Nightlife in Wigan

If you fancy a ramble around Wigan’s pubs, you will have plenty to choose from. A great place to start at is Harry’s Bar on the bustling Wallgate. Within a stone’s throw of other great food and drink joints, this historic pub is full of character. It offers a wide variety of drinks at reasonable prices, big screens showing live sports and it even hosts the World Pie Eating Championships every December.

From there, you could move on to John Bull Chop House, an award-winning watering hole that dates back over 500 years. Situated in the conservation area of Coopers Row, this pub stands out on the cobbled courtyard where it resides. They serve a total of 17 draught beers, as well as ciders, wines, spirits and bottled beverages, meaning even the most experienced of drinkers will be spoilt for choice.  

Heading north of the town centre, on Wigan Road, we recommend The Boars Head. This cosy country-style pub with a wood-beamed ceiling offers a warm welcome to all, including those who have been for a walk around the nearby Haigh Woodland Park. There are loads of drinks to choose from, including draught ale, beer and cider, as well as live sports, quiz nights on Wednesdays and a spacious outdoor seating area.

Our final recommendation is Robin Hood in Orrell. This pub overlooks the beautiful Orrell Water Park, a popular walking and fishing spot. The decor is both modern and comfortable, and the owners maintain a very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. As well as a wide selection of drinks, this pub also serves a delicious food menu.  

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The first stop on our Wigan bar crawl is definitely one for cocktail lovers. Revolution on King Street, a short walk from the train station, is a stylish bar with an extensive drinks list. The patrons of Wigan flock here on the weekend to take advantage of the great music, regular drinks deals and late opening hours. Cocktails are the speciality, but they also serve a range of wines, beers and spirits.

Next up is Wigan Central, an award-winning bar on Queen Street which takes inspiration from the former Wigan Central Railway Station. It shares the same owners as Prospect Brewery, a successful local beer maker. The best bet here is to try one of the real ales, which are expertly kept and frequently rotated, meaning you are likely to find something you have never tried before.

Tucked away on Jaxon’s Court is Tap n’ Barrel, a microbar owned by Martland Mill Brewery, another local beer maker. The husband and wife team that own this bar have created a fine drinking establishment, and their passion for proper real ales and ciders is evident as soon as you walk in. There is outdoor seating, as well as a cosy indoor bar area and live music every Sunday evening, which makes for a brilliant atmosphere.  

We end our guide to Wigan bars with perhaps the quirkiest in the town. Little Fifteen on Wallgate is a higgledy-piggledy living room style bar with a mish-mash of furniture. Despite having paintings attached to the ceiling and unusual features, it still feels homely and comfortable, meaning you can settle in for the evening as you take advantage of their great food and drinks offering.

All of these town centre bars are commutable from any of our Wigan hotels, but are just a short walk from our Wigan Town Centre hotel.