The Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide is back again this year and features several Oldham pubs.
The UK's best-selling beer and pub guide is celebrating its 51st edition this year to champion thousands of the best pubs across the country.
CAMRA's 'good beer guide', which surveyed 4,500 of the best pubs, is considered the definitive beer drinker's guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation's favourite pubs.
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However, this year's guide tells a story of an industry under threat as despite recording 82 new breweries, 142 have closed.
The loss of 60 breweries, CAMRA said, is a "worrying reminder that a lack of support from the Government means dire consequences for local businesses, in the wake of a cost-of-business crisis and the constant pressure of energy bills".
So here are the top 10 places in Oldham to grab a pint according to CAMRA - pick up your own copy of the guide here.
Crown Inn, Walsh Street, Chadderton
The Crown Inn is a popular family-run pub with live sports such as football and darts regularly shown, live music at the weekends and an "inviting" beer garden at the back.
It also offers up to four changing real ales on handpump, locally Millstone, with ales from Leatherbritches available.
Rose of Lancaster, Haigh Lane, Chadderton
The Rose of Lancaster pub, situated by the Rochdale Canal, is comprised of a restaurant, bar and separate 'vault' for showing sporting events.
CAMRA said service is "swift and cheerful" which makes for a "pleasant visit".
Pint-wise, it offers JW Lees Manchester Pale Ale, three changing beers sourced locally while seasonal and Lees Boilerhouse beers are 'always' available.
Railway Hotel, Railway Road, Hollinwood
The Railway only opened two years ago but has already earned its stripes as a popular spot for a beer by residents.
The pub has five handpumps, offering two regular ales from Holts and Taylors, being a Timothy Taylor Champion Club member, and three constantly changing ales.
Inside, it has a large room with a bar and a rear dining room where food is served every day and live music is played on weekends.
Dobcross Band and Social Club, Platt Lane, Dobcross
The club, which was built more than 100 years ago and rebuilt in 1967, offers "superb views" of the bowling green and is home to three brass bands, a games room with a snooker table, a function room for concerts and rehearsal space and another lounge named the John Holden Lounge after the long-serving steward.
It is a repeat winner of local CAMRA Club of the Year and made the last four of the national competition in 2022.
It has JW Lees Bitter, Joseph Holt Bitter and two changing beers sourced locally, often Bowland, Millstone and Phoenix.
The Swan Inn, The Square, Dobcross
The Swan is a traditional stone pub that was built in 1765 for the Wrigley family, known for the famous chewing gum brand.
CAMRA said each of its three rooms has an open fire while "good" home-cooked food is served with weekly specials.
The pub also hosts annual events such as the Whit Friday Brass Band Contest and the August Rushcart Festival while it serves Banks's Sunbeam, Courage Directors, Jennings Cumberland Ale and Marston's Pedigree.
Railway Inn, Shaw Hall Bank Road, Greenfield
CAMRA describes the Railway Inn as an "unspoilt pub" with a central bar, lounge, games area and taproom with a log fire and old photographs of Saddleworth.
The pub is popular for live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and it a stop-off on the Trans-Pennine Real Ale Trail.
The Railway has several real ales available, including Millstone Tiger Rut, Acorn, Brains and Ossett.
Wellington Inn, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield
The Wellington Inn is a strong-built, family-run village free house with a "friendly feel", according to CAMRA.
It has a small bar area, a main dining room, a side room with a TV plus a dartboard, cribbage and dominoes.
Homecooked food is served on-site from The Stockpot with its pies and puddings proving popular.
It also serves Millstone Citra, Tiger Rut, Ossett Butterley and Wainright Amber.
Ashton Arms, Clegg Street, Oldham
This traditional town centre pub has an "excellent range" of four to fix handpulled beers, sourced mainly from local microbreweries, as well as a range of Belgian and German beers and a real cider.
It often has Millstone, Ossett and Pictish, and serves up "good value" homecooked food every day.
The Ashton Arms has featured in CAMRA's 'good beer guide' for the 20th consecutive year.
Cob & Coal Tap, Tommyfield Market, Oldham
The Cob and Coal, described as a "cosy, bijou micropub", has become a firm favourite with Oldham's real ale and cider drinkers.
It has up to six changing real ales on handpump which CAMRA said are "all very carefully looked after and always in top condition".
The pub has also won CAMRA's regional 'pub of the year' and local 'cider pub of the year'.
Fox & Pine, Greaves Street, Oldham
The Fox and Pine is described as a "real gem in Oldham's real ale portfolio" by CAMRA.
It has 10 handpumps serving a range of styles, such as Durham, Mallinsons, Pictish, and three changing dark beers, real cider and foreign beers.
The venue itself serves fresh homecooked food and has a busy downstairs area plus extra rooms upstairs for many social and community groups.
The Fox and Pine was also voted local CAMRA 'pub of the year' in both 2022 and 2023.
The Good Beer Guide 2024
This year's Good Beer Guide 2024 has a striking cover and a foreword supplied by Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson.
Dickinson’s foreword shines a spotlight on the cultural tradition of pubs within the United Kingdom, the importance of protecting the heritage, charm and welcoming nature of pubs and clubs, and not taking them for granted.
CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said: “We’re honoured to have Bruce Dickinson pen the foreword for The Good Beer Guide 2024.
"As we enter our second half century of producing the Guide, there is no one better to introduce this year’s edition, and highlight what makes these institutions so worth visiting.
“The last few years have been an incredibly difficult time for the industry, and we need more support than ever before to keep our nation’s pubs and breweries open and thriving. I’d encourage everyone to use this year’s Guide to visit the very best pubs and breweries across the UK and support them for generations to come.”
To order The Good Beer Guide 2024, visit https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/the-good-beer-guide-2024/
If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.
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