Wigan pub marks 120 years as it prepares to close next month
A Wigan pub will celebrate an incredible milestone this year - while preparing to close down.
For more than a century, the Bath Springs at Bryn has been a place where people have come together: to celebrate, to commiserate, to raise money for good causes, to cheer on teams, and to share the kind of everyday moments that become lifelong memories.
It has been shaped not just by its landlords, but by the people who filled it with laughter, stories, and proper Bryn spirit.
Some 120 years have passed since its first licence was issued in 1906.
Though the building stood long before then, that Edwardian year was the moment it officially became a public house, and from that day on, it has been a home, a hub, and a heartbeat for generations of Wiganers.
One of those people is Joseph Parkinson, a regular whose presence stretches back more than 60 years.
Joseph has supported every league team the pub has ever put forward and backed countless charity events over the decades.
His loyalty and quiet dedication have played a big part in the Bath Springs’ story.
As current licensee Jack Draper, who is also from Bryn, says:
“I want to say a special thank you to Joe. In the four years I’ve been here, he’s supported me just like he’s supported this pub for over six decades.
"Everyone in Bryn knows the standing Joe has in the community, and it’s been a privilege to have him as part of the place.”
Jack, who has run the Bath Springs for the past four years, added:
“It’s been an honour to look after a place with so much history behind it.
"A pub isn’t just bricks and mortar — it’s the people who walk through the door every day. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s supported us.
"Closing the doors won’t be easy, but the memories will last a lifetime.”
It will shut on March 8 and the future for the building is uncertain.
As the final week approaches, Jack hopes the community will come together not to mourn the end, but to celebrate everything The Bath Springs has been — the friendships, the teams, the charity nights, the characters, and the stories that could only ever happen in a Wigan pub.
“We want the last week to be full of smiles, stories, and proper Wigan spirit.
"It’s the end of an era, but it’s also a chance to look back proudly on everything this pub has meant to people over the last 120 years.”
Jack added that he is unsure what the future holds for the building once the doors close, but hopes that whatever happens next, The Bath Springs remains part of the community it has served for so long.