Welcome

If you love the British pub, you will like this blog. Here I will review the pubs I drop into in my wanderings around my home region - urban, rural, posh, homely, fun pubs, restaurant pubs, and local backstreet pubs. I hope to encourage people to appreciate them.
I will score each pub out of five points each (30 points maximum) on its ambience, decor, service, whether it serves real ales, state of the toilets (but I can't vouch for the state of the gents because I don't use them!) and what extras it has - games, beer garden, newspapers, serves food, karaoke, quizzes, live music.
If after reading one of my reviews you decide to check out a pub, I hope you enjoy the experience. But bear in mind that I have only visited some of them once, and pubs and pub managers change. If the review needs updating, please leave a comment.
Ups and downs? Well, people drink when they're down. And they drink to celebrate, when they're feeling 'up'. Besides that, this is hill country. It's full of ups and downs.
(ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT)

Thursday 8 August 2013

The Kings Arms, Grains Bar



The Kings Arms, 4 Delph Road, Grains Bar, Oldham OL4 2JX
0161 652 4216
An eighteenth century pub, on top of a hill, next to what used to be the first toll road from Oldham to Saddleworth (Grains 'Bar', because the road was gated to ensure travellers paid the toll charge for using it). The original Yorkshire-Lancashire county boundary used to run through the building, until it was moved further east in 1972. The fact is commemorated by a sign painted on one of the roof beams. At one time you could have bought your pint in Yorkshire and sat down to drink it in the next county!
    The pub changed management in 2011, this brought about the usual refurbishment but the main change was more comfortable seating and a bigger steak menu. 

UPDATE 2021: As good as ever in all respects.
    
ambience - 4
Lively without being rowdy

décor - 3
Dark wood beams and pale walls, comfortable seats and chairs

service - 4
attentive

real ale - 2
Timothy Taylor Landlord usually available

features- 4
serves food 12-3pm and 6-8pm
children welcomed
dogs welcomed in the bar area (staff will offer your pooch some water if he/she needs any)

toilets - 4
well supplied, dryers work properly

Score 21 out of 30
Bishops Park, which is next to the Kings Head. This is the obelisk at the highest point of the park, which commemorates the Bishop family, who donated the land for public use.

From the obelisk, there are views over Saddleworth to the east...

...and views over Oldham, Rochdale and Winter Hill to the west. On fine evenings, couples park up in the car park to watch the lights coming up over the Greater Manchester conurbation. It's a romantic view, there's a sea of lights to the horizon.


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