Wigan Album

I failed my first driving test in 1964 in a mini-van like the white one at the back. They came in in 1960, so it can't be before then.

According to the sign it was a Greenhall Whitley pub, I hated their bitter, it had a horrible sour taste as though someone had drunk it and then spewed it out. LOL.

I never believed a word of their TV adverts.

Greenall Whitley beer (Advert 1)
Smile please, you’re in Greenall Whitley land!

Greenall Whitley beer (Advert 2): 1970s
I wish I was in Greenall Whitley land,
Where hearts are warm, And beer is cool,
The girl I left behind, Perhaps you think of me, as I think of you, The jokes, the warmth, the fun, the girl behind the bar,But most of all, Greenall Whitley’s, most of all I’m missing you. Some day I’m going back, to the taste I know so well.

Boy, how you must have suffered Cyril! Don't worry there were thousands who "put up" with their lot and were more than happy to return night after night to enjoy the beer my father prided himself on serving. Perhaps you were unfortunate and chose the wrong pubs. After 24 successful years of serving well satisfied customers with Greenall Whitley products he retired.

The first minivan was introduced in 1959. It retailed at under £500.That was it's main selling point..;o)

There's a rarity! A picture of The Wellfield without Danny Molineux actin' t'Mick outside!

greenalls beer was ok if you could get the beer brewed in st helens,but when they shut the brewery down & transfared brewing to warrington it went down hill from then.

Never went in the Wellfield Keith, I know that some publicans wasn't too fussy over the cleanliness of their pipes and that could turn a good pint into an awful one, but having said that some folks did like the soury taste of Greenhall's Bitter and some liked the bitter taste of Walkers Bitter. Older folks often stuck to Mild, I remember Burtonwood did a dark Mild, I don't know what the strength of it was but it was like drinking watery pop.

Hi Cyril, quite right, dad was always meticulous when it came to cleaning the pipes and never in his 24 year pub career did he ever water down what he considered his pride and joy, a pint of beer that was as good as he could get it. I was never a drinker nor was dad, but a pint of "mixed", half bitter and half mild was at one time a very popular drink, perhaps that explains some things. He retired in 1974.

This thread has prompted me to look up the history of Greenall Whitley and what a history it is, well over 200 years. All I can recall is that dad used to tell me that the Brewery sent out some of their sons with the Draymen who delivered the beer, I think Edward Greenall was one, a sensible move I would have thought for them to learn the trade from the bottom up, so to speak. I know that much later, perhaps in the 70's, one of the sons decamped to Jersey to set up home with his girl friend, having left his wife and six children to do so, that bit wasn't in the history notes.

I understand the plans were drawn up before the War (1939) to build this pub but it took another 17 years because of the War and the austerity afterwards, before it was built in 1956. However it did mean that the specifications were of a high standard and no fewer than 3 pub licenses had to be surrendered by Greenall Whitley so that it could be built, it was also the first new pub to be constructed in Wigan for over 50 years.

Strange to see a car with wheels on in the Wellfeild car park. Used to be a very well run pub with nice people either side of the bar, unfortunately that not the same today. Plenty of "chavez" in the obligatory Fred Perry polo shirts ad shell suits and young women with prams. What a sad world we now live in.

Anyone know if the Greenall Whitley advert (smile please you're in Greenall Whitley Land) is online anywhere? George Best was in this one along with several other famous faces. Desperate for a copy as my mum was in it too!,