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ONE PUB ONLY?
Cemetery
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Cask and Feather, Flying Horse and the Baum before climbing the hill.
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Merry Monk
|  |  Baum
33 - 37 Toad Lane, OL12 BNU Telephone 01706 352186 W www.thebaum.co.uk
G Simon Crompton
F Original and innovative menu from tapas to home made steak pies 11.30 to 2.30, 5 to 8, 12 to 8 Sat, 12 to 6 Sun
SP TV BM
O 11.30 to 11 Sun – Thu, 12 to 12 Fri - Sat
The concept of historical value in a traditional real ale pub is seriously challenged when you talk to the locals of this impressive pub that has a wine bar attached to its name. Simon is one of the younger members of the real ale landlord fraternity. Youth is also a factor when you hear that the pub is just 25 years old. The building is centuries old and has bags of tourist value. This former ironmongers has gone through its wine bar stage to become the best example of how the thirty - something’s can lead real ale interest for years to come by offering a great place to eat and drink without going to the open plan aircraft hanger design so often found in town centres.
We found the pub in a busy early Friday evening session. It was positively buzzing with post - work chatter and evening gossip. There were hen parties giggling in one of the raised drinking corners while couples met up and planned their evenings in town. The food was excellent, and I don’t say that very often. The pub is panelled throughout and has masses of the metal advertising plates so common in the wine bar scene of the eighties. To the rear is a great courtyard with a petanque pit and interestingly a photo that tells the story of charitable connections with Kenya. Don’t expect loads of football fans here; it is off the main shopping hill, next to the Pioneer Museum in “historic” Toad lane. Continental beers are popular but the main attraction is a good range of local guest ales.
BWV 28.4.06: Boddingtons Cask Bitter, E&S Elland St. George’s Anger, Flowers IPA, Garton Old Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord
Ken Taylor updates here:- 5.10.09
"The Baum gets better all the time with constantly changing 6 handpumps" Ken T
Local POTY 2009 | |  Cask and Feather BREWERY NOW CLOSED
1 Oldham Rd OL16 1UA Telephone 01706 711476
G Tony Hutchinson
F Good quality traditional pub food 11.30 to 2.30 Mon - Fri, 1.30 to 3 Sat, 12 to 2.30 Sun
MP TV JB P D
O 11 to 12, 12 to 1 Sun
The Cask and Feather is a large single - bar pub between the station and town. It has an attractive no - frills style that both locals and visitors like. The real draw, however, is the McGuinness ale list and the friendly staff. “The other great attraction is that the home brewed McGuiness comes at prices that we Southerners can only dream of.” My non - matchday visit found the bar staff willing to chat about the town and the real ale scene, some simple food to accompany a good pint that was new to my palate, and then on to the next pub. When returning with fellow fans the order of the day was to beat “Denis Law” at pool, not the real one of course, sample some different ale and then get a taxi out to the Cemetery. It has the advantage of being in town and close to the station with other good pubs nearby. The pub itself would be in my guide in any town, it is very good.
UPDATE: The pub continues to brew its distinctive ales in the back yard at excellent prices. A marquee may well be erected to satisfy outside puffers / drinkers.
BWV 16.12.04: Thomas Mc Guinness Best Bitter, Bull Brow, Feather Pluckers Mild, Tommy Todds Porter,
BWV 28.4.06: Thomas McGuiness Best Bitter, Feather Pluckers Mild, Junction, Tommy Todd’s Porter
UPDATE 5.10.09 "The Cask and Feather no longer has its own brewery but now stocks beer from Pheonix brewery in nearby Heywood, much better than their own in my opinion." Ken Taylor | |  Cemetery Hotel
470 Bury Rd, OL11 5EUY Telephone 01706 645635
G
SP SK JB
O 12 to 11, 4 to 11 Tue
You will find seven beers at the weekend in this classic multi - roomed pub. It has an excellent reputation for quality ale in comfortable surroundings. I visited the Cemetery on Friday as well as on a matchday and this pub always had the effect of making me doubt that I really want to go to the game. “Why not just stay here in the warm?” The company is great and there is something in the back of my mind that says "try another beer. “Then to top it all the post match drink coincided with the visit of a local brass band to set up a carol singing session.” Ah! How football used to be. I should have followed my instinct and stayed in the pub, yeh right! On my second visit of the year I was visiting another town but the pull is such that I was drawn again to the cosy warmth the pub and its locals give you.
