Every week, we celebrate some of the best alehouses the borough has to offer in our Pub of the Week feature.
This week, we spoke to Carly Brotherdale and her partner, Aidan Heap, who have been running The Angel Inn pub on Shaw Road for more than a decade this July.
Standing in Royton for more than 214 years, the pub celebrated its 200th birthday in 2010 under the wing of Marty Jones, the famous 1970s professional wrestler, who was the landlord at the time.
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Carly, at the age of just 28, then took the reigns in 2014 for five strong years before leaving the trade for five months in 2019.
The Angel Inn was then closed for a brief period before it was taken over by Quentin Cartwright of ESC Inns Limited who asked the couple to return and "get it back running, bigger than ever".
Since then, the pair have scheduled a hefty weekly timetable of events from sports to entertainment for customers to enjoy, not forgetting quirky raffles and prizes.
The Angel Inn hosts its own in-house darts 501 league on Mondays, its women's darts league on Tuesdays and a pool league on Wednesdays.
As for live entertainment, it has an open mic night every Thursday from 9pm, a DJ and karaoke night to usher in the weekend on Fridays, live artists and bands on Saturdays and a traditional pen and paper quiz every Sunday from 6.50pm.
As well as its front sitting area, which Carly said is a hotspot to "people watch", customers love the pub's large rear garden which she described as a "sun trap" with a TV and sound for commentary and music.
While the pub doesn't serve food, it is an "unbelievably busy wet-led pub" with JWLees Original Lager's "refreshing" taste making it the most popular drink order.
For the past two years on the bounce, it was also nominated for Pub of the Year, being the "most improved pub" but fell short of taking home the trophy.
However, that's not to say it's short of achievements.
This year, The Angel Inn won a J.W. Lees Beer Academy 2024 award for its "cellar excellence".
The pub was featured in the hit 2006 TV series, Life on Mars, where the cast graced its beer gardens in episode four.
Meanwhile, the pub's women's darts team took home the Crompton and Royton Ladies Darts trophy in May this year.
Reflecting on the past decade, Carly said the pandemic was the "most memorable" for "how emotionally testing it was, being closed, open, closed and re-opened".
Following the restrictions proved difficult and said they were unsure if the pub would survive.
However, four years on, and the pub continues to thrive in Royton - and gives back to the local community.
Fundraising is a huge passion for the pair who hold race nights and raffles for charities, such as The British Heart Foundation and Dr Kershaw's Hospice, and fill Santa's sleigh with presents while hosting a 'Santa's Disco' for youngsters over the Christmas period.
Carly and Aidan organise a May "Fun Day" fundraiser outside the pub every year in its car park, equipped with stalls, a bouncy castle, a line-up of artists, dancers and even the town crier, to raise money for a cause close to their hearts.
This year, they raised a massive £1,201.70 for Dr Kershaw's Hospice.
Devoted customers say The Angel Inn is the "best pub in Royton" - or possibly Heyside, as a debate ensues about where the premises sits.
To this, Carly said: "We're technically Royton but taking over Heyside! We love it here and hope it shows."
Who should be our next pub of the week? Nominate your favourite alehouse by emailing me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk
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