The Rose & Crown in Westhoughton to reopen after refurbishment

The Rose & Crown, located in Westhoughton on Bolton Road, will welcome customers once again from 12pm on Thursday, May 21.

The refurbishment was funded by Proper Pubs, the community-focused operator division of Admiral Taverns, and marks a fresh chapter for the venue under the leadership of new operator Ray Lester.

Mr Lester said: “I’m delighted to be taking over The Rose & Crown, and it’s been fantastic to see the transformation come together over the past few weeks.

“The space is already looking great, and I’m really excited to start welcoming customers through the doors – both familiar faces and those visiting for the first time.”

With more than 10 years of experience in the industry, Mr Lester said he hopes to establish the Rose & Crown as a vibrant social hub for the neighbourhood.

The pub now features brand new flooring, fixtures, fittings and furniture throughout, as well as updated décor, along with dedicated darts and pool areas in the lower bar.

Outside, customers can enjoy new covered areas to socialise, additional lighting and a children’s play area.

A broad drinks selection will be available, including Madri, Fosters, Coors, Carling, Guinness, Murphy’s and Strongbow, along with a new cocktail menu.

The Rose and Crown before the refurbishment (Image: public)

The Rose & Crown will also host regular entertainment, including live music, karaoke, quiz nights and pub teams for both darts and pool.

In addition to its social offering, Mr Lester said he plans to support the wider community by collecting food donations for the local foodbank and raising funds for a defibrillator on site.

Matt Gurney, operations director for Proper Pubs, said: “It’s a real pleasure to welcome Ray to The Rose & Crown, and it’s been fantastic to watch the refurbishment come to life.

“We look forward to welcoming the local community into the pub, especially for the reopening event on the 21st of May.

“On behalf of myself and the whole team at Proper Pubs, we’d like to wish Ray every success in his new venture – it’s great to have him on board.”

Proper Pubs operates more than 200 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

The company runs an annual programme of events and fundraising campaigns to connect with and support the communities it serves.

Earlier this year, Proper Pubs collected 21,619 Easter eggs for donation to local charities, and last Christmas its operators gathered 17,500 selection boxes for those in need.

In addition, the pub group raised £80,255 for Admiral Taverns’ charity partner, Claire House Hospice.

In 2025, Proper Pubs donated enough food to help feed 1,300 people for a week through UK foodbanks, and has been recognised in a UK-wide defibrillator installation campaign.

So far, the campaign has helped save 11 lives.

In recognition of its community focus, Proper Pubs was named a finalist in the Best Community Pub category at the 2026 Great British Publican Awards.

The company also received the title of Community Pub Operator at the Publican Awards in 2024.

The reopening of The Rose & Crown is seen as another positive step in the company’s ongoing efforts to invest in people and places that matter.

With new facilities, regular events and a renewed focus on supporting Westhoughton, the pub aims to re-establish itself as a gathering place for all generations.

The Rose & Crown is located at 222 Bolton Road, Westhoughton, Bolton.