What's happened? The last time I was there I couldn't move for pubs, especially on that road betwen there and Manchester. This time round, I couls scarcely find one, and ended up in a soulless pseudo wine-bar. I'd come off the motorway near the Reebock Stadium (whatever happended to good old Burnden Park?), turned towards the city centre and drove for nearly a mile, seeing just two, including the one I opted for. Granted it's a residential area, but Bolton's got a reputation to live up to and it was my wife's turn to drive!) Tell me too - wherever do all those football fans go for a pre-match pint?

Agree with you Colin the Stadium is in the Middle of Nowhere I was on the adjacent Industrial /Shopping estate a few weeks ago
Nearest Proper Pubs are in Horwich and Lostock by the railway station over a Miles walk away!

There are fewer pubs everywhere than there used to be. Ones away from chimney pots are quickest to suffer. If you think the Reebok is bad you should try Cambridge United's Abbey Stadium (pub opposite is now an Indian restaurant, no others for what seems like miles) or Colchester's Layer Road Stadium ( built long ago near the army barracks, where there never were any pubs). On the other hand, Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground has loads of pubs.Bars inside the grounds do serve beer and lager though. For 'shorts' you need to be a season-ticket holder or 'corporate'

Wikipedia says Bolton is a town (i.e.not a city) but it also says the name is pronounced Bowlton, when we all know that the locals say what sounds rather like BOWton ['Bow'as in 'bow tie' ], so it could be wrong

Fred,the locals pronounce it Bull-ton, or bow-ton, bow as in bow wow rather than bow tie.

It is a town and not a city. The centre is not very large but has a very good pedestrianised shopping centre with big names like Debenhams, Next, River Island etc as well as lots of designer shops. On Saturdays, I would say it's as busy as Manchester.

quote:

Originally posted by Jenny Roberts:
Fred,the locals pronounce it Bull-ton, or bow-ton, bow as in bow wow rather than bow tie.

Yes, I never have mastered the local English. Could understand Fred Dibnah, though