dubTAP

But Adam, dubTAP is a new tap room and bottle shop from the guys behind Drink Up Brewing, and you don't drink, so why are you doing a review on dubTAP?

Well I'll tell you why, you little scamp, you! Because I thought the same thing! I thought dubTAP were just a new drinking hole, and so despite the popularity and praises being sung, I didn't visit until recently, because I found out that they also do food, and also serve soft drinks and hot drinks. Hooray!

 

The venue itself is on Lee Lane in  Horwich, in a former small take-away unit, but despite their small size, they've used the space well, and I'm told have further plans to open the first floor for a more specific dining space, showing that they have every intent to keep the food coming, rather than it being an afterthought at a bar. 

As you walk in (mind your head, the doors are low in this place!), the first thing that strikes you is that with the wood cladding on the walls, lamp shades made from reclaimed metal containers, aspace saving seating, and long bar, it feels very much like somewhere you would find in Manchester's Northern Quarter, but slotted into Horwich.

The welcome is warm, and as we walk in we notice a family on the left hand side sharing a table with some parents and their little girl, everyone having breakfast. This is a good sign. At some bars which are just simple boozers, you expect to walk in at 10:30am to simply find middle aged blokes called Frank sat around on their third pint, but dubTAP have realised that you can have a drink based venue, but one that still appeals to families and the non-drinking crowd by offering things like food, Fentimans soft drinks, and tea and coffee.

As I mentioned, there's not a huge amount of seating in the downstairs space, but the best has been made of the space to allow people to sit without chairs and tables cramming all into the space. We sat on a side-bar with stools and read the food menu, which sounds very good, some really nice ideas for simple lunches, such as steak Canadian and black pudding scotch eggs, but today we fancied a bit of breakfast, and so opted for some toast, and the full breakfast, as well as a pot of tea for two.

The tea came promptly, in a funky teapot and Le Creuset mugs, which kept them hot for ages, very nice. Breakfast however on this instance for us was a bit of a miss. We found the food to be a bit greasy and not of the highest quality, and also the toast was burnt, both the toast with the breakfast and the toast I had myself. But this of course is just our opinion, for a lot of people this would be just fine, and a good price. It's certainly on a par with many of the other breakfast offerings in Horwich.

The reviews of the place for drink offerings are nothing short of stellar, and both the food reviews and photos of the general menu are also very complimenting, and look amazing to boot, but I think they've only just started doing breakfasts, and as the place has only been open a very short period, it stands to reason that they are still finding their footing in some regards, so I wouldn't judge the place on this one miss (for us). I think once they've been doing them for a while longer, and they turn the toaster down a bit, they'll be on to a winner.

The service was friendly and efficient, and it was nice to hear the plans for the future of the place, with a bigger focus on dining. And don't worry, dubTAP, even with the breakfast hiccup, I'll definitely be back again to try some of those other dishes on the menu! 

What's also nice is that as it's right in the middle of Horwich, there's plenty of free parking on streets and free parking all around the area making it easy to visit. 

But clearly, dubTAP is aimed first and foremost at drinking, rather than eating, and for those visiting to try out the alcoholic refreshments on offer, I think you're in for a treat, as there is a massive selection available, from the cans and bottles displayed in the large chiller units opposite the bar, to wine menu, and the blackboard boasting the daily offerings such as "Beelzebub's Tears" and "Big Bertha". How could you resist? Why not give this new local independent a try sometime whilst they're finding their feet instead of going to that chain pub and drinking that same old drink you always have?


dubTAP
179 Lee Lane
Horwich
Bolton
Greater Manchester
BL6 7JD

(01204) 397 440