The Fox, Todmorden

 

The Fox

5 Water Street, Todmorden OL14 5AB

This used to be called simply The Pub and was originally in smaller premises next to the market before it moved to its present location. This looks like it was once two shop premises. The previous owners retired in 2024 and the new owners renamed it and redecorated it.

Decor - 5

Very new in muted autumn colours.

Comfortable padded chairs

Ambience - 5

very relaxing

Service - 3

real ales - 4

Features - 2

dog friendly (they sell dog treats on the bar and keep dog water bowls on the floor)

board games

toilets - 4

Score 23 out of 30

The Bevi, Marple

(photo soon)

The Bevi

24 Market Street, Marple SK6 7AD

TEL: 0161 427 1483

Not a traditional pub but a shop premises that has been converted into a bar. 

Not a bad place but I have to mention from the start that the disabled access is execrable. The front door is level with the pavement but the toilets are up very steep stairs with narrow treads that you can't place the whole of your foot on and with only one loose handrail. When I was there I saw even able bodied people cling to the handrail to haul themselves up. For that reason I have decided never to make a return visit. One should be able to use the loo safely.

Decor - 4 

Interestingly, mainly in black with one wall covered in vinyl record sleeves. Some padded, comfortable benches.

Ambience - 4

Convivial

Service - 4

Fast and welcoming

real ales - 2 guest ales

features - 3 

serves pizza

pool

darts

toilets - 3

Acceptable, apart from the dangerously steep stairs!

Score 20 out of 30

 

The Midland, Marple Bridge

 

The Midland

26 Brabyns Brow, Marple Bridge SK6 5DT

0161 427 2370

This is really an upmarket restaurant rather than a pub but there is space for people who want to drop in for just a drink. It started life as a hotel about 1870, just five years after the railway line through Marple, running from Manchester Piccadilly through Hyde to New Mills, was completed. I surmise it was built to cater for railway passengers. It was newly refurbed in spring 2026.

Decor - 4

Comfortable seating with furnishings and walls in a variety of colours. It doesn't look so impressive from the outside at the front but the inside is rather lovely.

Ambience - 3

Swish

Service - 5

Faultless

Real ale - 2

Features - 3

serves food, and has a pleasant outdoor dining area next to the river Goyt.

child friendly

dog friendly (pooches allowed in one room)

Toilets - 4

Score 21 out of 30

The Norfolk Arms, Marple Bridge

 

The Norfolk Arms

2Town Street, Marple Bridge, SK6 5DS

TEL: 0161 427 8090

This pub dates from 1792 and is a free house.

Ambience- 3 

cheerful

Decor - 4

Mostly wood and wood colours. Open plan, part of the ceiling of one room is covered in different beer mats.

Service -4

prompt and friendly

real ale - 5

features - 1

serves food

toilet - 3

Score 20 out of 30

Close to Marple train station and a bus route with buses running between Marple and Stockport.

The Royal Scot, Marple Bridge

 

The Royal Scot

48 Town Street, Marple Bridge, SK6 5AA

I can't do a full review of this because when I went there, in the third week of August 2026, it was being used for somebody's wake and there were more than 100 people inside and easily a further 100 out in the street. So I didn't attempt to get a drink. I went in the side door and checked out the ladies and had a quick shufty at the inside. I'll do a complete review if I visit Marple Bridge again.

    However, I did find out that there has been a pub on the site for more than 150 years. The original pub was called The Railway; it's about a quarter mile from Marple railway station. According to the brewery website it was the first ever pub purchased by Robinsons, who still own it. They demolished the original pub building in the 1930s and rebuilt and renamed it. It had a major refurb in 2019.

decor- 4

Mostly green colours with plants and (plastic) greenery hanging from the beams, gives the impression of being in a wood. Comfortable seating.

ambience- 4

Pleasant and realxing.

Service - not known

Real ale - not known, though Robinsons Unicorn is classed as one and I assume they serve it since Robinsons owns the pub.

