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Wishing Well now the real deal

5/10/2005

THE train now standing on platform one is the real ale special to Heywood.

That could soon be the cry at places like Bury and Rawtenstall - because so many real ale aficionados keep making tracks along the East Lancs Railway to sup at the town's celebrated real ale pub. For the 11th year in succession, The Wishing Well pub on York Street is the only Heywood pub to be included in the Good Beer Guide, compiled by CAMRA - the Campaign for Real Ale.

Pubs only get in the guide after they have been carefully 'sampled' by CAMRA members.

They like the brews on offer so much, they now hold their meetings there every three months!

Cellarman Ron Hackett, who has worked at the pub for 10 years and orders rare real ales from all over Britain, said: "We usually have seven real ales, plus two guest beers which we regularly change.

"The Good Pub Guide 2005 isn't the only book we are in.

"I've just been told we have a glowing write-up in a book written by a man who has visited every football ground in Britain and at the same time visited real ale pubs nearest the grounds."

Bar manager Alan Berry added: "It's a pity the East Lancs Railway doesn't run right past the pub door because we get a lot of people coming on the trains specially to sample some of our real ales. We always have beers from Heywood's Phoenix Brewery on tap and they are very popular.

"The brewery is probably the first thing people see when they arrive in Heywood along the railway.

"Even when they are not arriving by train, people come here from miles around."