A historic Greater Manchester pub has been recognised with CAMRA’s Historic England Conservation Award, having been lovingly restored to its former glory.
The Swan & Railway pub in Wigan was damningly branded as the “worst pub in Wigan” by a punter on TripAdvisor back in 2016 but now, following some extensive repairs by its new landlord, the drinking hole has been given a prestigious award acknowledging its historic importance.
Landlord John Brearley has invested significantly in the property – and now he has been awarded a prestigious award in recognition of the work he has done to improve the historic pub and honour its period features – which range from stunning hand-painted stained glass windows to original Victorian tiling.
The historic pub dates all the way back to 1898 / Image: The Swan & Railway
Dating back to 1898, the Swan & Railway suffered a serious fire in 1982 but still retains its late-Victorian footprint today. Grade-II listed in 1995, it was closed for a number of years before being taken on by its current landlord in 2018 and extensively refurbished.
Now, it seems that work has paid off handsomely with CAMRA choosing to honour both pub and landlord in one fell swoop at the belated 2021 pub design awards.
Situated opposite Wigan North Western rail station, the Swan & Railway has now had a new roof fitted and been made waterproof but it still retains its impressive original features – which include foliated glazed wall tiles, a mosaic floor that spells out the name “Swan & Railway Hotel”, panelled and stained glass screens and an original settle.
It has some absolutely stunning original period features inside / Image: The Swan & Railway
It has also now got some brand new bathrooms, as well as a few new additions to its interior including an impressive new marble top bar counter and all-new soft furnishings.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, owner John spoke of his pride at turning the once ‘rather sad’ building into a ‘smart and welcoming place’ for punters to enjoy once again.
“We have sought to turn the Swan back to how it would have ‘come out of the box’ new in its extravagant Victorian heyday, bustling and lively but with corners to relax in and there for everyone to enjoy as a proper pub,” he said.
The food menu includes some brilliant pies from Pieminister / Image: The Swan & Railway
The cosy drinking area next to the bar retains an original settle / Image: The Swan & Railway
“We hope we’ve brought you something special as we’ve sought to turn the pub back to how in would have ‘come out of the box’ new in its extravagant Victorian heyday,” said the pub owners.
“Bustling and lively but with corners to relax in we hope you enjoy it as a proper pub.”
On the drinks front, you’ll find some top-notch real ales here (it’s a CAMRA-awarded pub now, after all) alongside a carefully chosen wine list and a good selection of spirits.
These can be enjoyed in its stunning tiled drinking corridor, alongside some brilliant Pieminister pies from its food menu (this is Wigan, the home of great pies, after all).
The Swan & Railway pub also has some gorgeous rooms upstairs / Image: The Swan & Railway pub
You’ll also find some cracking scotch eggs and pork pies on the menu here, plus other pub favourites like sausage rolls, pork scratchings, olives, paninis and flatbreads.
Perfect for whiling away a pleasant afternoon or evening, the Swan also has rooms upstairs for those who’d like to indulge and don’t fancy driving home at the end of the night.
You can find The Swan and Railway pub at 80 Wallgate, Wigan WN1 1BA. To see the full menus and find out more, head over to the pub’s website here.
Viral Manchester beauty brand P. Louise to open first ever flagship store in Trafford Palazzo
Thomas Melia
Beauty brand and viral cosmetics giant P. Louise has announced her first ever flagship store, and it’s opening at Trafford Palazzo.
Droylsden-born beauty guru, turned makeup mogul, P. Louise, is opening her first ever flagship store in Manchester in one of the region’s biggest shopping centres.
Titled P. Louise City, the pastel pink viral cosmetics company is launching its very-first physical site in Trafford Palazzo.
The beauty brand has become a social media sensation, as well as a Greater Manchester hotspot thanks to its P. Louise Empire headquarters located in Stockport.
This pink-furnished warehouse site offers customers an immersive experience with makeover sessions, shopping DIY activities, a cafe, and lots of photo opportunities.
The upcoming P. Louise City is set to build off this success with a 19,000 sq ft store that houses a variety of distinctive zones with iconic names.
You’ll be able to quench your thirst at the ‘Bad B*tch Juice Bar’, find all the latest pink-hued goodies at ‘Juicy News’, and pick up all your essentials at the ‘P. Louise Supermarket’.
P. Louise may not be a medical company, but her ‘P. Louise Pharmacy’ will cure all your retail therapy needs, and although many of her fans already knew her products were liquid gold, the ‘P. Louise Vault’ definitely confirms this.
As well as lots of shopping areas throughout this massive Trafford Palazzo site, there will be lots of hands-on activities – including makeup education zones, and even a dancefloor to bust a move or two.
P. Louise is set to open its first ever flagship store titled P. Louise City in Trafford Palazzo / Credit: Supplied
In an Instagram post on her personal social media account she calls this physical store ‘a dream come true’, adding: “[It’s] truly a pinch me moment – here’s to my next chapter”.
Featured Images – Press Shots / @plouise1 via Instagram
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Oasis left ‘shocked and saddened’ after fan falls to his death at Wembley Stadium concert
Emily Sergeant
Oasis have been left ‘shocked and saddened’ after a fan sadly fell to his death at one of the band’s Wembley Stadium concerts.
According to media reports, the man fell from the stadium’s upper tier.
Metropolitan Police confirmed in a statement that officers on duty at the stadium on Saturday night (2 August) responded, alongside venue medics and the London Ambulance Service, at around 10:20pm to reports that a person had been injured, and when they arrived at the scene that found that a man in his 40s sustained injuries ‘consistent with a fall’.
Despite the best efforts of all emergency services involved, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
A concertgoer on social media said they saw the incident and described it as ‘horrific’, and the police are presuming that many other present at the concert will have also witnessed the event – therefore urging them to come forward with any information they may have.
“The stadium was busy, and we believe it is likely a number of people witnessed the incident, or may knowingly or unknowingly have caught it on mobile phone video footage,” Met Police said in a statement.
“If you have any information that could help us to confirm what happened, please call 101.”
Alongside the police appeal, tributes have been pouring in for the man who lost his life – including from Oasis and support act Richard Ashcroft.
Together with their bandmates, Liam and Noel Gallagher have offered their ‘sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved’.
Richard Ashcroft wrote in tribute on Instagram: “I was shocked to hear of the death of one of the audience last night. Sending my love to the family and friends.”
A tribute statement was also issued by a spokesperson for Wembley Stadium: “Our thoughts go out to his family, who have been informed and are being supported by specially trained police officers.”
Oasis performed the final show of their five-night run at Wembley last night, and from here will now head up to Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the United States, before returning to Wembley for two more dates in September.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd August 2021 
