As drinkers nurse their New Year hangovers and
contemplate the spiralling cost of another “festive
season”, Britain’s brewers are adding to the general
sense of gloom often felt at this time of year. Beer prices
are set to rise by an inflation busting margin of around
6p per pint. The £2 pint is not at all uncommon now. It
may well have happened in a pub near you. Even such
bastions of lower prices as the Independent Family
Brewers are not as cheap as they used to be compared to“chain” rivals. The problem is magnified by the unrealistic
prices charged by the big supermarkets, where beer is
often sold below cost. This in turn makes the pub seem
expensive. The price increases by big brewers are largely
aimed at the take home trade in a vain hope of putting
the genie back in the bottle. The knock on effect will hurt
all of us. Pubs don’t just compete with each other, but
with this cheap take home trade.
But you only get what you pay for. If your wish is to
drink cheap lager, then where better to do it than at
home? Why pay £3 for a pint of Stella when you can suck
down the same fizz for 50p from the supermarket? This
distortion of free trade is counter productive to us all. The
health lobby already want to force up the cost of alcohol,
conveniently overlooking that most harmful drinking
takes place outside licensed premises. If they had their
way, beer duty and thus the price of beer in a pub would
increase even more, driving more drinkers to drink at
home. These issues also affect the real ale drinker
whether we like it or not, as the move to drinking at
home affects pub viability.
The English pub is one of the finest
institutions in the world, envied almost
verywhere. It is a place of friendliness and
banter, of belonging and beer. It is often
quirky and unique and a mainstay of its
community. To keep it that way we need to
use it and remember that the enemy of
good pubs is not just greedy faceless pub
chains, but the cheap cases of Stella etc.
you see in your local supermarket.
The real ale drinker is however in a
different situation. Here uniqueness of
product and the fact that to most real ale
drinkers, ale and pubs are synonomous,
means that the cask drinker will usually be
found in the pub. Yes the price of a pint is
going up, but the pub is still the best place
to drink beer. Pubs need to adapt to survive
and always have done, but they cannot rely
on the blind allegiance of cask drinkers to
the cause. For cask ale, with its relatively
short shelf life, they must offer consistent quality of product for the premium prices
now charged. Without that commitment to
quality, and variety, the future for the pub
is uncertain.
Peter Alexander
More Beer is produced four (4) times a
year on behalf of the Rochdale, Oldham
and Bury Branch of CAMRA.
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Welcome to this our 6th edition of “More Beer” the newsletter of the Rochdale, Oldham & Bury CAMRA Branch (Campaign For real Ale). Once again we start the new year with high hopes on the real ale scene, with the first few months very busy for beer festivals both big and small emerging from the winter gloom, demonstrating once again that the demand for tasty locally brewed cask ale is on the increase. The latest edition of the Good Beer Guide contains an impressive list of over 80 new microbreweries opening for business since the 2006 guide, proving cask ale is flourishing. Being smoke free in the pub from this summer will also be a major boost to the industry. Blimey, even OB. Bitter has come back! Winter gloom? – you’ve never had it so good!
Rochdale, Oldham & Bury
Contacts/Committee 2006-2007
Chairman: Peter Alexander
Email – peter@peteralexander.plus.com
Secretary: Pam Ellis
Email – pam@pamellis.fsnet.co.uk
Membership: Mike Robinson
Email - jmikerobby@aol.com
Social Sec: Ken Holt
Email – kenjan.holt@btopenworld.com
Treasurer: Clive Taylor
Email – camraclive@uk2.net
Pubs officer: Bernie Jackson
Email – acksionman@ntlworld.com
Campaigns: Alan Ainsworth
Email- alan.ainsworth99@ntlworld.com
More Beer Editor: Allan Whitehead
Email – ed-morebeer@tiscali.co.uk
MORE BEER is produced by the Rochdale,
Oldham & Bury branch of The Campaign for
Real Ale Limited. The editor, the Branch
committee or CAMRA does not necessarily
endorse any opinions expressed in this
newsletter. The editor would be pleased to
receive contributions on relevant topics – by
post or E-mail. Publication cannot be guaranteed, of course, as space is a premium in any
free publication, contributions may be edited
and certain grammatical errors corrected – if
spotted in time.
Copyright © 2006. The Campaign for Real Ale
Ltd., Rochdale, Oldham & Bury Branch.
POST CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
The Editor, More Beer C/O 6. Roundthorn
Road, Glodwick, Oldham OL4 1YS
OR POST TO:
CAMRA R.O.B.
