The Bury line consists of 9 stops, Bury, Radcliffe, Whitefield, Besses o'th'Barn, Prestwich, Heaton Park, Bowker Vale, Crumpsall and finally Woodlands Road. If you want to complete the Bury, Altrincham and City Centre Lines pub crawl, you should be aiming to have got to Victoria by 2pm.
Note: All directions are from the south bound platform.
Bury is the currently the most northerly stop on the Metrolink network and as such is the starting point for 'The Metrolink Pub Crawl' when you intend to finish at the southern end i.e. Altrincham.
Above is a tram approaching one off the platforms at Bury.
Outside the Bury station, next the a bus station.
The closest pub to the Bury tram stop is 'The George', upon leaving the station, walk through the bus station and cross to the shops, just to the left is 'The George'. It only takes about 3 minutes to get to the pub from the platform. As the pub opens at 11am on the dot it makes sense to be waiting outside the pub when it opens, your biggest problem in completing the pub crawl will be time and not the alcohol.
The next stop on the line is Radcliffe.
Radcliffe has a large park and ride car park.
The closest pub to Radcliffe if the 'Swan & Railway', to get to the pub walk out off the station, and down to the bottom off the car park, turn right and it is about 400 meters on the left. However, THIS PUB OPENS AT 12 NOON. If you start at Bury, this pub is not really an option instead go to 'The Royal Oak' described below.
Instead off going to the 'Swan & Railway', turn left out off the car park, walk about 500 meters along the road to a main road, and turn right at the traffic lights, just around the corner is 'The Lord Raglan', as pictured above, however, as with the 'Swan & Railway' it does not open until 12 noon. Continue about 200 meters and you will see 'The Royal Oak', this pub does open at 11am. It takes about 8 minutes to get from the station to 'The Royal Oak'
Note: The pub at 'Heaton Park' is also called 'The Royal Oak'
After Radcliffe come Whitfield.
Above is the exit to Whitefield.
Directly opposite the station is the 'Church Inn', it takes less than 2 minutes to get from the platform to the pub. It is a Holts pub which means the beer they server is 'different', definitely an acquired taste.
Coming next is Besses o'th'Barn, the only suburban platform that is between the tracks as opposed to being outside them.
A tram approaching the platform from, taken from the road below the platform.
To get to the pub, turn left after leaving the station and follow the road, you will cross the M60 (between J18 and J19 I think).
Just across the bridge, and over the road is the 'Coach & Horses', about a 8 minute walk from the station.
Next comes Prestwich.
Above is the view off the station from a car park that is situated right next to the station.
If you walk away from the station and across the car park, you will see the backs of many shops, at the end on the left as you look at it is an 'Iceland' shop, walk towards that, and follow the road that passes alongside the 'Iceland' such that the shops are on your right.
In front of you, although, slightly hidden as it is below road level is the back entrance to 'The Foresters', about 5minutes walk from the station.
Continuing along you arrive at Heaton Park.
When leaving the station turn left to see Heaton Park, the biggest public park in the city, an entrance is seen below.
However, if you turn right and walk about 200 meters, you come across another 'The Royal Oak'. Just across the road from the pub is a supermarket, which can be used to purchase a snack if you are starting to get hungry.
Next Bowker Vale.
Outside Bowker Vale station turn left and follow the main road about 500 meters and the pub 'Cheers Bar' is just after a BP petrol station.
The second last stop on the Bury line is Crumpsall.
Upon leaving the station turn right and proceed to the main road, and turn right again, the pub appears in front off you and is only about 3 minutes walk from the station.
'The Cleveland' is a very large pub, easily accessible from the tram station.
The final stop on the Bury line is Woodlands Road.
The walk to the 'Smedley Hotel' is the longest walk on the Bury line, by quite some way. It also happens to be in one off the poorer areas of town, be aware of this and try to ensure that you are not attempting this pub after dark.
To get to the 'Smedley Hotel' leave the station via the steps and turn right. You need to walk about 400 meters, and just before you get to a pedestrian crossing turn left - this will mean you are slightly heading back on yourself.
Almost immediately take the road opposite - is actually a right turn - into an industrial estate, and follow that road about 250 meters to the 'Smedley Hotel'