When it comes to pasties, the infamous Cornish or Greggs might spring to mind, but for those in and around the Greater Manchester town of Bolton, there’s only one place to go – Carrs Pasties. The family-run bakery has been going since 1938, when it first opened a shop on Halliwell Road (which is still going strong today), and it had mill workers queueing around the block to get their pasty fix.
The pasty is the closest thing Boltonians have to a regional delicacy, and although the Cornish pasty is often the more famous sister, Bolton’s underdog is so much more versatile and is perfect for nibbling whilst mooching around town. Passed down through three generations, what sets Carrs Pasties apart is that throughout their time running as a business they consistently produce tasty pasties with golden, buttery, flaky pastry with plenty of pride in what they do. It’s comfort food on the go.
Their hearty meat and potato, creamy cheese or succulent steak pasties are classic fan favourites but Carrs also likes to spice things up. You can order the likes of cheese and jalapeño or pasties generously filled with chicken curry.
Sausage rolls, vegetable pasties and sweet apple pasties are also available as well sides of gravy, mushy peas, red cabbage or Lancashire potato hash. They’ll even serve a chilli beef pasty in a barm for those after a twist on a pie barm (also known as a Wigan kebab).
So ingrained in both Bolton and Lancashire culture, Carrs Pasties has a stand sponsored by them at Bolton Wanderers’ stadium and they even collaborated with Aardman in 2023 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers. After all the main characters are meant to be from just down the road in Wigan! The Bolton-born bakery launched a brand new pasty, More Cheese, Ham & Chilli Jam Pasty, for the occasion featuring four cheeses (Mozzarella, Red Leicester, Cheddar and Wensleydale, of course).
Not local to Bolton? Do not fear as you can get a taste of Carrs Pasties by ordering a delivery or click and collect from their online shop – and even frozen pasties to save for a later date. Or you can even get them to cater an event including birthdays and weddings.
📍Carrs Pasties, 351 Halliwell Road, Bolton, BL1 8DF | Corporation Street, Bolton, BL1 2BD | 458 Manchester Road, Bolton, BL3 2NU | Unit 19A Middlebrook Retail Park, Horwich, BL6 6JA.