P.O.Box 108, Oldham OL2-5RE
CAMRA HQ.
230 Hatfield Road St. Albans.Herts, AL1 4LW
01727 867201
Web: www.camra.org.uk Email:
camra@camra.org.uk
SHORT MEASURE PINTS
Complain to your local Trading Standards office.
Oldham. 0161-911-4471
Rochdale. 01706-864-186
Bury. 0161-253-5566
Or Email www. Either To Bury, Oldham
Or Rochdale.gov.uk
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Oldham Pub News
The Willow Tavern in Failsworth is doing really
well according to new licensees Neil and Sarah
who took the gamble and reinstated Cask Ale.
This is proving to be a huge hit with the locals,
with six Guest Ales to date and more to come.
(Nine Firkins of one of them). Some of them
have sold out within 3 hours of being put on
dispense! Neil is also planning a monthly Real
Ale Night in the New Year.
Further along in Failsworth the Dog and Partridge in Woodhouses is serving up an excellent pint of Marstons, Bitter and Pedigree plus regular Guest Ale.
In Oldham at the Hope Inn on Greenacres Road, Owl Brewery beers are prominent with now two permanent beers from Owl on the bar. These are Russet Extra - ABV. 4.8% and Jangle Bells - ABV. 5.4%, Gordon’s Christmas Ale. Gordon Potts the brewer has altered the taste of his Christmas Ale from ‘last years recipe’ changing the Cinnamon and increasing the Cascade Hops to give the beer a more lemony flavour which suits the style better.
Also in Oldham the ever-popular Ashton Arms
goes from strength to strength with an ever
increasing range of Cask Ales on offer plus real
cider and a good selection of bottled foreign
beers now all complemented by the Cask
Marque Accreditation. So now you know it’s the
premier place to drink in Oldham. Well done to
Jo and her team!
THWAITES BREWERY NEWS
Not one that is often mentioned within these
pages. Thwaites are celebrating in 2007. It’s the
brewery’s 200th anniversary with a year-long
programme of celebrations and events. The
Chairman of the company said “Daniel Thwaites
is celebrating 200 years of independent
family brewing” with anniversary activities "geared to involve customers and staff in the
milestone, including charity partnerships and
will see the launch of a fantastic new brand
which we believe will become a jewel in the
Thwaites crown”.
At More Beer we wish them well and I’m sure
many of us will be celebrating with them on
their continued success and look forward to the
new brand with anticipation!
Bents and Bongs Beer Bash - Formby Hall
Atherton (25th – 27th Jan)
Now in it’s 18th year, an ever-popular fest with up to 70 real ales, ciders and draught foreign lagers to be had. Only 5mins from the station
A Winter Warmer Beer Festival - Saddleworth Museum (3rd – 4th Feb)
Yes, another mini beer festival at the excellent venue which is Saddleworth Museum. Organised this time by the Saddleworth Round Table, with real ales and local produce to be consumed. Two more dates for the diary! Other beer festival’s coming up in the next couple of months:
Pendle Beer Festival (Colne) - 1st – 3rd Feb
Liverpool Beer Festival – 14th – 17th Feb
Fleetwood Beer Festival –15th – 17th Feb
Bradford Beer Festival – 1st – 3rd March
21st Oldham Beer Festival - 30th-31st March
Queen Elizabeth Hall, West Street, Oldham, Over 60 Real Ales.
Openings and Closings:
The Black Swan at Mumps has now reopened after the recent fire in the bar. The function room has been converted into extra letting rooms. The new tenant is Adrian Parker from the Bowling Green, which he will also continue to run. The Royal Oak at Boarshaw has been refurbished. Sadly the Greengate at Limeside has been closed due to vandalism.
Comings and Goings:
The new licensee at the Bank Top Tavern is
Diane Loughran. Thomas Winterton and Ann
Stirrup are new tenants at the Hare & Hounds,
Block Lane. Allyson Dennis is the new tenant at
the Junction Inn, Middleton junction for the
second time! The new tenant at the Minders
Arms, also in Middleton Junction is Steve
Roberts. Finally for this edition, Trudy Kushner
is the new tenant at the Nowster, Middleton
following the death of the previous tenant,
Denis McGee.
Other Lees News:
The winner of this year’s best kept cellar
competition is the Hollins Bush. The Dog &
Partridge (Royton) was a close second. On a
similar theme the following pubs have been
accredited with “Lees Beautiful Beer” awards.
