Navigation, Holland Street, Miles Platting. (c) Google 2012. View Larger Map.
Isn't this a fine looking boozer, nestled deep in a Miles Platting estate alongside the canal? Alas, pictures can be very deceptive. In reality the Navigation is rather run down, and although it looks like a mini-refurb is underway, it looks like it's been half finished for years. There is no sign of any real ale either, despite there being three handpumps on the bar. The best on offer was a Tetley Smoothflow, and to be fair this was at a bargain £1.90 a pint.
As for the clientèle, the barmaids in their Navigation t-shirts were friendly enough although the 8 or 10 local gents sat near the door eyed us with great suspicion on arrival, not just as outsiders, but more likely undercover old bill. Thankfully, with our choice of Tetley, and our drink one and move on policy, I think they decided we were just a pair of lost fools (many have suggested this) and even said cheerio as we left.
Navigation, Holland Street, Miles Platting. (c) Man Mates.
The Navigation is now just one large room knocked through with a stage for turns, like in the olden days, as pictured above. The beer garden is sadly surrounded by concrete walls, which means you can no longer see the now cleaned up canal area. Maybe this is something they should consider as it would make a nice place to sit in the coming months, albeit with added security needed. Oh, and get at least one real beer on - you've already got the pumps!
October, 2020. The Navigation has been closed for sometime, and when I passed, looked as if it was being demolished, and replaced by housing. Shame, as the estate on the edge of which this pub sat, now has no pubs at all.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1950s a real community pub, which inter alia, organised coach trips to the 1957 Cup Final (Man Utd v Aston Villa), and (for children) Blackpool Illuminations, and where our neighbours hurried with my 85 year old gran on Sunday lunchtimes.
ReplyDeleteI remember working here. When British Waterways purchased the Rochdale Canal for the grand sum of £1, I worked on the locks at the rear of this pub. The rear of the pub backed up to the locks & was covered in barbed wire. It looked so out of place, but looked so much older & in character with the canal than the estate that surrounded it. I never went inside but the architecture outside made it look so inviting. I always thought I might one day go back for a drink just to see the inside. Kind regards Johnny Northern
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