A NEW micropub is looking to craft its own niche in the beer market.

Nook and Cranny, in Bromley Cross, will welcome its first customers from midday on Saturday.

The venue, in Darwen Road, will offer drinkers more than 40 beers on cask, keg, bottle and can.

James Martin and Craig Egan are the two pals hoping to bring a new 'boutique' experience to the village.

The focus will be on local beers, from Bolton and nearby northern towns.

These include Sharples' Bank Top Brewery, Northern Monkey in Astley Bridge and Black Edge in Horwich.

Craig, who also works at Bank Top Brewery, said: "The whole point is to create somewhere to have a bit of fun with your mates, and we're trying to make it as homely as possible.

"We want it to be a relaxing environment for people to come into and try some beers they may not have tried before and recommend some beers we may not have come across.

"We want them to come and enjoy it with friends and family."

James, who has also worked at Bank Top Brewery, says the micropub and bottle shop will bring something new to the area.

He said: "If you look at the collection we have, there's nowhere that does this wide a variety of craft beers."

And the new venture certainly seems to have caught the imagination of drinkers.

"It's had a really good response on social media, we've got a few cult followers on our Facebook wall who who keep asking when we are opening.

"And every time we are in here working there's a knock and people asking when we open and saying they're glad we're doing this as there's nothing like it in the area."

He continued: "But it's taken quite a long time. The building wasn't the best, but we have stuck to it and got a really good result out of it.

The 31-year-old says the site, based on a parade of shops, is an ideal spot.

He said: "I think it's a prime location really. I didn't realise until we came here how much traffic goes through and the Co-op opposite is always busy."

"Craig has a real passion for home brewery and has a real passion for home brew, we want to make our own and sell it through here, but we would have to do that elsewhere.

He added: "It's just a good opportunity, we've been looking for three years, we nearly moved into where Earthlings cafe is now, it's been in the pipeline for some time."

Bromley Cross has a number watering holes but Craig says Nook and Cranny will offer a different to the standard pub experience.

He said: "We want people to come in and literally try as much as possible — within limits — we would.

"If someone comes in and asks for something specific we will do our very best to get it in and source it for them. We have gone off our own initiative to start with, but if someone wants something, we will get it in."

For more details see The Nook and Cranny on Facebook or @TheNookBX on Twitter