Clayton Arms, Lancashire Fold, Old Boars Head,
Rose of Lancaster, Same Yet and Spring Inn. The
Beautiful Beer award goes a bit further than
the Cask Marque, which readers may be
familiar with, as it looks at all draught beers on
the bar and inspects the cellars. More about
this in the next edition of “More Beer”.
Carol and John from the Spring Inn were
nominated and were finalists for a Pride in
Oldham award.
JWL’s calendar for 2007 features locals in local pubs. There will be no professional models some will be glad and others will be disappointed to hear. The pubs featured locally are: Cross Keys, Old Cock, Clayton Arms, Success to Plough, Boat & Horses, Puckersley, Minders Arms (Middleton Junction) and Middleton Archer. An un-named Lees Landlady has had a bit of luck on the lottery, but intends to stay on at her pub. Names and locations have been withheld to avoid begging letters!
The re-launched OB Bitter, brewed by
Robinsons, was generally well received by
locals at the Waggon in Uppermill. Not many
people could remember the precise flavour of
the original product but the consensus is that
the Robbies version is quite bitter but more
fruity than it was when brewed by Oldham
Brewery over 20 years ago. One criticism was
poor head-retention of the re-launched product,
which apparently was not helped by the new
OB badged glasses used to promote it! Other
beers available at the Waggon over the festive
season were Robin Bitter (4.5% ABV) and the
powerful Old Tom (8.5%), served from a pin
on the bar.
Themed food nights have proven popular in
the restaurant and cuisine from Greece, Spain,
Italy, South Africa and Australia has already
been featured; and these are expected to start
again in the New Year.
Looking ahead to the smoking ban from next
July, one original option being considered at the
Waggon is a covered bandstand in the back
yard. However it’s not clear where smokers will
go when the brass bands are playing!
Nearby, the Granby has undergone a major
refurbishment while the pub was closed for the
best part of a month. Flag floors are now a
feature, the bar has antique effect woodwork
and the walls have been stripped down and
given a distressed finish in keeping with the
rest of the pub. The overall effect is that the
pub has been opened out to some degree,
while still maintaining three separate drinking
areas. On the beer front, four hand pumps have
been retained with recent guest beers
Hobgoblin (Wychwood), Castleshaw and Delph
Donkey (both Greenfield) complementing the
regular beers Landlord, Bombardier and John
Smith’s Bitter.
Further along the High Street, the Hare and
Hounds now serves hand pulled John Smith’s
bitter alongside the well-kept John Willies. The
pub is something of a rarity these days as no
food is served here and its popularity is partly
due to the strong following for sports events,
especially horse racing. Live music is also
featured on Sunday nights.
Up the hill from Uppermill village the
seasonal beers supplied by John Willie Lees
have proved popular at the Cross Keys this year.
The summer offer, Scorcher (4.2%), which
suffered from some inconsistency (putting it
mildly!) was followed by Ruddy Glow (4.5%) in
autumn and Plum Pudding (4.8%) over the
festive season. Moonraker strong ale (7.5%) is
available all year but particularly welcome on a
cold winter’s night. Folk music evenings are
held on Wednesdays and Sundays in the barn,
as well as impromptu sessions which happen
from time to time.
Since taking over the Diggle Hotel earlier this year, Geoff and Jan Hibbert have adopted the unusual policy of choosing guest beers in alphabetical order of the brewery name. In the absence of Aardvark Ale they kicked off with Adnams Bitter, moved on to Batemans and Brakspears beers, then Caledonian Deuchars IPA and their new beer XPA (4.3%). A recent departure from this approach was the enticingly named “Sparkey’s Monday Night Mild “(3.4%) from Naylor’s of Keighley, available through the SIBA list run by Enterprise Inns. Although not yet fixed, a beer festival is being considered for the early weeks of 2007.
On the move from the GBG-listed Swan Inn
(Top House) in Dobcross is landlord Richard,
wife Lorraine and family, who are crossing the
Channel to a rural location near Limoges in
France. Original plans for his sister Kate to take
over have run into difficulties and the lease has
been put on the market through the Union Pub
Company. Anyone with aspirations to become a
landlord in an historic pub in a picturesque rural
village should note that you need the best part
of £200k to secure the lease.
