Roses are red, violets are blue, think Bolton is rubbish? We’ve got a lesson for you… Well, the creators of BBC Three’s new teen horror series, Red Rose, have.
Bolton born and bred twins Paul and Michael Clarkson have dubbed the series, which is made by the same producers as hit series Sex Education, as a ‘love letter to Bolton’.
Anyone who has grown up north of Birmingham (me included) knows that our poor ickle ‘where’s that?’ towns don’t make it onto the big screen. And that’s exactly why the Clarkson brothers decided to set this Stranger Things meets Sex Education mash up in one.
Michael said: ‘I want Bolton teens to watch this and feel like their lives are cinema-worthy, like they are film-worthy, because they are.’ Bravo. But gushing aside, Bolton isn’t as dire as you southern folk think. In fact, there’s more than one reason to write it a love letter.
From memorable days out to spoily eats and historic streets, don’t be too quick to dismiss this much overlooked UK town.
Let’s take a look at what it has to offer…
To eat: Tapaz Restaurant and Bar
No, you’re not in Spain. Chomp down on some juicy Mediterranean bites in this authentic tapas restaurant in the heart of Bolton.
If you were in London you’d probably pay an arm, a leg, and half your monthly salary to be full on lots of luxurious little tasty plates, but here the tapas averages at around £6 a pop. So feast your eyes and yourself on all the classics, from steaming patatas bravas to ensalada galore and all the croquetas you can muster.
So that’s… How many? Probably too many. But you may as well. When in Bolton…
To drink: Northern Monkey Bar
If you want a real taste of the north you’ve got to get out of those gastropubs and into the real world, southerners.
So gulp your craft beers ice cold and gobble your pizzas piping hot (thought you’d just had tapas? Oh well?) in this cool and comfortable Bolton watering hole.
It’s proudly northern, and no, that doesn’t mean it has to be a local boozer that stinks of beer and piss, thank you very much, but it’s full of character and oozes that good old northern cheeky charm. Oh, and it’s the spot to go for live music too.
Don’t miss: Bolton Market
Okay, okay. If you want no fuss Bolton and prefer your pints pulled by the elbow rather than poured flimsily by a hand, then it has to be the legendary One For The Road, a characterful little micro pub in the lively Bolton Market, home to some great spots to eat, drink, shop and be merry.
Move over Borough Market, there’s a new kid in town. And it’s way less busy and dare I say it, probably more fun? Because northerners are… More fun? Eek.
To soak it all in: Churchgate
To get the real feel of Bolton you have to amble down Churchgate, the historic center of the town.
Get curious by looking up at its old architecture and imagine what it was like on this street in 1644, when during the Civil War its walls were splattered with misery in the Bolton Massacre.
And then take an hour or two to have a drink at The Old Man and Scythe pub, which dates back to 1251 making it the oldest in Bolton and up there with the most historic in Britain. It was here in 1651 that James 7th Earl of Derby spent his last night before being beheaded…
We hope your stay is more pleasant than his.
For history: Bolton Steam Museum
Did someone say the largest collection of working mill engines in Europe? And did someone say it was in Bolton? Yep, that’s right, luckily for you around 100 years ago Lancashire was the world’s main producer of cotton textiles.
In fact, it was so important, its mills weaved and span over half of all cotton textiles consumed at the time.
For those lucky few who have more than cotton for brains, you could spend hours (and even a whole day) gaping at these fascinating machines. Or, just nip in for 30 minutes and head to the pub. Either way, it’s pretty cool.
Open Wednesdays and Sundays. Visit here.
Nearby countryside: Rivington Pike
No town would be worth visiting if you can’t look down at it from afar, would it? Maybe it would, but a huge perk of Bolton is that you have some amazing countryside on your doorstep.
So why not dust off those walking boots and hike to the top of the beautiful Rivington Pike, only a 20 minute drive away, where you can soak in the North West’s ‘best view’.
On a clear day you will be able to see as far as The Isle of Man and the Lake District. Now that’s a day to remember.
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