Landlord Carl Grundy has been part of the furniture at the pub for almost 20 years.

He said: “There’s been good times and there’s been hard times but more than anything I’d like to think I have had a positive impact on the people that have and still do come into the pub.

“Over the years we’ve redecorated and made additions to the pub such as the new outdoor space that we built when Covid hit.

“But most importantly we’ve kept up with the times and moved with the area while still maintaining our “local pub” atmosphere.

“A friend of mine took the pub over and I managed it for him for nine months, after that he was leaving and I’d already made so many good friends here so I bought the pub off him in June 2003 and I’ve been here ever since.”

Bolton Wanderers is very much as the heart of the pub.

Carl said: “We are a proud Bolton Wanderers pub, fans meet here before and after matches. We regularly run coaches to away games that are always full.

“We have a room which is full of Bolton Wanderers’ memorabilia. We are also proud to be the home of the Bolton Wanderers Remembrance Group.

“We do lots of fundraising and our charity this year is Bolton Hospice, as of today we have raised over £1,000 towards our goal of £3,200 in 2023.”

Carl admits being a finalist reeflects all the hard work they have put in.

He said: “We are delighted that our customers and community think a lot of us and have taken the time to vote for us.

“We like to think we’re a community pub and it’s our valued customers that keep us going and make the hard work worthwhile.

“The best thing about the pub is the lifelong friendships I have made with customers, staff and the local community.

“I am proud of everything we are able to do to support Bolton Hospice as it’s a charity that’s means so much to many of us here as well as Bolton as a whole.”

He added: “The pub has character but my customers make that. From the older generation on a Sunday afternoon to the younger crowd on a Friday night we are a mixed community but we create a space for people to enjoy themselves.

“We try our very best to welcome anyone regardless of who they are and where they come from and make the pub a safe place - which we know it is as people keep coming back.”

Talking about the making the final six, Carl said: “Having been here soon to be 20 years it would be amazing to receive some recognition for all the hard work me and my current and past staff have put in over the years.

“I’ve been fortunate to find a hard working team that I can rely both past and present.

“My current staff team have worked hard to get the pub through the covid pandemic and keeping customers safe.”