Pub of the Week: The Crooked Man bar in Prestwich

This week's Pub of the Week is The Crooked Man on Fairfax Road in Prestwich.

It is run by husband and wife team Lisa Dalgarno and Shaun Connelly. 

The bar has been open for just over six years and offers a wide range of changing beers. 

Landlord/landlady name

My husband Shaun Connelly and myself (Lisa Dalgarno) are the owners of The Crooked Man.

How long have you been the landlord/landlady for? And how are you finding it?

We opened in August 2017. It's the bar's seventh anniversary this summer. We'd always wanted to open a bar. When the premises came up for rent, we saw it as an excellent opportunity to set up in Prestwich, which is a thriving location for bars and restaurants.

Give us some history about the pub

The building had previously been a Citizens Advice Bureau. We spent a year renovating the premises and created a bar from scratch.

Is food served? If so please describe it or if there are plans to in the future

No, we are a "wet-led" bar.

Is there a beer garden? Please describe

There is a beer garden out the back which is a sun trap (when the sun is shining!)

What is the most popular drink served and why?

We stock a wide range of craft beers across 10 kegs and three casks. We regularly rotate the beers on offer from independent local breweries such as Pomona Island, Brightside, Brewsmith, Seven Bro7hers and Shindigger.

We also stock Salford Rum, gin from Prestwich Gin Co and wines from Kwoff in Bury. Our cocktails are also very popular, which are our take on the classics as well as originals.

What is the most memorable moment at the pub?

In July 2022, Sacha Lord's Happy Hour took place in our bar. He paid for all the drinks for an hour. We were nominated by people on his social media. This gave us a real boost just coming out of the pandemic lockdown.

The Crooked Man in Prestwich (Image: Google Maps)

Do you have an entertainment line-up?

We have a weekly quiz every Monday and a Poetry night, called Crooked Poets on the first Tuesday of every month. We also have DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.

What are the biggest challenges within the industry and how can you overcome them?

The cost of living crisis affects everybody. We have to manage the rising cost of utilities and stock. We try to avoid passing this on to the customers as much as we can.

What is the worst thing about running a pub and why?

There always seems to be something to fix or replace due to wear and tear. Also unexpected problems can be very stressful. Last summer we had a flooded cellar due to torrential rain. This caused us to have to replace some of the expensive cellar cooling system and we had to close for ten days.

What is the best thing about running a pub and why?

The customers - we've got lots of regulars who've been coming into the bar from the very beginning. There are also plenty of new faces who are discovering us all the time.

The staff - our hardworking staff who provide a fantastic service and have a great rapport with customers.

Positive reviews on social media complimenting our welcoming, atmosphere, selection of drinks and friendly staff are very rewarding for us.

Do you own or run a pub or bar in Bury that you'd like us to feature? Get in touch with us at Burynews@newsquest.co.uk