This week’s pub is run by a chef with more than two decades of experience working in Bolton kitchens. The Rivington Bar and Grill on Church Street in Horwich, owned by Gjon Gjoka, formerly of the Ridgeway Arms in Blackrod, blends Italian and British cuisine while also offering a terrace to enjoy your visit from. Can you introduce yourself? My name is Gjon Gjoka and I own the Rivington Grill, and I am a chef in the kitchen.
Why did you take over here? The rent at my previous place was too high so I knew I had to move elsewhere, and I love the building here, so I bought it. Gjon and his daughter Gabriel, who also works in the kitchen (Image: NQ) Did you make any changes when you arrived? Yes, I knew the building had to be improved, so expanded the car park which helps with customers, and it’s also really useful for the community as sometimes people from the nearby school park here. (Image: NQ) How are you finding it? I’ve been here one and a half years and it started off well, the last three months though have been really tough, everyone is struggling, I just think people are struggling a lot with income at the moment and it’s having an effect on us.
All my friends in the industry have said the same thing, I’ve never seen it as bad as it is now. (Image: NQ) What food do you do? We do a mix of Italian and British cuisine, and our most popular dishes are probably the kebabs, the fillet steak swinging one is really popular. Our pies people love as well, the steak and ale especially, the British food tends to go down better.
(Image: NQ) We also have pizzas, pasta and a mix of items from the grill, like a fillet steak and mixed grill. What’s the draught line-up? Carlsberg Angelo Poretti San Miguel Guinness Wainwrights Gold I hear the pub is a family affair Yes, my daughter Gabriel has worked with me in the kitchen since she was a child, I arrived here in 2000 and worked my way up from being a pot washer and she’s been with me on the journey which is nice. The bar's menu and prices are available on their website.
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