I visited a waterside pub overlooking Rochdale Canal

However, the reality is that I was in fact working, and it's located on arguably the busiest road in Oldham, next to a motorway by a "dirty" canal.

But as the sun beamed down and the water lay perfectly still, it calmed me while the hum of traffic was somewhat tranquil.

It was 11.30am on Tuesday, and I paid the Broadway premises a visit initially to speak to any narrowboat owners using the Rochdale Canal.

Despite having made pancakes for myself and my son just four hours previously, I went into the Chadderton pub for a bite to eat.

When I walked through the front doors I was met with its beautifully modern yet homely decor, and a smile from behind the bar.

I ordered a honey-baked ham and English mustard sandwich, a mug of soup and a pint of JW Lees' MPA - Manchester Pale Ale, which came to £15.15.

The Boat and Horses, Broadway (Image: Newsquest)

Broken down, that was £8.95 for the sandwich, an additional £1.95 for the soup and an extortionate £4.25 for the cask ale - I might just be tight but I don't expect to pay more than £3.50 for an ale, unless I'm down south.

Nevertheless, it's worth it, brewed excellently and is never a miss - although ironically I did miss it.

My pint came from the bottom of the barrel so it tasted like vinegar, and with it being so early no one was in to change it.

I instead opted for the brewery's Manchester Craft Lager and was pleasantly surprised.

Reporter Joe Yates described JW Lees' Manchester Craft Lager as delightfully crisp, aerated and light (Image: Newsquest)

My pint was delightfully crisp, aerated and light.

I had to wait until 12pm for the kitchen to open, but I was happy, I was enjoying my surroundings and my time there.

When the food came out, it looked good but it wasn't amazing. To start off positively, the chips were great.

Honey baked ham and English mustard sandwich, with chips and tomato soup and a half empty pint of Manchester Craft Lager (Image: Newsquest)

The honey-baked ham was thick but the cut wasn't the best, the fat was getting stuck in my teeth - it seemed like an easy dish to make so it was a bit of a let down.

Dipping my sandwich into the 'freshly prepared' tomato 'soup of the day' only further disappointed me. It tasted far from fresh and was more of a drink than a soup - incredibly watery.

Despite complaining that the cut of meat for the ham was getting stuck in his teeth, reporter Joe Yates finished it and only left behind his soup and salad (Image: Newsquest)

The side salad was again not the best, it was spoiled and the leaves were discoloured.

Although I didn't like what I had ordered and the ale was expensive, I would definitely return.

Its beer garden offers waterside drinking, which is hard to come by in Oldham, and inside was smartly finished.

Next time, I won't arrive first thing and I'll probably come for its carvery. All in all, I had a positive experience and the staff were all very polite.