The Butchers Arms is not exactly what you would describe as your typical local pub as, even though it is located around 2 miles from the centre of Bolton, it attracts customers from all over the town. This is purely down to the dedication and hard work of the present owners Buck & Jeanette who, since taking over the huge building in December 2006, have transformed the fortunes of the place. Buck & Jeanette were the former management team of The Sharman Arms on Halliwell Rd, Bolton and though it was a small pub they had a secret weapon to their advantage.....The Scavengers MCC! Buck is a long time bike enthusiast so he had no trouble attracting The Scavengers to meet at his former pub and once the opportunity arose to transform the fortunes of the former Victory Pub, since renamed The Butchers Arms, he didn't need to think twice!
"I had been invited a few years ago to the opening night of a new restaurant called Mr G's which had recently taken over occupancy of the former Victory pub and straight away I thought of all the things I could do with this place if it ever became available?" Well the gods must have been listening in on Buck's thoughts as the restaurant failed, the building became available and in December 2006 Buck & Jeanette took occupancy of the newly renamed Butchers Arms.
Whilst Buck and Jeanette have a lot to thank their friends in The Scavengers MCC for they also put a lot of their success down to a zero tolerance policy on drugs, a real problem in many North West towns and a particular issue in certain areas of Bolton. "It's simple! If we catch you with drugs in here you are out! No second chances, finished!" Buck states this with conviction and if you have seen the size of him you will know he means it. "For every bad egg we have got rid of we have brought in another six new customers, good people too who in turn have brought another six friends in the pub so it is a policy that has paid off. People also appreciate that when we make a promise to do something here we do it!"
Whilst Buck is a long time biker and wanted to provide a meeting place for the large Scavengers MCC he also is aware of the needs of the other locals. "We put free rock bands on Saturday's for the rockers and bikers but we also have karaoke and a disco on Friday nights as there's a mixed crowd in here so we have to cater for them all." For those bands who have played at The Butchers in the past they will now notice a change as the front room of the pub has now all been made open plan with a brand new stage recently constructed leaving the former 'back concert room' as a dedicated games room. Upstairs there is a separate function room with it's own dedicated bar which is available to book FREE for functions, customers booking this room can bring their own buffets or the pub can arrange something with the butchers shop across the road but most people choose to do their own food, especially in the present economic climate.
"I had been invited a few years ago to the opening night of a new restaurant called Mr G's which had recently taken over occupancy of the former Victory pub and straight away I thought of all the things I could do with this place if it ever became available?" Well the gods must have been listening in on Buck's thoughts as the restaurant failed, the building became available and in December 2006 Buck & Jeanette took occupancy of the newly renamed Butchers Arms.
Whilst Buck and Jeanette have a lot to thank their friends in The Scavengers MCC for they also put a lot of their success down to a zero tolerance policy on drugs, a real problem in many North West towns and a particular issue in certain areas of Bolton. "It's simple! If we catch you with drugs in here you are out! No second chances, finished!" Buck states this with conviction and if you have seen the size of him you will know he means it. "For every bad egg we have got rid of we have brought in another six new customers, good people too who in turn have brought another six friends in the pub so it is a policy that has paid off. People also appreciate that when we make a promise to do something here we do it!"
Whilst Buck is a long time biker and wanted to provide a meeting place for the large Scavengers MCC he also is aware of the needs of the other locals. "We put free rock bands on Saturday's for the rockers and bikers but we also have karaoke and a disco on Friday nights as there's a mixed crowd in here so we have to cater for them all." For those bands who have played at The Butchers in the past they will now notice a change as the front room of the pub has now all been made open plan with a brand new stage recently constructed leaving the former 'back concert room' as a dedicated games room. Upstairs there is a separate function room with it's own dedicated bar which is available to book FREE for functions, customers booking this room can bring their own buffets or the pub can arrange something with the butchers shop across the road but most people choose to do their own food, especially in the present economic climate.
151 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, BL1 3BE | Telephone: 07734333370