Greenfield Brewery has been expanding with
the addition of a new fermenting vessel
supplied by Dave Porter. They have also
benefited from the scheme operated by
Enterprise Inns to supply SIBA brewery beers
direct to their pubs and now have regular
business with the Clarence Hotel nearby, the
Granby Arms in Uppermill and the Navigation
and Woolpack – both in Dobcross. New outlets
further afield are the Willow Tavern on Ashton
Road East in Failsworth, and Pickwick’s on Union
Street in Oldham which has just begun selling
cask beer. In the town centre the Ashton Arms,
a real ale flagship, took their Rudolph’s Tipple
(5%) over the festive season.
To support this expansion they have purchased dozens of new plastic firkins resplendent in their house colours of vivid yellow, orange and red, and rumour has it that a pile of 20 of these casks can be seen from Outer Space!!
In contrast, because of the problem of cask returns, Saddleworth Brewery has stopped selling their beers to external outlets and now supplying only the Church Inn, brewing a couple of days a week. To celebrate the birth of Julian and Christine’s daughter in May a new beer, Indya Pale Ale (4.1%) was brewed using Maris Otter, crystal and wheat malts, and American Cascade hops to give it a citrus edge. Their other new beer is Saddleworth Mild (3.8%) containing pale and dark chocolate malts, Fuggles and Goldings hops. The seasonal special again this year is Christmas Carol which may be stronger than ever with a target ABV of 9% planned. That should keep the cold (and everything else) out.
The Saddleworth Round Table are planning a WINTER WARMER Beer Festival at the Museum in Uppermill on Sat 3nd and Sun 4th February to raise money for various local causes and charities, As well as a selection of real ales from near and far the festival is expected to feature music from Dobcross Silver Band and a selection of specially made sausages and other local produce.
with The Rochdale Cowboys
A trip around Rochdale pubs (with some in the Good Beer Guide 2007) would suggest everything is in good order.
The Albion at 600 Whitworth Road continues to offer a good range of cask beers although this is likely to change now that it has become part of the Punch dynasty. Further up the road (just outside the branch area) is The Birches. Three guest beers usually available one of which is a Moorhouses, and all to be had at sensible prices.
The Healey Hotel on Shawclough Road continues to be probably the best pub in Rochdale for a pint of Robinsons albeit at top dollar prices. The Merry Monk at the junction of Bury Road and Mellor Street continues to offer a wide range from the Hydes Brewery portfolio together with one guest. Cask Marque accreditation has again been awarded and this Pub rightly belongs in the G.B.G. for its seventh consecutive year.
Moving into town The Baum on Toad Lane
continues to promote mini festivals with real
ales from some of the lesser-known Micros. The
Flying Horse in Town Square continues to offer
a good pint although the range is a
little restricted.
In Heywood the Wishing Well on York Street
offers a wide range of beers with brews from
Moorhouses featuring prominently. However, on
recent visits the beers have been far from on
form and the place could probably do with a
refurb. The Edwin Waugh, (Wetherspoons) offers
a wide selection but the quality is lacking.
On the other side of the Rochdale area, The
Moorcock on Halifax Road, Littleborough offers
two guest ales while the White House further
on normally has three guests one of which is
usually from far afield.
Two pubs have recently re-opened, the
Pineapple on Whitehall Street and the Fox Inn
on Milnrow Road. That’s the good news. The
Pineapple was opened in mid November after
an extensive refurbishment and currently offers
one real ale – on the day of the visit Theakstons
Old Peculier – and will extend the range, as
demand requires. The Fox, also part of the
Punch group, currently offers no real ale but
have indicated that early in the New Year this
omission will be corrected. So watch this space.
The Cemetery on Bury Road has improved
after a long period of indifference. A tasteful
refurbishment and a strong line up of beers
make this a worthwhile visit although the beer
prices make you feel as though you are
contributing to the refurbishment costs.
We begin with glad tidings this month. The big news concerns the Hare & Hounds at Holcombe Brook. Once a mainstay of the Bury drinking scene, with a wide range of beers and regular festivals, it has, in recent years, struggled to find its way. A succession of managers have slowly eroded its reputation, with reductions in terms of both choice and quality.
However, the future is now looking bright
once again. Andy Grant, the landlord
responsible for putting it on the drinking map
(and in the Good Beer Guide), has returned to
the fold. Moving on from the Bridgewater, in
Worsley, which he also brought up to Good
Beer Guide standard, he intends to put the
shine back on the Dogs. Aided and abetted by
his wife, Lynn, he has already made an impressive start. Ten handpumps greeted my last visit.
dispensing the likes of Phoenix and Bank Top,
amongst others. The pub is now no longer
owned by Punch Taverns, and when the dust
settles, expect further changes on the beer
front. Easily accessible by public transport, both the 472 and 474 buses go right past the door.