UPDATE: John has taken over the reins. A new room has opened upstairs for food and functions in the future. The beer and atmosphere is still great on matchdays.
BWV 16.12.04: Adnams Fisherman, Black Sheep Bitter, Cottage Merry Hound, John Smith’s Cask Bitter
BWV 28.4.06: Black Sheep Bitter, Jennings Sneck Lifter, John Smith’s Cask Bitter, Lees Greengate, Phoenix Spring Break, Timothy Taylor Landlord
UPDATE 5.10.09
"In the Cemetery John Kettley has now left the country but the new landlady seems to be keeping up the good work", says Ken | |  Flying Horse
37 Packer St, Town Square OL16 1NJ Telephone 01706 646412 W www.theflyinghorsehotel.co.uk
G Samantha Bonde
F Breakfast 7.30 - 9 Mon - Fri, 9 - 10 Sat / Sun Food 12 -2.30 Mon - Sat, Evenings 6.30 - 9 Mon - Thu
MP TV BM D
O 12 -11 Mon - Sat, 12 - 10.30 Sun
This is a town centre pub that has a fantastic location, interesting design and a good choice of guest ales. It also offers something different in housing a night club and accommodation. The image you now have in your mind will possibly be very different to reality because it is a very relaxing, slightly off the beaten tack, locals and regulars pub.
It is located directly opposite the Town Hall beneath the bank that has the Parish Church as a dramatic back drop to marvel at when walking in to the pub. The design is somewhat back to front. It has one large bar and a series of beautifully decorated lounges off the main bar. The bar is carpeted yet the lounges have parquet floors and proper fires. The effect is that people readily move off in groups to their favourite drinking spaces quite discrete from each other, and a series of mini pub conversations get going totally separate to each other. I grew to like the pub by my second visit of the day. The lunchtime passing trade was replaced by the regular crowd of chatting locals, obviously meeting with mates as they do every night. The post - work session was positively bubbly and the warmth of the customers instantly welcoming. The night club gets going later in the evening, very much of my generation rather than anything ultra trendy. For footie fans who want a lively place to stay then this could well fit the bill. Sam and Doris are legendary in the towns’ real ale scene, running a great pub that attracts the devotees of the other pubs in this guide when they have to venture in to the town centre.
BWV 28.4.06: Butcombe Bitter, Lees Bitter, Phoenix Arizona, Timothy Taylor Landlord
UPDATE "Flying Horse still good." Ken Taylor 5.10.09 | |  Merry Monk
234 College Rd, OL12 6AF Telephone 01706 646919
G Joe and Anne Coone
SP TV JB P
O 12 to 11
The Monk must have been very merry to share his name with this quirky, fun boozer. Joe and Anne know they run something special. The bar is almost hidden away at the back of the pub. Once you find it, you have to wade through bar - hugging locals to get a beer and then retire to one of three separate rooms that are brilliantly basic and idiosyncratic. Glyn joined me in the pub this year and soon we found those locals included proper footie and real ale fans that enjoy nothing more than chatting ale and ale discoveries. Nigel, the Man City fan, for example, compared his observations based on following his team around the premiership.
Underlying everything that goes on here is the slogan of it being a “proper real ale craic pub”. If you think you know regional pub games then have a go at “Ring the Bull.” It looks easy but certainly needs a lot of local knowledge to play well. Their pub is also a member of the local petanque league, doubtless the Sunday afternoon sessions end up in detailed post - match analysis of the drinking variety. The banter between Anne and “The oldest YTS” behind the bar is infectious. The humour is warm and friendly and, the beer cool and in my case mild. The mild option is always available among the rotating guests. As this area is redeveloped the pub will possibly attract some different customers from the planned retail developments. They will not change the pub though. The Phoenix tiles will feature and the outside loos may be welcomed into the pub itself, but essentially the pub will always be as it is now; a great little local with a big welcome to fans, both local and from afar.
BWV 28.4.06 Boggart Hole Clough Bitter, Hydes Bitter, Mild
UPDATE 5.10.09 "Joe has sadly put it up for sale will update you with any news," Ken | | | LOCAL CAMRA | | 
SPOTLAND
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LOCAL BREWERY
PICYISH BREWERY
Unit 9,
Canalside Industrial Estate,
Woodbine Street East,
Rochdale,
Lancashire,
OL16 5LB.
Tel 01706 522 227
www.pictish-brewing.co.uk | | WETHERSPOONS
The Regal Moon The Butts Rochdale OL16 1HB Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
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