Photo-a-Day  (Saturday, 12th April, 2014)

Thanks Ron. Its been a couple of years since I had a pint in there, my nephew Gary Freeman sung in there a few Saturday nights. Its been a while since I've seen an old buddy Harry Litherland. Many memories.

In the 1950s there was a outdoor Gents to the left of this picture and in summer it stank to high heaven. It must have been a nightmare for the people who lived in the houses that used to be next door.

A nice shot of a dying industry, another example of a big brother state. Why ever did =they not just go back to the old smoke room instead of closing down such a large industry. I remember when Trevor & his beautiful wife ran this pub. If you was not in for 20.30 you had to stand up. Great pub in its day, Thanks Ron so much for some wonderful memories

spent many happy times in there looks like it could do with a lick of paint.

I wonder if this was one of location of the old Aspull gates.

John H is right, let people smoke in pubs if they wish to do so. That's why pub are shutting down for me.

Where the tram line from Wigan used to terminate - I think that's donnected with why the pub was built there.

When I first saw the picture, I thought I wasto read that another pub was closed down!
If it is still thriving ,why hasnt it had a wash and brushup.I think the loyal customers deserve that.

Well said John H. This is one of those issues (along with the increasingly ridiculous surveillance state) which we should be talking about more on community sites like this and really questioning the real motives behind why things are the way they are. I don't believe for one minute that the smoking ban has anything to do with concerns for public health in public places, it's another excuse to impose laws and being compliant on what the govt says. It's not really big brother, but totalitarian-tiptoe state envisioned by George Orwell in that famous book 1984, the smoking ban in places like pubs is merely a stepping stone to more bans elsewhere I think; there are some places now where you can't even smoke outdoors in the fresh air (what's that all about?), soon they'll find an excuse to stop us smoking in our own cars and homes.

Why smoke anyway?

Loz, don't make comment if you've never smoked.

I understand what you are saying Al and it does seem a bit like the government is using Big Brother tactics but here's my opinion for what it's worth. SMOKING IS STUPID, no ifs, no buts, it's just crazy. Why would anyone willingly inhale a lethal cocktail 20 or 30 times a day? Well I did actually, for 40 years and now I am reaping my rewards. I need oxygen therapy for 15 hours a day, plus a nebuliser 4 times a day and my breathlessness is so severe that I can hardly walk.
I really enjoyed my ciggies but I haven't touched one for 7 years and I do wish I'd never started. Like I said, it's stupid to smoke!

Why not? I can comment on taxi drivers without having been one!

The cost of smoking related health problems around the world must be staggering, we can't afford it.

Actually Ken, until the government stuck its unwelcome nose in, the tax revenue from cigarettes & other tobacco products was enough to pay for the entire NHS many times over. The smoking ban is a massive own goal ! (I say that as an ex-smoker too !)
It will merely lead to such a huge loss of revenue that general taxation will have to rise to compensate - costing everyone more, including (I'm pleased to note) those hate-filled sanctimonious non-smokers who's pious and selfish attitude has not only alienated smokers by the million but has also decimated the licensed trade as has been pointed out by others above, and that serves 'em right ! :o)

Three things have spoiled the pub trade - the smoking ban, greedy pubcos, and the breathalyser. By the way, Garry, I'm an ex smoker but since packing it in, have never minded other folks having a smoke in the pub - its part of tradition. Anyone who smokes does so in full knowledge of the risks.

Drinking is a bigger problem than smoking, not just with health but fighting, drink driving etc etc etc.The breathalyser I totally agree with.
Loz you can't comment on taxis if you've never been one!

Not sure this is the place to mention it but here goes. I stopped smoking 1st May 1993 after 27 years of enjoyment. I went on the patches when they first came out. I went to Boots in West Bromwich and had to be counselled as I couldn't buy them over the counter. I did the full 3 months, cost more than me fags but boy was it worth it. The pharmacist said that at my age(I was 43) that I was in heart attack alley and on no account must I smoke whilst on these patches. That scared me to death and actually helped me. But the bottom line is that you have got to really got to want to give it up. Touch wood I hav'nt had a racking cough or bronchitis in over 20 years. Please please give it a go if it is only for your grandchildrens sake. End of sermon God bless all on WW

The pub trade has gone because people stopped going in to pubs. Instead they sit at home in front of the telly and drink cheap alcohol from the supermarket.
You can buy a bottle of lager from Lidl for 30 pence, the same size would cost you at least £1.50 in a pub. How can a pub compete? They can't and so they are disappearing fast. Use them or lose them.