Handily, the pub is open all day.
A quick mention must also go to the Rose &
Crown on Carr Street, Ramsbottom, where
licensee Chris McClung has been working hard.
This cosy Thwaites pub is now Cask Marque
accredited and is well worth the walk up the
hill. Hopefully, more details on this one next
time. The Rose is not too far from the Grants
Arms, where a couple of Moorhouses beers are
usually on offer. Both pubs can be explored via
the Ramsbottom bus circuit.
Now, no sooner had I mentioned the resurgence of the Waterside in Summerseat, than it promptly shuts its doors. Somewhat prone to fires and floods in recent years, I’m led to believe that this closure is non structure related.
Finally, news reaches me that the Sir Robert
Peel on Sunny Bank Road is now offering
Copper Dragon to its thirsty clientele.
Congratulations on choice of beer and again,
hopefully more on this next time…..
Contact me with any Bury Pub News at
With the smoking ban coming into force this summer breweries and pub owning companies up and down the country are looking at ways to either enforce the ban or accommodate the drinkers and smokers. Here in the More Beer circulation area local brewer and pub operator J.W. Lees are taking the lead.
J W Lees has announced that it will spend £1 million providing smoking shelters in all of its 130 pubs. Managing director William Lees-Jones estimates that between £10,000 and£20,000 will be spent at each venue to accommodate smokers.
In a statement to the Oldham Evening Chronicle
-There is no doubt that the smoking ban will be
bad for business. After the ban came into force in
Ireland, the beer market dropped by 10% and
some pubs have closed. One of the effects is that
people will stay at home and the challenge to
the industry now is to make pubs relevant” said
Managing director William Lees-Jones. We have
to provide somewhere for people to smoke and
we shall build shelters at all our pubs. Some will
be like bus shelters, others will be brick
construction, more like beer gardens, a lot will
depend on each individual building. We have to
avoid the huddle at the front door of our pubs,
with smokers creating an unpleasant experience,
which is why we are making this investment.
“I suppose, writes Peter Alexander, it is better
that smokers are creating an unpleasant
experience outdoors, rather than indoors. While it
is agreed that Lees need to look after all
their customers, as CAMRA’s newspaper“What’s Brewing” put it. “The future for pubs
is drinkers not smokers.”
(Tuesday Meetings all 8.30pm Unless Otherwise Stated)
CAN’T ALWAYS GET TO OUR BRANCH MEETINGS?
BUT WANT TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE ACTION !
Make sure we have your up-to-date E-mail Address on our Secretary’s data-base. Information and Social Events can be E-mailed out to you. Please Note: These Are Proposed Venues Which May Change – Consult The Web Site or What s Brewing to Check
(Tuesday Meetings all 8.30pm Unless
Otherwise Stated)
CAN’T ALWAYS GET TO OUR BRANCH MEETINGS?
BUT WANT TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE ACTION !
Make sure we have your up-to-date E-mail Address
on our Secretary’s data-base. Information and Social
Events can be E-Mailed out to you.
Please Note: These Are Proposed Venues
Which May Change – Consult The Web Site
or What s Brewing to Check
JANUARY
Sat 27th Good Beer Guide Selection
Meeting - Flying Horse, Town Hall SQ.
Rochdale - meeting starts at 12 Noon. This
is the one and only selection meeting, so
be there if you want to have your say!
FEBRUARY
Tues 6th Branch Meeting - Hunt Lane
Tavern, Middleton Road, Oldham
Sat 17th Train Social - Birmingham
MARCH
Tues 6th Branch Meeting - Hare &
Hounds, Bolton Road, Holcombe Brook
Sat 17th Coach Social - Sheffield
Fri - Sat 30th - 31st Oldham Beer
Festival, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham = Volunteers needed for setting up - come
along all help is valued
APRIL
Tues 3rd Branch Meeting - Merry Monk,
College Road, Rochdale
Tues 17th Evening Coach Social - Little
Valley Organic Brewery, Hebden Bridge.
20th - 22nd CAMRA National AGM &
Members Weekend- Wulfrun Halls -
Wolverhampton.
