Newton-le-Willows

It is five years and a day since I last surveyed Newton-le-Willows, making all the pubs there "required", so off I headed on a beautifully sunny Saturday afternoon.I walked along the main street photographing all the targets as I passed. Do you think the photos today will be better than the usual standard of this blog, because they were all taken sober? I doubt it!At the far end is the Oak Tree so I started there:Many years ago this one had a "rustic" interior, I seem to recall, plain but pleasant now. I also noticed, outside, that it has lost its Greene King branding.No real ale apparently, so I thought I'd try the (in)famous Hawkstone lager, Jeremy Clarkson's brew. I've only read bad things about it but I wanted to try it for myself. I'm only five years behind everyone else! Anyway, it has a touch more flavour than a Carling, perhaps, maybe it's a little sweet for my taste? Not worth the £6.60 I paid, anyway!As I drank, the barman/landlord started pulling through one of the…