Features - 5

Serves food

Live music

dog friendly

child friendly

TV screens 

toilets - 3

The Royal Oak, High Lane, Cheshire

 

The Royal Oak

Buxton Road, High Lane, Cheshire SK6 8AY

TEL: 01663 309284

Right on the A6 road to Buxton, buses 199 and 394 pass by it, and if you walk about 80 yards from it in the Manchester direction you come to the Middlewood Way. Follow that for half a mile in the Poynton and Macclesfield direction and you will come to Middlewood railway station.

decor - 4

appealing, comfortable seats

ambience - 4

very friendly

real ales - 2

Had Wainwrights gold when I was there at the end of May 2026

service - 4

very welcoming and prompt

features - 4

pub food

dog friendly (dogs allowed in one room)

child friendly

pub games: darts, pool, board games

toilets - 4

clean and fully supplied

Score 22 out of 30

It should perhaps get an extra point for the location. It's on the edge of the Peak District, near Lyme Park and the Middlewood Way 11-mile trail, the route of an old railway line,  that runs from Macclesfield to Marple

Two in Chorley, the Flat Iron and Pearsons

 

Pearsons

72 Market Street, Chorley, PR7 2SE

TEL: 01257 273467

This pub has been through some name changes. It has been called the George, Yates's Wine Lodge, ID The Place To Be, The Blob. Then it closed for a while and reopened in 2013 under its current name. There's no information why it's been called Pearsons.

Decor - 3

muted colours, bit worn-looking

ambience - 4

lively, crowded

service -2

distracted, clumsy

The place was busy and the barman tried to serve three people at the same time, which

didn't quite work

real ales - 2

They had Lancaster IPA when I was there

features - 3

TV screens

live music and karaoke

dart board

large beer garden though completely plant and flower free, so I'm not giving it a point

toilets - 3

Score 17 out of 30

Two in Chorley, the Flat Iron and Pearsons

 

The Flat Iron

21 Cleveland Street, Chorley, PR7 1BH

TEL: none given

This nineteenth century pub was originally called the Market Tavern. It was closed for a while in the past two years and was renamed when it reopened. The Flat Iron is what locals used to call Chorley market. It featured in the first ever good beer guide in 1974. It is a relatively small pub, though not cramped, with one open room with the bar on the left as you go in.

decor - 4

tasteful charcoal greys, medium browns and gold detailing on the wooden panels.

ambience - 5

friendly

service - 5

friendly

real ale -3

sometimes they have four. On my visit they had Stone Edge and Monumental. They give a discount to CAMRA members.  

features - 1

TV screens

toilet - 3

Score 21 out of 30

The Ring O Bells, Middleton

 

The Ring O Bells

St Leonards Square, Middleton, Manchester M24 6DJ

TEL: 0161 654 9245

This building has been a pub since 1831 but according to local legend there has been a pub on the site since Anglo Saxon times and it was originally built over a druid's temple. In the English civ/li wart a group of Roundheads who used the place for secret meetings were captured and killed They are said tro have been buried in the pub cellar butr nobody ahs yet found any human remains..It is up the hill from the centre of Middleton in the conservation area, next to the park and opposite the church. 

decor - 4

light browns and greys, natural wood with carvings round the bar

ambience - 5

lively, friendly and no canned music so you can hear yourself talk 

service - 4

real ales - 1

A J.W. Lees pub

features - 6

child friendly

dog friendly

TV

serves food

rather nice beer garden

darts

toilets - 3

Score 23 out of 30

Disabled access: there is access for wheelchairs at the back.

The New Inn, Middleton

 

The New Inn

34 Long Street, Middleton, Manchester M24 6QU

No phone number listed

An unpretentious, friendly high street pub.

decor - 3

Blue, grey and white with wooden beams

ambience - 4 

very welcoming

real ales - 0

service - 4

welcoming

features - 4

pool table

darts

TV screens

live music at weekends

toilets - 3

Score 18 out of 30