Further Details on social events are
available from the Branch contact or
Social Secretary
CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale), has joined
forces with a number of real ale breweries
to launch a new generic beer campaign
called `Cyclops’. This initiative has been
designed to help educate pub goers, who are
interested in trying real ale for the first time, or
have had few pints in the past and want to find
out more!
Real ale can be a complicated subject as a lot
of craft goes into the brewing of our national
alcoholic drink. Some description of beers
aimed at more knowledgeable drinker can be
off putting to other consumers. The new
`Cyclops’ campaign has been designed to
inform new real ale drinkers about the style of
beer they are drinking, it’s alcohol content and
what the beer should look, smell and taste like
using very simple but informative language
plus eye, nose and mouth symbols. `Cyclops’
also explains to the drinker how bitter and
sweet the beers are.
With over 2,500 different real ales being
brewed in Britain by almost 600 breweries, it is
hope that a large number of breweries will use
this campaign to describe to consumers how
the beer looks, smells and tastes by using beer
mats, posters and other point of sale material.
The imagery can also be placed on the back of
hand pumps to inform pub staff and help them
describe the beers to their customers. Hopefully
this will encourage more drinkers to try real ale
and understand why thousands of people are
so passionate about this
wonderful drink.
Look out for Cyclops campaign eye, nose and mouth
imagery during the coming
months in your local pubs
and let us know what you
think of this campaign. To
find out more please visit
www.camra.org.uk/cyclops
The occasion was to see what lies on Rochdale, Oldham & Bury’s boundary and venture into the deep into the Whitworth Valley towards Rawtenstall and see what is on offer, get some gentle exercise and visit six pubs.
Some 16 of us met in the Regal Moon (the
first Wetherspoons pub in the Good Beer Guide)
in the centre of Rochdale for breakfast and a
light preamble with some six guest beers at
11:00am. We then caught the Stagecoach (bus)
North to Tongue Lane near the Civic Hall in
Whitworth and due to the Whitworth & Healey
Band Club being shut we ventured down to the
Cock & Magpie. The Cock & Magpie is a
Robinson’s pub and as we arrived at the same
time as the landlord, we all stood outside while
he opened up! Unfortunately on entering there
was no real ale to be served so we promptly
left. When we got back to the Band Club, it was
open and they gave us a very warm welcome,
the beers were Thwaites and a guest.
After this, we started walking back to Rochdale and called in the Sportsman’s with 3 guest ales to discover the Landlord was leaving imminently and going up to the Red Lion in the Square at Whitworth which was our next stop. Some more colleagues joined as we walked up to the Square and we were met by the new Landlord who put lunch on for us. Steven the landlord (a character) showed us around the pub and how it had been partly refurbished. He told us of his plans for the pub, including accommodation (being on the Pennine Way) and a marquee at the back of the pub for wedding functions in tandem with the church next door. The beers were a Scottish and Newcastle selection with 3 guests.
We then walked on down Whitworth Road towards Healey Dell (a local beauty spot) and stopped off in the Birches, sitting out back overlooking the bowling green and into the Dell in the sunshine, enjoying Moorhouses and Theakstons guest beers. We then strolled on towards Rochdale and called in the Albion to be met by Val the landlady with a range of 6 guest ales including a mild, and she very kindly put on lots of nibbles.
Those who had some stamina left walked down to the Healey Hotel (Robinsons) to receive another warm welcome from Peter the landlord and make it a successful end to a good day.
Since then we have been back to see if the standard was the same. Unfortunately the Sportsman’s now has no guest beers on, under new ownership, and the Red Lion only had one on: with the other pubs the standard remains.
(That is the Wild West of Yorkshire). - A sunny day loomed as we set out across the border on a visit that would take in 5 pubs.
First port of call was the Fox & Goose at Hebden Bridge. A keen supporter of Micro – breweries, this pub is the runner - up in the 2006 Yorkshire Pub of the Year contest. In addition it is the local CAMRA area Pub of the Year 2006. It usually has six beers available, including its own house beer “Slightly Foxed”, accompanied by a range of ciders and perries. On the day, Hook Norton Dark Mild, Wye Valley HPA, Hopback Summer Lightning and Bazens Pacific were on good form. There was also an impressive range of bottled beers available.
“A short journey across
town to The Drop Inn was
next. Formerly known as
The Oddfellows, the Drop
has been tastefully
refurbished and is now
part of the Ossett
Brewery estate.”
