The small picturesque Lancashire village with one pub and plenty of community spirit

Yahoo

24-05-2025

They say good things come in small packages, this is definitely the case for one of Bolton's most quaint villages, Belmont.
Although this remote Lancashire village is situated seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Belmont's salt-of-the-Earth residents, historic pub and charming architecture is the quintessential British community.
Belmont village is located just north of Bolton. (Image: Leah Collins) The beating heart of Belmont is it's only pub, The Black Dog, which has been serving its residents since 1825. I stopped by for a pint and a chat in order to develop a better understanding of the village's rich history.
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The Black Dog is the only pub in Belmont. (Image: Leah Collins) The pub's barmaid, Becky, said: 'People are proud of it here, they celebrate the history.
'The village is small, I'd say there's about 500 residents here. It's a tight-knit community, everyone knows everyone. The village has so much history, there's the reservoir and the sailing club which are popular attractions.
Becky is a barmaid in The Black Dog. (Image: Leah Collins) 'My dad was born and raised in the same Farmhouse here, so Belmont is completely tied up to my own family's history.'
The Black Dog, which is also a hotel, is currently under the ownership of brewery Joseph Holt and has won multiple awards and recommendations. The interior of the pub is a modern twist on a classic, complete with an ornate fireplace and dark wooded panelling.
After finishing my drink, I paid a visit to St Peter's Church, just a stone's throw away from The Black Dog. The building, which dates back to 1849, is a crucial facet of Belmont living and remains one of six Anglican churches in four parishes serving communities in the north Bolton and Turton area.
St Peter's Church in Belmont. (Image: Leah Collins) In true springtime fashion, I was greeted by some fluffy white sheep and adorable lambs pottering the grounds.
The church doubles as an outreach Post Office, open on Friday mornings, which compensates for the lack of shops in the village.
Next stop was local business the Fresh Farm Shop, based at the Belmont Works on Egerton Road.
The sister shop to Fresh Meat Packs, which is based next door, the new shop sells a range of meats and fresh produce such as vegetables, dairy products, cakes, spices and more, all sourced from around the North West.
I chatted to shop assistant Freya Hitchford, who grew up in the Belmont area.
Freya Hitchford has grown up in the area. (Image: Leah Collins) She said: 'Belmont is a nice spot, I have spent all my high school years here and have grown up in the area. It's home to me.
'I worked at the Black Dog before here, there's a palpable sense of community that you don't necessarily get with other places.
'I would say that the problem with living here is transport, you need to be able to drive if you live here really, the busses can be unreliable and there isn't much public transport.
'Working here is nice, I see people who I haven't seen in years and people always come to visit us from outside of Belmont.'
Belmont's history is rooted in its agriculture. Before 1800, it was a small hamlet called Hordern, consisting of farms and a few cottages.
By the mid-19th century, the population grew to about 1,000, fuelled by industries like Ryecroft Mill and Belmont Bleach Works.