Flying Flute, Bolton

Originally known as the Fleece it had become the Gaiety and in November 1979 had started selling Walkers Warrington Ale, however by June 1980 Tetley had sold the pub to Vaux and their Samson Bitter replaced the Warrington Ale. The first of many Branch Meetings was held here on June 3rd 1981. It was mentioned in an article about town centre pubs in April 1982. It was visited on the Marathon Bonfire Night Pub Crawl in 1982. It had a refurbishment in mid 1983 and was renamed on 10/06/83 as Maxims (previously Gaiety) selling Vaux Bitter, then Samson and by the Branch Meeting on October 5th 1983 it was selling Lorimers 70/-. During 1985 and 1986 Wards Bitter, Sunderland Draught Bitter, Darleys Bitter, Vaux Regal Bitter also made appearances as well as guest beers from non Vaux associated breweries. In November 1986 it was reported that eight handpumps were expected to be on the bar in 1987. Meanwhile the December 11th 1986 found guest beers from Gales HSB, Timothy Taylors Landlord and Crouch Vale. The Disco was going to move to the function room upstairs. For the duration of the 1989 Great North Western Beer Festival there would be Darleys Bitter, Vaux Samson, and 5 guest beers available. Through out 1987 and 1988 the promised Major refurbishment kept being deferred and when it eventually was done it was rather toned down, with Vaux Bitter and Samson, Wards Bitter and Darleys Bitter and no guests rather than the four which were promised earlier. It was now a Wards pub not a Vaux one. A social was held here on January 27th 1989 to sample a new wheat beer but it turned out to be Keg. The 1989 Beer in Bolton Guide was launched here on February 1st 1989. By mid 1989 the pub along with other venues had lost its late licence until 1am, but was going to reapply. The pub was visited on the Independence Day pub crawl on July 4th 1989. On May 3rd 1990 a Branch Meeting was held here. The pub was included in the Good Beer Guides for 1991 to 1993 and again in 1997 and 1998. In March 1991 the beers available were Vaux Samson and Batemans XXXB. Branch meetings were held here on June 6th and the AGM on November 7th 1991. In the Great North Western Beer Festival Programme it was listed as selling Vaux Samson and guest Beers, this choice continued into 1995. A Branch Meeting was held here on May 6th 1993. Again the Independence Day Pub crawl visited here on June 17th 1993. In early 1995 a further refurbishment was undertaken and the pub reopened on April 6th selling Vaux Samson and Waggle Dance. The Independence day crawl again visited on June 29th. The Branch AGM was held here on November 9th 1995 and again on November 7th 1996, in 1997 it was a Branch Meeting on October 16th. In October 1999 Vaux brewery had fallen by the wayside and beers were now Theakstons XB, Draught Bass, and Stones Bitter. By November 2001 the pub was being run by the Laurel Pubco and was closed for another refurbishment and was going to be renamed Tiger's Feet. By October 2005 the pub was called Bar:(ME). A few short stop and starts with real ale in 2015/16. Several Bolton Branch meetings were held in the function room upstairs later called the Kiko Club and also one in the very large cellar underneath the premises.