We tried one of the most famous pubs in Lancashire for the first time and felt like part of history

One of the best things about the UK is the wealth of historic pubs we take great pride in maintaining and restoring.

Whether it’s a watering hole that’s stood proudly on the high street for centuries, or an older building that’s been transformed into the town’s latest haunt – decent pubs are the cornerstone of our society.

Many of us have our favourites we visit regularly, but some pubs may come to your attention through word-of-mouth, social media or because they’ve won an award. Named as the best in central Lancashire for the second year running, the Black Horse on Friargate in Preston is catching the eye of everyone in the area.

Whilst I specifically have never been to the pub, I noticed it had been given the accolade again and thought it was well worth a trip. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Central Lancashire Branch judged the watering hole, describing it as a the epitome of outstanding quality and service, especially with its unique details.

You may be familiar with the establishment itself, and if so, you almost certainly know it’s the only pub in the UK with entrances on three different streets. Not only that, but it’s also believed to be the one of only 14 venues in the UK with a ceramic bar counter – and an impressive one it is.

When you enter the pub (after you’ve decided which entrance to use), the establishment is one of those that just fills you with joy about its historical preservation, Britishness and arguably most importantly, the overwhelming feeling you’re going to get yourself a good brew.

The impressive bar inside the pub

We opted for the the entrance on Friargate – no specific reason, it was the closest one, but we’re happy we did. An impressive archway covers the entrance here, with a narrow doorway into the pub itself.

Much like pubs with a rich history, the establishment is relatively small and particularly narrow until you get into the bar area and that’s when you can see how much the Black Horse stands out from most other pubs in the country. The bar is huge and circular, almost separated into two parts with a door in between and more room for seating and other drink options.

On tap, there’s classics such as Guinness and more unusually, a coffee stout named Euphoria. Due to its high ranking with Robinsons Brewery, there’s of course many of their beers such as Old Tom strong ale, Unicorn golden ale and Citra Pale Ale.

Although this may seem criminal to most people who are a fan of a pub such as this, I’m not particularly a fan of hand pulled ales, so other options seemed more appealing, until we saw the winner – Veltins. A delicious lager brewed in West Germany, the beer is served in a branded stein and, may I say, perfectly poured.

Signs around the bar informed customers that pies were only £1.50 for the day – tempting for another trip at lunchtime we think. Doing some online digging and it appears Jones Pies are the Black Horse’s supplier – a pie and a pint, what more could you ask for?

Finding a seat is a little harder though, as on a Saturday afternoon it’s relatively busy and there’s not an abundance of option. Around the bar was filling quickly, but there are other rooms to choose from in the pub.

The ‘Bar Parlour’ felt like The Garrison in Peaky Blinders

The famous seated area, with a green bench that spans in a horseshoe shape and coupled with stain glass windows at the top was also occupied. The ‘smoke room’ had a cosy fireplace lit up during our visit – perfect for the colder days where you can watch the craziness of Preston through the window.

We opted for the ‘Bar Parlour’ which felt exactly like I’d stepped on to the set of Peaky Blinders and decided to have a drink at The Garrison. A round room, we sat a the back and if I’d have known better, I’d have thought I was sitting down for a quiet drink with my fellow gang members to discuss this week’s criminal activities.

Alas, it was a Saturday pint with friends – but it was good to feel cool for just a moment. Here, you can see a cabinet which is filled with some older relics, including historic receipts, bottles and tankards.

Just sitting there and drinking your drink, you feel as though you’re a part of history. It’s lovely to know there’s still establishments like the Black Horse in trade in the country – a part of British culture that will surely never die down.