ENCOURAGING people to visit local places of historic interest isn’t always easy.

But at Bolton’s Smithills Hall they’ve found a clever formula. Not only has this 800 year-old building, spanning life from the 14th century to the 21st, long had the benefit of the brilliant Friends of Smithills Hall but it now has a first-class pop-up tearoom run by a family firm which already has successful restaurants.

A friend and I had tea, sandwiches and cake there and afterwards we went on a free tour of the Hall. It’s very family-friendly, genuinely fascinating – and all enhanced by refreshments. Try it!