Onwards to the Fleece Inn at Elland which was also our stop for food. Wolverhampton & Dudley beers are regulars together with 2/3 guests. Marstons Wicked Witch, Marstons Bitter and Banks Bostin Bitter Brains were the offerings from W&D, whilst Reverend James, Wychwood Hobgoblin and Tom Woods Old Timber were the guests on the day.
A short journey across town to The Drop Inn was next. Formerly known as The Oddfellows, the Drop has been tastefully refurbished and is now part of the Ossett Brewery estate. Four Ossett and four guest beers including one mild is the norm. Copper Dragon IPA, Globe Full Moon, Taylors Landlord and Moorhouses Black Cat mild were the guests available with Drop of Ale, Excelsior and Pale Gold from Ossett together with one of their monthly specials, Turning Leaves. An impressive line up and a visit enjoyed by everyone.
A short journey up the road to Greetland Community Centre for our next stop. CAMRA area Club of the Year in 2004 and 2006, six guest beers are always available and reasonably priced. Wentworth Bumble Bee, Hopback Crop Circle, Taylors Best Bitter, Jennings Cumberland, Mitchell and Eastwoods Old Skool and Duckworths Delight Best Bitter available for sampling.
The final stop was in Ripponden at The Old Bridge. Three Taylors are standards with three guests usually available. Saltaire Cascade, Ossett Porter and Moorhouses Pride of Pendle were the choices available.
Aquick trip around the Milnrow and Newhey area was undertaken by two CAMRA stalwarts from other branches neighbouring the Rochdale, Oldham & Bury Branch. Their crawl was undertaken one rather chilly Saturday night in November, and was never meant to be a full survey of the two villages merely a snap shot.
First off and by chance, the pub offering probably the best choice of the night, was the Gallows, situated at the top of Kiln Lane. This place has a fair emphasis on food, but the choice of their beers was unrivalled – Boddies, Lees Bitter, Black Sheep Bitter and Copper Dragon Black Gold. We plumped for the latter, and found it to be in great form. Down the hill again to the village and into the Bobbin, (formally the Tim Bobbin). They’ve dispensed with the “Tim” from the name and with most of the old interior too. It is very much an opened out space with cream walls, laminate floors, and leather sofas and such. You won’t get Wilsons or Taylors beers any more but they do sell Websters Yorkshire Bitter. Yes, a rarely seen brew this side of the Pennines. We thought it was fine, if a tad unchallenging. Worthy of praise for keeping Cask Ale on, I think.
Off the main road is New Street. Here you will find the Waggon (A Burtonwood Pubco outlet). Tonight saw a pleasant crowd in decent surroundings, two Jennings Beers on offer, Bitter and Cumberland, both kept quite well. Having time constraints we missed out the Slip Inn (Samuel Smith) and their fine OBB. So we headed out to a small bit of countryside that is the start of Newhey just under the Motorway bridge.
Two pubs available to us here, so we opted
for the Free Trade Tavern, (J. W Lees), a former
Good Beer Guide entry. The beer was very good
as was the welcome from the staff. Only the
Bitter is now sold, as I guess there is little
demand for the Cask Mild. The same could be
said of the “Big Waggon”, or the Waggon and
Horses as it is properly called, as they too only
sold the Lees Bitter.
“Yes, a rarely seen brew this side of the Pennines. We thought it was fine, if a tad unchallenging. Worthy of praise for keeping Cask Ale on, I think.”
This seems to be a pattern that is repeated through out J.W. Lees estate, which is a great shame really as their Cask Mild was one of the best in Greater Manchester and a National Award Winner in the past. The Waggon was quite busy with punters enjoying a rock style band playing a set in a side room. Just enough time before our return train to Manchester was to confirm that the “Bottom” Bird i‘th Hand, a Samuel Smiths house still only sells keg beer. An interesting outing, that really deserves more time to do the villages justice, of course as said at the beginning this was only a “snap shot” so why not go and visit the area and see for yourself.
MM & SS
As thoughts turn to the autumn days and you look back to those glorious summer days relaxing in your garden here are six gardeners some you might know, some not around the Rochdale and Oldham area.
Gardeners Arms, Manchester Old Road,
Rhodes, Middleton.
This pub was originally a shop owned by a gardener and draper who at the time of obtaining a license about 1831 was only the second pub to open in Rhodes. It was sold to Boddingtons Brewery in 1891 and remained in their possession until the brewery closed. I have never found this pub open (admittedly I have only tried daytimes during the week) but looking through the window it does not appear to sell any traditional beer. Believed to be owned by Punch Taverns.
