It might not be the biggest of festivals, or even the wildest, BUT if you're looking for three nights ruffing it on a football pitch with a crazy variety of people (from goths in their 50s to teen Topman addicts) then Coppell folk festival is for you.
Also if your a fan of dodgy, slightly drunken, versions of The Pogues classics done by a pensioner wearing a pink cowboy hat - then Coppell is the best place to spend the long summer nights
My biggest tips for survival in Coppell is:
1) Beware of the rugby team that practice on the camping field every morning
2) Give the open mic nite a go. Trust me you can't be worse than some!
Coppell
San Marco's in Chorley has more cheese in the decor than it does on its pizzas and so it is quickly established that yes, this is an Italian restaurant - sorry 'ristorante'.
Somehow though, it's easy to forgive because here they serve food that gives pleasure. Sure, it's all a little messy and I wish the chef would make desserts on the premises and/or make use of the local ice cream superheroes - Fredericks (www.fredericksicecream.co.uk) but still, the simplicity of the dishes are pleasantly satisfying and the staff are always friendly.
The pizza bases alone are worth scoffing down. It may never win awards but mixed in with the charm and honesty is the feeling that there is certainly potential.
12 Cheapside, Chorley, PR7 2EX - 012572 61917.
The (almost) private dining experience must hold a rare treat status for most people and in the sleepy town of Coppull, Chorley, it's even more of a treat to find such a place. The Coppull Moor has one sitting (usually at 8:30 in the evening) and a fixed price (around £35 last time I went). For that the pleasure of getting a room which you share with very few other people is wonderful. The food is generally of a good quality though sometimes the strain of serving everybody at once shows through. The menu is imaginative (desserts wear thin on repeat visits however) and the biggest gripe is that this place is so undersold. It's one of those places where a little more work on its offering and promotion would deliver in meaty handfuls.
311 Preston Rd, Coppull, Chorley.
Tel: 0871 7149510
Good restaurants in Chorley are hard to find and, despite the awful titular pun, the Thyme & Plaice offers consistently good food from a menu that changes every two months. Family owned and run, the restaurant strikes the balance between friendly and professional and the decor is equally well balanced.
Wigan Lane, Chorley, Coppull, PR7 4BN.
Tel: 01257 480287
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