First drinks: It was sunny for an autumnal afternoon, so we opted for a crisp Zeffer Red Apple cider, and a pint of the Leigh Sawmill's famous crystal wheat lager in the pretty, homely courtyard/garden. The Sawmill has a great range of craft beer brewed on site, and a morethan decent wine list and cocktail menu, and the cheerful bar staff are always helpful in finding something to your tastes.
The vibe is: very relaxed. The Sawmill is an institution - community-minded, friendly, and full of history. It has wood-fired pizzas and is a popular stop on the local music circuit.
On the stereo: The staff choose pretty unobtrusive music when there's no set DJ or band - it might be world music, jazz, reggae, classic rock. But when we visit, Tami Neilson and her stylish band are performing country, blues, rockabilly, and RnB, to the crowd's delight.
The bathrooms were: small, but well furnished and clean - plenty of paper towels, nice soap, and proper wooden doors.
Room for improvement: When it gets busy it can take a wee while to get a drink at the bar, but that's just par for the course really. And if you're lucky enough to have scored yourself a table, well you don't have to worry, they'll come to you.
The perfect spot for: Just about everything. Special celebrations, a quiet drink with some locals, a place to snuggle up in winter, or lie about in the summer. It's great for families and kids, but it's also one of our favourite spots in the whole country to see live music.
