Oldham: Our best reviews for food and drink in borough

While the town bid farewell to a handful of pubs, bakeries and eateries over the past 12 months, there were plenty of new places which opened their doors for the first time - and many more which continue to weather the storm of the cost-of-living crisis.

We welcomed Oldham's first-ever Starbucks, which recently became two with a third on the way, as well as a Tim Hortons and a new KFC.

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But The Oldham Times team has been busy this year supporting local businesses, and we've been taste-testing everything from ice cream and brunch bagels to coffee and Easter egg hot chocolates.

So, here are just some of our recommendations.

1. Grandpa Greene's

This picturesque canalside cafe in Diggle has built up quite the reputation as the grandfather of luxury ice cream.

In February, the parlour sought assistance from Slattery, a patisserie and chocolatier based in Whitefield, to launch a tantalising Easter menu - think Mini egg pancakes, waffles, milkshakes and cakes.

Grandpa Greene's is renowned for its luxury ice cream (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge)

So, I went along with my housemate to see if the place lived up to the hype.

The Easter egg hot chocolate - where an Easter egg is halved, suspended in a glass and generously stuffed with whipped cream, marshmallows and Mini eggs, and a creamy hot chocolate lava is poured over it - was a clear winner for me.

READ MORE: Delight in decadence at Oldham's picturesque canal side cafe

The Easter egg hot chocolate was decadence in a mug (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge)

But we also tucked into some hot food - a beef brisket chilli grilled cheese and a classic BLT artisan sandwich (with vegan bacon, for Josie), which again were generous and tasty.

Grandpa Greene's also opened a second premises in Uppermill Park in summer and our reporter, Imogen Clyde-Smith, couldn't resist tucking into a salt and pepper chicken baguette and GG's famous ice cream (chocolate and cookies and cream).

The battle of the sandwiches - chilli beef or vegan BLT? (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge)

I later grabbed a signature GG's chocolate ice cream when enjoying Saddleworth's WelliFest.

Chocoholics, this place is a must in 2024 if you've not been yet.

2. The Willow Tavern

Dubbed Failsworth's 'friendliest pub', our reporter Jack Fifield went to The Willow Tavern to put it to the test.

He confirmed the pub was indeed friendly and cheerful enough, but what about the food and drink?

There is apparently a jacket potato under all that cheese (Image: Newsquest, Jack Fifield)

Jack and his friend tucked into a jacket potato with cheese and beans and a cheese and onion panini and found the meals to be generously filling and reasonably priced (at £4.50 and £4 respectively).

A side of large chunky chips also went down a treat and a latte "did the job", though he said it wasn't quite barista-level.

The cheesy panini (Image: Newsquest, Jack Fifield)

Still, he said the pub offers great value for money with friendly and attentive staff as well as delicious food.

3. Chapter One

Chapter One Coffee and Bagels which sits in Lees is determined to see Oldhamers well-fed on an Essex-inspired brunch dish.

As its name suggests, the cafe specialises in bagels - "something different and new", owner Anna Roberts, who made the move from down south to the borough, told The Oldham Times.

The Margherita pizza bagel (Image: Newsquest, Jack Fifield)

Customers raved about the coffee, with one recommending the "best-flavoured ginger latte ever" and the pizza Margherita bagel.

READ MORE: I visited the cafe bringing bagels to Oldham

Jack again went to give it a whirl, trying the pizza bagel with mozzarella cheese and a hot chocolate, while his guest ordered a full English breakfast.

He said it was so "delicious", he couldn't fault any of it.

4. Wonderlust Bakery

A bakery on Library Lane erupted on the scene in February this year, rivalling many Instagrammable bistros typically seen in the quirky corners of Manchester city centre.

It's run by a local family who made waves on social media during lockdown with their homemade bakes - and my sweet tooth just couldn't stay away.

READ MORE: Inside the new Oldham bistro and bakery where art meets food

Wonderlust looks fantastic - and its bakery is next level (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge)

I went along and was impressed by the sheer size of it and its artistic decor, paintings and murals which hug every inch of the walls.

While Wonderlust specialises in a hefty breakfast and brunch menu - particularly its entirely separate French toast menu which has everything from S'mores to Kinder hippo toast - I was treated to a stack of bakes.

The stuffed cookie and the pistachio Paris Brest (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge)

I had a Nutella stuffed chocolate cookie topped with ice cream, which was warm, gooey and ginormous, as well as a pistachio Paris Brest.

This piece of patisserie art was topped with pistachio sauce, pistachio pieces and had chantilly cream oozing in, on and all around it.

To wash it down, I went with the Candy Floss mocktail, a delightfully pink and sparkling drink with a fluffy treat on top and a bubblegum taste.

I left happily drunk on sugar and chantilly cream.

Where do you recommend we visit next? Let us know in the comments below or drop me an email Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk