Every week we will shine a spotlight on some of the best pubs Oldham has to offer in our new Pub of the Week feature.
Kicking us off for the first week, we spoke to Patrick and Tracey Chetram who have been running the show for more than four years at The Greyhound Inn on Elly Clough, Holden Fold Lane.
The pair, who have been married for 23 years and together for more than 30, took the pub on just five weeks before the first Coronavirus lockdown and, despite some rocky periods and an impressive refurbishment which shut the doors for six weeks, the couple has weathered the storm to steer the ship of one of Royton's most adored pubs.
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The popular duo, who also have two children, said: "The biggest challenge for us was restarting the pub after both Covid lockdowns, getting people out of their houses to socialise in a community pub.
"Then, just as we got going, we shut down for the third time - this time it was for a complete and very expensive refurbishment which transformed the pub and has helped make it the warm and inviting, friendly place that it is today."
The massive makeover came as the pub had had "nothing done to it" for more than three decades.
The landlords said its history dates as far back as 1837 when the Greyhound Inn had two stables and two cottages attached to it in a field when the quarry was active.
JW Lees, a local family brewery, then bought the premises in 1928 and over the years, the pub has gradually extended by knocking through the cottages next door.
In 2022, Patrick and Tracey decided to knock through another cottage and strip everything back, including the kitchen and the toilets, while installing new equipment in the cellar.
Speaking to The Oldham Times at the time, Patrick said it was a "huge job" but that the result "is brilliant".
In celebration of its rich history, The Greyhound displays its many landlords and landladies from over the years on the wall along with historical pictures of how the estate used to look.
The pub was also picked as an ideal filming spot - and turned into a TV set when Disney+ camera crews filmed the sequel to the 1997 film, The Full Monty.
And that's not the pub's only brush with fame either as it is frequently endorsed and visited by its favourite celebrity punter and Oldham legend, Kelvin Fletcher, who is famously known for his role as Andy Sugden in Emmerdale.
Patrick and Tracey added: "We have had football players visit the pub, the filming for the Full Monty series and, of course, Kelvin Fletcher of Fletchers on the Farm who visits us regularly.
"We have also been nominated for the past two years for an award within the JW Lees group, so hopefully we get nominated this year and we can be successful in receiving the top award.
"That would be the icing on the cake for us."
Speaking of cake, the pub also raised a stunning sum for The Christie Charity in a Great British Bake Off-style event.
Organised by Vicky Moorfield, who received the all-clear from cancer at the Withington hospital, the 'Great Royton Bake Off' at the Greyhound raised around £2,500.
For customers, new and old, The Greyhound is also popular for its entertainment - from its live DJ nights from DJ Michael and karaoke with Simon on Saturdays to its weekly Tuesday quiz which starts at 8pm and finishes around 10.40pm which readers of The Oldham Times voted as one of the best pub quizzes in the borough.
The pair added: "It's the old-fashioned quiz, pen and paper, which the regulars love."
As for food and drink, the alehouse is proud of its five-star food hygiene rating and said Thursday tends to be its busiest night as it has a wine and cheese board/charcuterie special where revellers can buy two large glasses of wine and get the rest of the bottle for free.
Then on Fridays, it has 'Fry-Day Pie-Day' and on Sundays caters to a traditional roast which is "very popular".
It also recently received a prestigious Cask Marque accreditation with the top score of five for the second year running.
The couple said: "We are very proud of this.
"We pride ourselves on serving quality draft drinks, whatever your palate.
"JW Lees Original Lager and Bitter appear to be the most popular over the year, and we also serve on draft Manchester Craft, Guinness, San Miguel, Bitter smooth and dark, Strongbow cider original and dark fruit, plus a large choice of red and white wines, prosecco and bottled beers."
Outside, The Greyhound has a large beer garden with an abundance of seats which the pair described as a "sun trap" with sunshine "all day long until sunset".
Walk-ins are encouraged as the pub doesn't take bookings but the pair said there is plenty of seating if customers pop by early enough.
When asked about their favourite memories in pub life so far, the pair said there were "so many" to choose from but picked Tracey's recent surprise 60th birthday party.
Patrick said: "The Caribbean Kitchen Oldham provided the food and the rum cake by Lauren, which was all delicious - I'm sure they're going to have a lot more customers.
"The live entertainment was provided by our own local, national and soon-to-be international singer, Andy Lee, who also provided signing lessons at his studio and a backing track to coach me in secret so that I could sing a song in public for the first time to Tracey on her birthday.
"So yes, I am slightly biased, but that is certainly mine and Tracey's most memorable moment."
Aside from the big birthday bash, the Chetram's said they are passionate about helping people make "great memories" and providing a place that is "very rapidly becoming the hub of the community once again".
They added: "We are so grateful that people come out and support us."
Do you have a recommendation for Oldham's 'Pub of the Week'? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or let us know in the comments below.
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