
Quick info
About Millstone
Millstone is a Holt's pub in Bolton, at 12 Crown St just off Deansgate in the town centre, housed in a former music hall dating back to the 1800s. The bar serves Joseph Holt's bitter from a single cask pump, so there is one real ale on offer. Large TV screens show sport. A function room is available for hire, which gives groups a space for parties, wedding receptions and engagement parties. A back room is used for rehearsals and meet-ups. No food is served.
Good to know
- AccessibilityWheelchair: restroom
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention holt's bitter cask ale, function room hire, back room rehearsals and beer garden seating.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention holt's bitter cask ale, function room hire, back room rehearsals and beer garden seating.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return most for the Holt's bitter, the only cask ale on, which one describes as excellent, well kept and served with a thick, creamy head that lasted to the bottom of the glass. Several say it is a traditional, friendly pub, quiet and peaceful, with good-sized TV screens for the football and a small, surprisingly spacious outside seating area. Close behind is the function room: one reviewer held a wedding reception there, another an engagement party, another a daughter's party, and a theatre company rehearses in the back room. They describe family-run owners and bar staff as friendly and accommodating, and one calls the room hire reasonable. The main caveat is cost. One reviewer says Holt's pubs used to be very competitive on price but now feel expensive, and that the pub was not busy, so they will not return. Another notes the single cask pump, though took it as a sign the ale is kept so well. The closing detail is bar staff helping with the buffet clear up at the end of an engagement party.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return most for the Holt's bitter, the only cask ale on, which one describes as excellent, well kept and served with a thick, creamy head that lasted to the bottom of the glass. Several say it is a traditional, friendly pub, quiet and peaceful, with good-sized TV screens for the football and a small, surprisingly spacious outside seating area. Close behind is the function room: one reviewer held a wedding reception there, another an engagement party, another a daughter's party, and a theatre company rehearses in the back room. They describe family-run owners and bar staff as friendly and accommodating, and one calls the room hire reasonable. The main caveat is cost. One reviewer says Holt's pubs used to be very competitive on price but now feel expensive, and that the pub was not busy, so they will not return. Another notes the single cask pump, though took it as a sign the ale is kept so well. The closing detail is bar staff helping with the buffet clear up at the end of an engagement party.
Featured reviews
- MADDOGLEP
“Back in Bolton with Jorvic after a two year gap. Doing our greatest hits but also the odd new pub: hence this new pub for us to tick off. They are on a winner as it is a Holt's pub and I love Joe Holt bitter. Very good. The only real ale they sell. A surprisingly large pub but the rear rooms were under a refurb on our visit. A few TV's and background (60's) music. A quiet Saturday lunch on our visit.A small beer garden as well. £6 for the pint plus a half of the Crystal lager.”
- lynn boulger
“Nice pub but expensive. Not many people in, joseph holts pubs used to be very competitive price wise, now expensive I won't go back.”
- Louise Hollingsworth
“Wonderful little pub. Hidden out of way so nice little find. Not over commercialised like some pubs. Just a good honest English pub. Went with husband and friends for a quiet drink. Staff very helpful and friendly. Will definitely be going back again.”
- Jess Payne
“My sister had her wedding reception at the function room here on Saturday and the bar owners and also bar staff was so friendly and very accommodating from start to finish. The pub really made a special day that extra special.. A lovely family run pub and a clean and very spacious function room suitable for all kinds of events and we will definitely return for future events, thank you all at the Millstone!”
- Robin Davis
“Traditional and friendly pub with a nice, welcoming atmosphere. Slightly perturbed at first to find that a pub used by the local CAMRA branch had only a single cask pump but if that means the ale is so well kept then all the better. The Holts bitter was excellent, clearly well kept at the perfect temperature and it took an age to clear (good!) with a thick, creamy head which persisted to the bottom of the glass. Well worth a visit.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Great beer selection
- Live performances
- Sports
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Outdoor seating
- Alcohol
- Cozy
- Beer
- Seating
Show more amenities
- Live performances
- Sports
- Restroom
- Offerings· 2
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Highlights· 1
- Great beer selection
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
Location
Bars near Millstone
- The Old Three Crowns4.35320 mi£1–10ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
karaoke, outdoor beer garden, good value pints
- Ye Olde Man & Scythe4.61,1210.1 mi
historic 1251 building, Flat Cap cask ale, hot cabinet pasties
- Hogarths4.41,5560.1 mi£10–20Wheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
live music, sports on tv, cheap drinks
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MillstoneOutdoor seating | 4.4175 | — | £1–10 | holt's bitter cask ale, function room hire, back room rehearsals |
| The Old Three CrownsReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.3532 | 0 mi | £1–10 | karaoke, outdoor beer garden, good value pints |
| Ye Olde Man & Scythe | 4.61,121 | 0.1 mi | — | historic 1251 building, Flat Cap cask ale, hot cabinet pasties |
| HogarthsWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.41,556 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | live music, sports on tv, cheap drinks |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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