL5 3AN

Tel: 07827 850293

Website http://www.joseph-holt.com/pubs/view/white-lion-westhoughton

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/139156249592857

Real Ale: Yes

Nearby Station: Westhoughton

Station Distance: 800m

Public Transport: Near Railway Station (Westhoughton) and Bus Stop

Bus: Yes

View on: Whatpub

This long corner-site pub was bought by the Joseph Holt Brewery in 1925, with the fittings no doubt dating from very shortly after that. The servery is the centrepiece, with its still-working etched glass sash screens and counters with tiles by Pilkingtons which, together, form the most impressive features of this pub (the saltire cross tiles appear again at the Golden Ball, York). It is surrounded by a drinking lobby, the vault and the so-called ‘Ugly Room’ (thanks, it is said, to the appearance of the former regulars!) where the fireplace has a tiled scene with plough horses. There is also a small bar parlour (the ‘John Hyde Suite’, commemorating a former customer) plus a refitted and opened up darts room. Bell-pushes for table service survive in three rooms, as does a good selection of etched glass. On the counter there is an old water-heater for making hot toddies.
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.
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