Campaign for Real Ale's annual Good Beer Guide has been released which features several top pubs in Oldham.
The UK's best-selling beer and pub guide is celebrating its 52nd edition this year as it continues to champion thousands of the best pubs across the country - which includes 12 from Oldham.
There were just 10 pubs from the borough which made it onto the list last year, which means there are three newbies while one pub, The Railway in Hollinwood, has sadly missed out this time.
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Here are 9 of those pubs in Oldham rated by CAMRA as the best place for a pint - pick up your own copy of the guide here.
Crown Inn, Walsh Street, Chadderton
The Crown Inn, known locally as 'the slump hole', is a popular family-run and cash-only pub with live sports such as football and darts as well as traditional pub games.
It offers up to two changing beers, usually from Leatherbritches, as well as a variety of regional and local breweries.
Rose of Lancaster, Haigh Lane, Chadderton
The Rose of Lancaster was another highlight of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide last year and has received a nod again this year.
The pub is described as "attractive" as it sits by the Rochdale Canal and boats a conservatory restaurant, lounge bar and a separate 'vault' for sporting events.
CAMRA has also commended it for its "swift and cheerful" service which ensures drinkers and diners enjoy a "pleasant visit".
Pint-wise, it offers JW Lees Manchester Pale Ale, bitter and three changing beers sourced locally while seasonal and Lees Boilerhouse beers are 'always' available.
Dobcross Band and Social Club, Platt Lane, Dobcross
Dobcross Band and Social Club is a small not-for-profit club which was built more than 100 years ago, developing into a lively brass band, bowls and events venue overlooking the Saddleworth hills.
It is a repeat winner of local CAMRA Club of the Year, having won the Rochdale, Oldham and Bury (ROB) branch award 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.
However, in 2024, CAMRA crowned it the region's best club once again and it is now runner-up in the national Club of the Year awards.
The club features in this year's guide for its five handpulled beers from local breweries, with JW Lees Bitter, Joseph Holt Bitter and two changing beers sourced locally, often Millstone and Phoenix.
The Swan Inn, The Square, Dobcross
The Swan is a traditional stone-built Grade II-listed pub and restaurant that was built in 1765 for the Wrigley family, known for the famous chewing gum brand.
CAMRA gave it another nod for its "good selection" of homecooked food, its open fires and its popular Thursday quiz nights.
It serves Banks's Sunbeam, Courage Directors, Jennings Cumberland Ale, Marston's Pedigree and Wainwright Gold.
Railway Inn, Shaw Hall Bank Road, Greenfield
The Railway Inn is described as an "unspoilt pub" with a central bar, lounge, games area and taproom with a log fire and old photographs of Saddleworth, plus its "great views" over Chew Valley towards Dovestone Reservoir.
The pub is popular for walkers and live music on weekends - and for its destination point as a stop-off on the Trans-Pennine Real Ale Trail.
The Railway has several real ales available, including Millstone Tiger Rut and five changing beers, often Acorn, Ossett and Thornbridge.
Wellington Inn, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield
The Wellington Inn is a stone-built village pub which has been run by the same family for more than a decade.
It has a small bar area, a main dining room, a side room with a TV plus a dartboard, cribbage and dominoes.
Homecooked food is served on-site from The Stockpot with its real chips, pies and puddings proving popular along with its Friday fish dishes.
Its six handpumps dispense 'locale' selections, from Eagles Crag Golden Eagle, Millstone Citra, Tiger Rut, Ibex, Wainwright Amber and two changing beers, often Eagles Crag and Phoenix.
Ashton Arms, Clegg Street, Oldham
This traditional town centre pub has six handpulled beers, sourced mainly from local microbreweries such as Millstone, Ossett and Pictish which CAMRA says are "always well kept" as well as a real cider.
It also has a range of bottled Belgian and German beers and "good value" homecooked food and live sport to view.
The Ashton Arms has featured in CAMRA's 'good beer guide' for more than 20 consecutive years.
Cob & Coal Tap, Tommyfield Market, Oldham
The Cob and Coal, described as a "cosy micropub", has become a strong favourite with Oldham's real ale and cider drinkers.
It has up to six changing real ales on handpump, usually Pictish, Thirst Class and Wishbone, which CAMRA said are "well looked after and always in good condition".
It also has two real ciders and a verity of food available from the market stalls.
The pub has also won CAMRA's regional 'pub of the year' and local cider Pub of the Year.
Fox & Pine, Greaves Street, Oldham
This list wouldn't be complete without Oldham's beloved Fox and Pine pub, which has a brimming trophy cabinet of awards.
CAMRA describes it as a "real community pub" with a "welcoming atmosphere", which has seen the pub crowned local CAMRA Pub of the Year for the past three years on the bounce.
It only narrowly missed out on winning CAMRA's regional 'pub of the year' crown this year.
The Northumberland Arms in Marple Bridge snatched the coveted regional title for 2024, but the Fox and Pine do get an honorary mention as the region's second-best as a runner-up.
The guide says the pub has "not rested on its laurels" as it continues to serve top-quality beer through its 10 handpumps with Draught Bass as a constant and three other dark beers.
Readers of The Oldham Times also consider it one of the best pubs in Oldham for a pub quiz.
Amongst its nine changing beers, sourced regionally, are often Durham, Mallisons and Pictish.
The venue itself serves fresh home-cooked food and has a busy downstairs area plus extra rooms upstairs for many social and community groups.
About the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2025
This year's Good Beer Guide 2025 features not one but two covers of some of the UK's favourite local pubs, Coronation Street's Rovers Return Inn and Emmerdale's Woolpack.
CAMRA's guide, which lists 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is considered the definitive beer drinker's guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation's pubs.
Last year, the guide told the tale of an industry under threat, and while that threat hasn't been eliminated, CAMRA is looking to focus on the 'power of protecting pubs'.
CAMRA says despite a "slight slowdown" in the number of pubs lost forever to conversions or demolition, its data reveals "worrying trends" are developing, as more venues are reportedly redeveloped without proper permissions.
The guide acknowledges licensees are also feeling "rising pressure" with more than a thousand businesses closed in the last 12 months alone, as CAMRA says pubs "can't afford to keep the lights on".
A foreword written by multi-award-winning Iain Macleod, ITV's executive producer for continuing drama, reads: "... The story which threatened one of our pubs the most was also the one which most resonated with our times.
"In 2023, the Rovers Return closed its doors.
"A combination of the lingering legacy of the Covid lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis meant that landlady Jenny Bradley couldn’t afford to keep it open.
"The characters – and the viewers – lamented the news like the loss of a loved one.
"If it were needed, it was a timely reminder of the central place the nation’s pubs have in our lives and in our affections.”
CAMRA Chairman, Ash Corbett-Collins, also said: “The Rovers Return Inn and the Woolpack represent the UK’s love of their local, and to have them featured on the covers for this year’s Guide is very exciting.
"CAMRA’s mission is to ensure support from the Government as well as tangible legislation to protect pubs across each nation of the UK.
"By next year’s edition of the Guide, we want to be talking about the beer and pub trade growing with the support of communities and parliament alike.”
In its positive look to the future, this year's edition includes more than 900 new pub entries for the first time.
Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk
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