The White Crow, a free house in Worthington
It was the White Cross until an 18th-century signwriter, who had clearly been having a pint, painted it wrong. The name stuck. The full story
A family-owned country pub with real ale, roaring fires and home-cooked food.
Stuart and Helen Birch run the White Crow on the A5106 between Wigan and Chorley, right on the Lancashire and Greater Manchester border. Food is served every day from 12 noon to 9pm, and there's a big car park.
We take bookings on 01257 474344, from 11am to 11pm.
Home-cooked, and plenty of it
Everything is cooked fresh from local produce, in portions to satisfy the biggest appetites. All our beef is English, and our steaks are aged for 21 days.
Expect beef in ale pie, braised steak in red wine gravy, a proper mixed grill and our Tewkesbury beef, with specials on the blackboard every day and something for the younger ones too.
Sunday roast
Hand-cut topside of beef with all the trimmings, from 12 noon. When it's gone, it's gone.
What's on
The quiz has run for years and raises money for local causes every week.
Every Thursday, 8pm
Thursday quiz night
A fun quiz every Thursday night. All the proceeds go to Derian House Children's Hospice, the Hindley Green Boys' Brigade and Andy's Man Club.
29Oct
Halloween quiz
Thursday
A spooky quiz. Special prize for the best Halloween costume, and a £100 jackpot on the bingo.
10Dec
Christmas charity quiz
Thursday, 7.30pm
£10 entry per team. A £30 meal voucher for first place, a bottle of wine for second, a prize for the best Christmas jumper, spot prizes all night and a £100 jackpot on the bingo.
12Dec
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday
£16 per child, with a meet and greet with Santa, a waffle breakfast and a gift from Santa. There's a brunch menu for the grown-ups on the day.
“Exceptional is the only word I can think of to describe this place, freshly cooked beautifully presented food, generous portions, this place is not part of faceless microwave special pub chain.”
“Food was fantastic and felt home made unlike a lot of pub style food these days. Staff were efficient, helpful and friendly. Proper veg with the main that didn't taste like it had been reheated/microwaved.”
“A really excellent evening for my birthday - food very good and lots of variety! We were looked after very well by all the staff , nothing too much trouble!!”
Don't turn the crow round
Above the huge fireplace sits Beelzebub, a stuffed white crow who faces into the pub, never out. Local tradition says that if he's ever turned round, the pub is cursed with bad luck.
Helen didn't believe it either, until a member of staff cleaned him and put him back the wrong way. Within weeks the pub flooded, the petrol strike hit trade and there were three power cuts.
Finding us
Chorley Road, Worthington, Standish, Wigan WN1 2XL
On the A5106 between Wigan and Chorley, about three miles out of Wigan. There's a large car park behind the pub.
- Bar
- Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 11pm
- Sunday, 12 noon to 10.30pm
- Food
- Every day, 12 noon to 9pm
Ring us and we’ll keep you a table
We take bookings by phone from 11am to 11pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but we do recommend booking to avoid disappointment.