From user@twaldron.softnet.co.uk Wed May 5 21:45:16 1999 Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 17:08:05 +0100 From: Terry Waldron Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: mailing list Subject: Trip Report: L&L: Part 3 - Pubs [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] 24 April: Moored London Road Bridge, Bridgewater Canal. Went to the Bridge Inn for a couple of pints while Sue was cooking dinner. A fairly popular drinkers pub serving a number of different real ales. Appears to be popular for all age groups. Although they have what appears to be a very reasonably priced menu I did not see anyone actually eating. 25 April Moored 1130 Seamans Moss Bridge, Bridgewater Canal Bay Malton pub not open until 1200, had lunch and then went for a pint. Very nice friendly pub that serves food both lunchtime and evening. Bootshall Bridge, Leigh Branch A reasonably new pub The Moorings, looks good and serves food all day, car park full so must be popular. Had intended to moor at Dover Bridge to go to the Dover lock Inn for a meal, stoppages during the day prevented us getting to Plank Lane bridge before 1800 so stopped outside Leigh. 26 April Moored Adlington. Went for a short walk to the Bridge Inn, a bit noisy and boisterous, very crowded inside, so decided to go back to the boat for a couple cans of Caffreys. 27 April Johnson Hillock locks L&L - Top Lock, a boater friendly pub serving a very nice pint (well 2 actually as it was quite a hot day) of Theakstons. 28 April Burnley Wharf, L&L - The Inn at the Wharf, a boater friendly pub serving a nice pint of Caffreys. About half full with people eating lunch. A safe mooring overnight, lit up from the opposite bank until about 0400. Had planned to moor Foulridge Wharf but too late for 1930 passage through tunnel so moored at south end. 29 April East Marston, L&L. A nice, reasonably priced, meal at the Cross Keys washed down with a couple pints of Black Sheep. A friendly pub with good service. 30 April Silsden Bridge, L&L. Moored beside the garden of the Bridge inn which serves BAA....R Meals and a nice pint of Black Sheep. 1 May Apperley Bridge, L&L. Went to the Dog and Gun for a couple of pints with Mark Wickett. A very popular, tastefully decorated pub only a short walk from the Canal (South of Br214A). A good service form friendly, cheerful barmaids. 3 May Allerton Byewater, Aire and Calder. The Boat Inn. The owner, Brian Lockwood, an ex Hull KR, Widnes and Wakefield Rugby player is very keen on boaters visiting and he is buying a narrowboat. He is hoping to enhance the moorings to make it better for mooring. An excellent pint and food is plentiful and very reasonably priced. Reported to be one of the best eating pubs in the area. 4 May Mirfield, Aire and Calder. The Navigation, close to the canal was not serving food this evening and they recommended The Railway (up to the traffic lights, turn right 1/2 mile), a very popular eaters pub, need to book if you want to eat in the pullman diner, we ordered but due to the amount of people eating had to wait about 3/4 hour. The food was well worth waiting for and was very reasonably priced. They serve a good pint of black Sheep Special. 6 May Elland, Calder and Hebble. Very good BW moorings beside the Barge and Barrel (a White Rose Inn), very friendly and serve a good range of real ales. Had Black Sheep again. Unfortunately they stop serving food at 1430 and we got there at 1445 so could not get lunch. 8 May Bridge???, Rufford Branch, L&L. Rufford Arms Hotel and Restaurant. A very smart, new, hotel and restaurant giving the impression that boaters rig may not be acceptable. After viewing the menu it looked very reasonable, we were ushered to a table, not being allowed to go to the bar, a waitress took our drinks order and brought them to our table along with a menu. Bar meals, full A la Carte Menu and Table d'hôte menu. Three of us decided to go for the Table d'hôte menu, Iain coerced into following along. When our table ready the waitress picked up our drinks and took them across for us. The meal was very good, 3 courses for 9.95 pounds, well cooked and plenty of it. On retiring to the bar area the waitress again picked up our drinks and took them to our table. Well recommended if you are in that area. 9 May Sowerby Bridge, Calder and Hebble/Rochdale. The Lockkeepers Cottage is just beside Tuel Lane lock and virtually above the tunnel. Very busy due to the Town Carnival and Water Festival.