Gardeners Arms, New Gap Farm, Birch, Heywood.
This pub is in a semi-rural setting at Birch
almost on the border of Heywood and
Middleton. I’m afraid I can tell you very
little about the place, as no one would speak to
me. It is still in Bass Livery and I believe the current owners to be Mitchell & Butler. No
traditional beer on sale but a pleasant enough
pub with plenty of brasses for ornament and a
beer garden. The sign on the front door
proclaiming “Smoking Throughout” and the
atmosphere this produced spoilt the place
for me.
Gardeners Arms, Grimshaw Lane, Middleton Junction.
When opened in 1854 this was Alkrington’s only licensed house until the “Garden Village” was constructed in the 1960’s. Acquired by the Crown Brewery Co. in the late 1800’s, became a Dutton’s pub in 1959 and Whitbread in 1964. Bought by its present owners J.W. Lees (Who own another Gardeners Arms not far away) in 1973. This pleasant and lively pub, recently re-furbished is the watering place for the nearby brewery’s draymen. Lees Bitter is the only traditional beer available.
Gardeners Arms, Sandy Lane, Middleton.
This pub is first mentioned as a beer house in 1861 census as being owned by a sand dealer (Sandy Lane get it!). Early ownership is a bit sketchy but it was certainly in the hands of J.W. Lees in 1919 and remains so to this day 9they do own another Gardeners Arms nearer the brewery) A very pleasant, friendly and lively pub which has recently re-furbished and decorated. The only beer on offer is the Lees Bitter (beware of the smooth!).
Gardeners Arms, Hollin Lane, Middleton.
This pub can be traced back to 1831 when it was know as the Gardeners Inn and was first registered as the Gardeners Arms in 1856. It has been re-built twice (Both times in slightly different positions) once in 1919 with the present building dating from 1955. Very much a local’s pub it was purchased by the present owners Joseph Holt in1992 who offer three traditional beers for sale. Holt Mild, Joey’s and Bitter all at reasonable prices. It is a large pub with a pool table and live entertainment on Saturday evenings.
Gardeners Arms, Dunham Street,
Millbottom Oldham.
This pub stands on a dip on the original route to Yorkshire, just off Huddersfield Road about two miles from Oldham centre. It is right next to the River Medlock in the shadow of one of the many old mills. Little is know about the early history of the pub, although we know it was first recorded as a beer house in 1802. It was re-built in the 1930’s and retains the original layout and many features from that period. Now owned by the Stockport based brewer F. Robinson, the pub is in CAMRA’s National Good Beer Guide. The current licensees, ken and Marion Haigh have been there for the last 22 years! There is a beer garden, food on weekday lunches and quizzes twice a week. The traditional beers on offer are Robinson’s Hatters Mild and Unicorn Bitter.
Bernie Jackson
The well liked
Oldham Brewery was closed by
Boddington’s in January1989. It was then
brewed by Boddingtons themselves for some
time and was available to the trade until 1996.
Boddington’s had been taken over by
Whitbread by this time and the beer was a pale
shadow of its former self, having been shunted
around Whitbread’s shrinking brewery empire
with diminishing quality with each move. Now
Independent Family Brewer Robinson’s of
Stockport have resurrected the beer and
Rochdale, Oldham and Bury Branch were invited along to join in at the re-launch.
Robinson’s have made great efforts to
recreate the beer by enlisting the help of two
former Oldham brewers, John Barron and Wilf
Burgess, who helped produce the genuine
recipe. Head Brewer of Robinson’s, Chris Hellin
expained to those assembled, that the recipe
that they received from InBev, from whom the
brand was bought, was “useless” as it has been
changed so much. He therefore has recreated it
from scratch, with John and Wilf providing the
information needed to do so.
The first pints of the revived OB were pulled
by John and Wilf (see picture). ROB members
with long memories were able to confirm that
the beer had many similarities to the former
Oldham Brewery products, but thought there
was a distinct “Robbies” taste to the beer
imparted by the yeast. Nonetheless all present
agreed it was a very fine beer indeed.
Robinson’s OB bitter is 3.8% abv and is
bittered using Goldings, Fuggles and Hallertau
hops. It is available to both free and tied trade
in cask conditioned form.
The cask version of OB can be found on sale
at the following pubs:
Marston Tavern, Rochdale Road, Royton.
Gardeners Arms, Dunham Street, Lees
Royal Oak, Union Street, Oldham
Royal Oak, Manchester Road, Oldham
Peter Alexander