A band and social club in Saddleworth, has been crowned Greater Manchester's best club for the third year in a row.

Dobcross Band and Social Club is a small not-for-profit club which has stood in Dobcross for more than 100 years, developing into a lively brass band, bowls and events venue that it is today while overlooking the Saddleworth hills.

The present wooden building was erected in 1967 and provides facilities for the members of its various sections, from youth and adult bands, learners and beginners to a silver band, 11 bowling teams, with competitions throughout the summer, five snooker teams plus darts and crib players.

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It is home to three bands, the Dobcross Silver Band, the Dobcross Youth Band and the Brass Monkeys.

The Dobcross Silver Band won a regional final last year and qualified for the National Brass Band Championships in Cheltenham.

Meanwhile, the venue itself has a cost bar lounge, a book-lending library, indoor bowling throughout the winter, a games room, live BT football screenings, a function room for events and coffee mornings every other Saturday.

The club also welcomes a youth theatre group and stages various fitness and well-being classes.

Dobcross Band and Social Club is famous for its band concerts, which mainly focus on local acts but welcomes bands from further afield on the last Sunday of the month. 

It is also accredited by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), as it serves up a range of top-quality beers alongside wines, spirits and award-winning pork pies.

It has won the Rochdale, Oldham and Bury (ROB) CAMRA branch award of 'Club of the year' every year from 2018 to 2022.

It was also crowned the Greater Manchester regional winners in 2022 and 2023 where it progressed to the national finals but lost out on both occasions to Marden Village Club in Marden, Kent.

Now, CAMRA has crowned it the region's best club once again in its ' Club of the year' award for 2024, fighting off the competition again from Flixton Conservative Club in Urmston which is this year's runner-up.

The news also comes as the retired steward of the club, John Holden, received a 'long service award' for his 39 years of service which was attributed to him for looking after the cellar so well. 

As for Greater Manchester's CAMRA 'pub of the year' for 2024, Oldham's Fox and Pine narrowly missed out on earning the title in what would have been its second year in a row this year.

However, the Fox and Pine pub is still a strong contender, having come in second place this year.

The pub is also still considered the best place for a pint according to the CAMRA Rochdale, Oldham and Bury branch which have given it the accolade for the past three years on the bounce.

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk