The Thomas Egerton pub creates cosy new outdoor space

The Thomas Egerton on Blackburn Road, Egerton, has converted its veranda into a more cosy space. 

Aiming to bring in more dining clientele and also being open to dog walkers, the area has been has been decked out with music, TV, a dartboard and heaters, as well as a separate smoking balcony. 

It is also able to be booked out for functions. 

The Thomas Egerton was named in the top 100 places in the UK for outdoor dining. 

Landlord Josh Lee said: "We also built a new kitchen on the first floor on the same level as the veranda. We want to encourage more diners and dog walkers. 

The new veranda, which has TV, blankets, seating and eight heaters (Image: Public)

"Inside the pub, we don't allow dogs as it isn't big enough. But with the veranda we want to serve food, provide functions and also bring in people with dogs - we want everything that is inside to be outside. 

"We have already had four bookings in the last week for little functions out there through December. 

"Going back to 2006 when we first opened as The Thomas Egerton, we opened in November as the first non-smoking pub in Bolton, about six months before the smoking ban, and we had a dedicated smoking area on the balcony."

Landlord Josh Lee (centre) says the idea evolved over time (Image: Public)

He added: "It has evolved since Covid, balcony we have a larger area that is more covered. 

"It was still effectively a veranda with a balcony on two sides allowing for smoking. Two months ago we put up a wind-up canvas awning on the side to take the chill off. 

"We have eight heaters in there now, it is a nice warm environment with very little draft. We've got blankets, TV, a dartboard and such, just things to make it a more homely area."

The new area (Image: Public)

"As it is technically an inside area now, we can no longer have smoking there, but there is a separate part on the end that was exposed, we have put a wind-out awning on the side so it becomes a small covered smoking area as well as the huge garden out the back. 

The Thomas Egerton was named in the top 100 places in the UK for outdoor dining. 

Announced in July this year, it was commended for its service.