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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 1st February, 2015)

Wigan Central


Wigan Central
New bar, arch number 1, Queen Street, Wigan.

Photo: Mick Byrne  (Sony HDR)
Views: 4,492

Comment by: Giovanni on 1st February 2015 at 01:29

Are you liable to be breathalysed in charge of a push-bike? LOL
Another watering-hole Mick. We're a thirsty bunch in Wigan!

Comment by: Aubrey on 1st February 2015 at 08:31

Nice one Mick, you've just beaten me to this one, I had it in mind. That bike gets everywhere.

Comment by: Alex on 1st February 2015 at 08:31

I'm more intrigued with your bike, Mick. what make is it?

Comment by: Garry on 1st February 2015 at 08:42

Railway connection. It would have been more appropriate if it shown a picture of Wigan North-West station or Springs Branch, instead of Mallard which originated from the North-East LNER.

Comment by: Alan on 1st February 2015 at 08:56

Has Wigan not got enough of these places. Why has it to be about the young and night life...what about librarys or bingo places, what about the older people, we are supposed to be living longer.

Comment by: Scholes Malc on 1st February 2015 at 10:11

great bar serving fine beers= well worth a visit

Comment by: Roy on 1st February 2015 at 10:34

I've been in just the once up to now, it's a very tasteful conversion, Patsy has spent a lot of money on the place, the window must have cost a bob or two on its own. It goes without saying that the bar has a railway theme and the seating behind Micks bike is arranged like an old railway carriage including the net luggage racks. Also there are two illuminated railway timetables linked to both stations giving the departure and arrival times of the trains, plus other well thought out features and last but not least a good choice of cask beer etc.

Comment by: Spenian on 1st February 2015 at 10:47

Some good beers served. Like it.

Comment by: Mick on 1st February 2015 at 11:48

Alex the bikes a Raleigh Motus

Above the door of the Wigan Central Bar is a big clock that should come in handy for drivers coming up Wallgate who are on the last minute to catch a train

Comment by: Giovanni on 1st February 2015 at 11:53

Another bar/pub/hotel to add to my bucket list. LOL
Its a wonder all these hostelries in competition make a profit. It would be interesting to now how many licensed premises in Wigan town centre are there?

Comment by: Roy on 1st February 2015 at 12:19

Alan, i wouldn't say that this bar is 'for the young' as you put it and as far as i know the bar only serves during normal licensing hours, we haven't converted all of the young to real ales yet, most of them are drinking fizzy bubbles. When i was in, the average age must have been about 55. PS Aubrey, i think Mick must have a bike rack on his car, lol.

Comment by: Al on 1st February 2015 at 12:23

I wonder how long it will last before it closes and turns into something else when the novelty dies off?. I doubt the riff raff younger generation will be interested in all things railways and steam. I was going to mention about that window, seems out of place for a steam train which never ran on the west coast, it's obvious these people know nothing about railways.

Comment by: Roy on 1st February 2015 at 12:49

Does it matter whether the train ran on the west coast or not? A train's a train to most people in the town. She may not know much about trains but she knows a lot about beer. Negativity Al, YOUR glass is half empty.

Comment by: Al on 1st February 2015 at 14:05

Roy, I was only expressing really what Garry said. True, what does it matter, but as mentioned previously, I think it would've been a better tribute to include the former station. Yes, to many people a train is just a train.

Comment by: Garry on 1st February 2015 at 14:30

Oh Boy your completely Wrong there Roy, a trains not a train. indeed the big four train operators were LMS,LNER,GWR SOUTHERN region all hated each other for who should be the best. It my view it's got to be LMS because they operated trains here in the North-West, so it's fitting for LMS to be shown in this club.
Al spot on!

Comment by: Alex on 1st February 2015 at 14:32

Roy needs educating a little....

Comment by: Anne on 1st February 2015 at 14:33

When did the place open?

Comment by: Dave on 1st February 2015 at 14:51

Roy, Would a Wiganer like to buy and read the Chorley Guardian when it dosen't have owt to do with Wigan...I don't think so.

Comment by: Tracy on 1st February 2015 at 15:00

What's on the jukebox, I'm a train by the King's singers?

Comment by: Giovanni on 1st February 2015 at 16:52

Tracy
Last Train to Clarkesville or
Midnight Train to Georgia or
Chattanooga Choo Choo!!

Comment by: Rev David Long on 1st February 2015 at 17:35

Of course it doesn't really matter which loco is used to dress up this novel enterprise, but as the signage is LMS-style, a bit of research would have told its designers that the Duchess of Hamilton would have been a far better match: http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/ArchiveSteam/loco46229.htm
In addition, it has actually steamed over these arches - both in service (without the streamlining mostly), and since restoration.
As for watering holes in town - sadly there are fewer and fewer 'normal' bars (as opposed to clubs and Weatherspoons), with derelict pubs littering the streets - most notably the Victoria next to Wallgate Station. These shop-front bars seem a good idea - one recently opened in Standish High Street.

Comment by: owdkewyed on 1st February 2015 at 18:35

It's not a train it's a locomotive.

Comment by: Garry on 1st February 2015 at 20:46

10/10 for owdkewyed, clap clap.

Comment by: Dave (Oy) on 1st February 2015 at 21:20

I was in there last Thursday - great place and great beer.

Oh - and a loco just like that came through Wigan North Western last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDnHWWQJDGg

Comment by: Ken R on 1st February 2015 at 21:46

Owdkewyed, finally someone got it a Loco is not a train.

Comment by: Roy on 2nd February 2015 at 00:49

Thank you Rev David and Dave (Oy). Garry, Alex, i may need educating regarding trains, but 99% of Wiganers wouldn't know a Jub from a Semi.Oh and Garry it is a pub not a club. Get real gentlemen, it looks a lot better than what was there before. Anne it has been open approx 8/10 weeks.

Comment by: Fert on 2nd February 2015 at 01:53

It represents a thing of beauty, complimenting the design lines of that frontage. Sleek and classy.
Does not have to be the Mallard at all, it could represent the Bittern and when that passed through the town people did not turn their back on it or avert their gaze,did they. The 5 sisters are a thing of beauty, even though their Nigel is a bit macho. That is a lovely frontage to that new venture.

Comment by: Alex on 2nd February 2015 at 06:53

The signage is British Railways.

Comment by: Garry on 2nd February 2015 at 18:55

The Bittern is still A4 class LNER.
LONDON AND NORTH EASTERN RAILWAYS.

Comment by: Alan on 2nd February 2015 at 19:12

But we are all missing the point, it's all very well steam locos passing through Wigan North-West to day, they are preserved. You all miss the point. LNER didn't use this line, it was LMS. Alex, Garry, Al, and Dave...all spot on. Bitten loco was an alian.

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 2nd February 2015 at 19:35

The LMS Princess Royal class would have been more fitting. They actually steamed over these arches with express passenger service from London to Glasgow on a regular daily routine.

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 2nd February 2015 at 20:57

After saying that at 19:35.
MALLARD 4468 was not just a steam engine. The A4 Pacific holds the world record for the fastest ever steam locomotive in 1938 at 126 MPH on the East Coast Main Line.
We should be proud of both these engines because both are British made.

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