If you have any news from this year, please email ku.gro.armac.scnaltsae@swenelahctiw for it to be added.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Cheers

Alan Leach - Witch Ale news editor

May 2026

The Three B's Brewery in Blackburn have produced the two beers “From The Wood” after recently purchasing some Whisky casks. They chose one of their stronger dark ales, Old Bee 5.5%, as the first one, then followed up with the 4% Black Bull Bitter, both of which were available for a limited time and only at Black Bull pub to where the brewery is based.

The Dog Inn in Whalley has closed it's doors, albeit temporarily with it due to reopen in July after Heineken Brewery carry out a huge refurbishment when it will become a tied pub. Hopefully the 'upgrade' does not take away the homely feel the pub has had and the very good selection of real ales is maintained. Christine (with Chris) who has been at the helm for 34, had continued to maintain the ambience created by her husband Norman who passed away 3 years ago.

On 24th May the Waddington Village Club celebrated 100 years at the heart of village life. Originally opened in 1926 as the Waddington Reading Room, the building was created as a place for local people to meet, learn, socialise and enjoy recreation together. Built at a cost of £2,000, it served post-WW1 working men and young people, helping foster the community spirit that has remained part of Waddington for generations.

The beer of the festival at Clitheroe Beer Festival 2026 was the 4.2% Black Cherry Mild by Kissingate Brewery in Sussex.

The presentation for the Pendle Area Club of the Year 2026 award took place over the Bank Holiday Weekend to the Green Street Club in Barnoldswick.

CAMRA member Dave presented the award to bar manager Michelle Sharples and the team Martin Churchill, Linda, Libby, Emily and Harvey.

The Griffin Inn in Haslingden is, along with regulars of the pub, raising money to buy the pub after the building was put up for sale. Cuban-born Alejandro, who has been at The Griffin for four years, owns the pub business and the Rossendale Brewery located in the pub cellars. The sale has placed uncertainty over the future of pub which dates back 250 years.

Three Peaks brewery based in Kelbrook have opened a bar called "The Trig Point" on the newly reopened Colne market. They aim to work with other local brewery’s and distilleries with the aim to always offer locally sourced produce where possible. Go along and see the range of Real Ales, craft beers, wine, cocktails and spirits.

A proposal has been submitted to turn the former Hare and Hounds in Clayton-le-Moors into a convenience store. The pub was closed by Thwaites in May 2025 after several years trying and failing to make the pub more profitable.

East Lancs Branch & Pendle Area Pub of the Year 2026 awards
Pictured are Nina Bates and Simon Shackleton from Boyce's Barrel in Colne, with Peter Rushton and Pete Carroll making the presentation.

Alan Leach presented Josh at the Loom & Shuttle in Darwen the Blackburn with Darwen Area Pub of the Year 2026 award.

Always a good choice of ales and one is usually a dark one

April 2026

John Webster presented Justine and the team at The Royal Dyche the Burnley Area Pub of the Year 2026 award (photos taken from The Royal Dyche Facebook page).

In Oswaldtwistle, the Plough has closed and will reopen as a new adult day centre.

February 2026

The new owners of the Swan and Royal on Castle Street in Clitheroe have submitted a planning request to convert four additional letting bedrooms on the second floor of the pub. This would take the total to 10 in the pub with there already being six letting rooms on the first floor. The pub dates back in part to the 17th century and has hosted notable guests including Mahatma Gandhi, Sir Winston Churchill and Sir Frank Whittle.

January 2026

An application has been made to covert the Royal Oak in the Pleckgate area of Blackburn into a children's nursery.

A controversial plan to turn the Cross Gaits Inn at Blacko into a family hold is on hold after The Cross Gaits Community Pub Group made a new bid to reopen it. The pub was closed in January 2023 by the previous owners and the new owner has had several applications to change it into a family home and build a new home on the rear car park rejected.

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