Our Pub of the Week feature continues as we head over to Eccles for a historic celeb-haunt of a venue
Landlady Andrea Lithgoe has been running The Lamb Hotel, in Eccles, for 16 years(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
With the week of Christmas slowly creeping up, it’s a particularly busy time for the many pubs and bars across Greater Manchester as colleagues meet up for festive do’s, friends have one last catch up before the holidays or as people seek out one quiet bit of solace in the corner amongst the madness of it all.
And, without putting too much gloom on the situation, the manicness is perhaps also a welcome distraction for the many pub operators and those in the hospitality industry right now, due to concerns over how the Budget could further affect things to come.
Over in Salford, one pub that is lapping up the festivities is The Lamb Hotel. The Eccles watering spot has been led by Andrea Lithgoe for 16 years. Owned by Joseph Holt, the pub is one of the first things you’ll see as the Metrolink trams make their final stop on the Eccles line.
The pub is a regular fixture for a number of varied groups, including bikers and gamers, meaning there’s always something going on. There’s also karaoke and quiz nights each week.
The pub’s building has a history dating back to the 1800s(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Given a major refurbishment in 2024, the pub has celebrated its first year fully revamped and Andrea says its given the venue a ‘whole new lease of life’ with a new look and updated billiards and sports rooms. “It’s absolutely beautiful now,” she tells us.
Featuring a design paying homage to its Edwardian and Victorian roots, the pub is full of quirks and comes equipped with a lively beer garden tucked away at the back. The pub was given Grade II-listed status by Historic England in 1994 for its ‘outstanding national historic importance’.
The Lamb Hotel is our Pub of the Week, and we’ve spoken with Andrea about the goings-on at the venue, its significant history and how it’s welcomed a real host of famous faces over the years – even appearing on screen itself.
How did you get into the pub industry in the first place?
It’s just something I’ve always done! I’ve progressed from barmaid up to manager. It’s the only thing I’ve ever really been interested in doing for a career, really. Apart from working in a supermarket once, it’s the only job I’ve ever had.
My first pub for Holt’s as a barmaid was the Royal Oak, and my first with them as a manager was The Crown & Volunteer, both in Eccles. I think I’ve pretty much worked in most of the pubs in Eccles since my teenage days.
The pub was given an ‘absolutely beautiful’ refurbishment last year(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
I’ve been at The Lamb Hotel for 16 years now. It’s like coming home to me, as I’m from Eccles. I’ve run pubs in St Helens, Bolton, Swinton and it’s been lovely coming back to Eccles. As soon as I walked in here on the first day, I just knew it was something special.
What is the significance behind the pub’s name?
There’s always been a site here called The Lamb, or something similar. The first one was probably around 1862. It was rebuilt in 1906, but we have never really got to truly understand the reason for the name. Maybe it used to be farmland full of lambs back in the day, who knows!
What’s your best-selling drink?
Bitter, definitely. I think Mild is on the way out, really. We have a few following for the Mild but it’s not as popular these days. I think it’s probably to do with the age range and the tradition for us here.
We don’t serve food as we’re a traditional wet-led pub but we have recently started selling Carr’s Pasties and they are flying out.
Landlady Andrea said the pub is always full of a variety of people and groups(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)What’s an unusual thing that’s happened at the pub?
Before my time, the pub was once featured in Coronation Street. I’m not fully sure on the reasons why, but I think they were filming scenes for a different pub and The Lamb Hotel was the one that got chosen. One of the barmaids even got to pull a pint on screen in the background!
Have there been any famous or notable guests who have visited?
We have had a few famous regulars over the years. I’ve not seen him for a while now, but Christopher Eccleston often pops in when he’s in the area. We also have been visited by William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in Coronation Street, and Harry Hill. They both did a Children in Need appeal nearby one year.
The beer garden offers a bit of solitude away from the town centre(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)What is it about your local community that you love?
We have so many different groups that use the pub. We have the Mandem Meet-Up, who are focused on men’s mental health, and a Bikers group also meet here every week. We also have a gamers night, so it’s always utilised in one way or another.
When people first visit us, they’ll come in a stranger and leave a friend. It’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s so true for us. If anyone comes in and is feeling down, five minutes with us lot and they never come out the same again! It’s nice, the staff are always trying to keep an eye out for anyone who’s down or lonely and they’ll go for a chat with them. I’ve always got time for a cup of tea and a chat with anyone.
The pub is full of unique quirks and charms around each corner(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)Have there been any spooky or haunted encounters in the pub?
We’ve hosted a few psychic nights over the years, and they’ve gone really down well with the customers. But I haven’t experienced anything haunted in my time here – besides a few glasses falling off the bar, and I’m not sure we can blame the ghosts for that.
The psychic did once tell me that I can’t honestly think there’s nothing here and I just said to her ‘well, they’re not bothering me if they are here!’
How can people support their local pub?
The best thing people can do is to just keep visiting us when they can and to keep smiling. If we smile through the tough times, we’ll get through them together.
The Lamb Hotel is on 33 Regent Street, Eccles, Manchester, M30 0BP.