Ring o' Bells, Lathom

The Ring O' Bells, Lathom

Just off the A5209 in Lathom you will find another of our many local canalside pubs, the Ring O' Bells. Externally it is an impressive, solid brick building, but going inside, it is much larger than the outside would suggest. It had four distinct drinking and dining areas, one with a new pool table, all served by a central bar and attractively decorated after a recent refurbishment. Particularly welcoming in the cold weather are the real fires. Upstairs there is a middle-sized function room suitable for private dining or meetings with a table and chairs and a lounge area.

The real ales when we called in were Thwaites Nutty Black, Wainwright, Lancaster Bomber, Hawkshead Bitter, Hardy Tup, Hobgoblin Gold, and a Dry Strong Stout. I particularly enjoyed my Hawkshead Bitter (a half only as I was driving). They also have a good selection of gins. Food is available between midday and 9.00pm from Wednesday to Sunday now, and seven days a week from next spring. Featured food nights are curry on Wednesdays and steak on Thursdays. A speciality on the menu is barbecued smoked foods on a hickory smoker.

Friday is darts night and they occasionally put on live music. Children and dogs are welcome, and there is a well-equipped outdoor children's play area, a beer garden and a large car park. Free WiFi is available. The pub has its own canal moorings and canal tours can be arranged all year round run by Lancashire Canal Cruises, which is based at the pub.

They are holding a New Year's Eve party with live music from three piece-band, the Late Poets; tickets on sale now.

The Ring O' Bells is on Ring O'Bells Lane, Lathom, Lancashire, L40 5TE, just over a mile from Burscough village. It is open from 11.00am to 11.00pm every day, except Friday and Saturday when it closes at midnight. They have a Facebook page (@theringofbellslathom) and their phone number is 01704 893157.

This is part of a series of articles that I am writing for the CAMRA column in our local paper, the Southport Visiter. Previous reviews are here.