The Commercial, Uppermill

The Commercial, High Street, Uppermill OL3 6AX

01457 872513

Looking colourful for the World Cup 2014, a large friendly high street pub with a large open bar space and a smaller room with tables off to one side. 

Ambience - 4

Decor - 3

Comfortable seats, muted colours, tiled floor. Can be quietish during the afternoon, popular in the evenings, though seldom so popular that you have to queue long at the bar.

Service - 4

friendly

ale - 2

Two guest ales

Features -3

food

sports TV

Open plan design doesn't include room for a darts board or pool table, but:
Open mic night every second Thursday and occasional live entertainment

Toilets - 3

Good condition, but non-working dryers

Score 19 out of 30

The Church Inn

The Church Inn, Church Lane, Uppermill, OL3 6LW

 

 

This country pub is opposite Saddleworth Church and a quarter mile downhill from the Cross Keys, and is similar in style, though the building is not quite as old.

 

decor - 3

ambience - 3

Cosy atmosphere, log fire, but seating a bit uncomfortable

 

ales - 5

A free house with more than five real ales available at all times

 

features - 3

serves food

beer garden

allows children and dogs

 

service - 2

service a bit indifferent, staff spend a lot of time chatting to regulars, so you'll have a bit longer to wait if you're not one.

 

toilets - 3

 

Score 19 out of 30 

 



The Cross Keys

The Cross Keys In, Running Hill Gate, Uppermill, Saddleowrth OL3 6LW

A country pub just a 15 minute walk uphill from Uppermill village, this has been a tavern since 1763 and was on the old packhorse route over the Saddleworth hills into Marsden in Yorkshire. It is now the headquarters of the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team, and the meeting place (in the barn next door) for a branch of the George Formby Society, which provides ukelele lessons for its members.

   The name Cross Keys is associated with St Peter, the keeper of the keys to Heaven, and is often given to pubs near churches dedicated to him. However, although Saddleworth Church is only a quarter of a mile down the hill from the pub, it is dedicated to St Chad!

Ambience - 4

decor - 4

stone floors, dark beams, wood burniung stove; very traditional feel.

ale - 2

JW Lees pub

features - 3

serves food

monthly folk music

allows children and dogs

service- 4

fast and friendly, even when the pub is busy (as it often is at weekends when I have been there)

toilets - 3

Score 20 out of 30





The Waggon, Uppermill

                                  The Waggon, High Street, Uppermill OL3 6HR
                                                  Phone: 01457 872376

UPDATE: The Waggon has had an upgrade since c.2015, it is now posher inside and out, with great service and a bigger menu. It's still a solidly built traditional pub but there's more emphasis on the restaurant side. It's gained a couple more points as a result.

This was taken in 2016, after the refurbishment. It looks like the stonework has been cleaned, in addition to new seating on the inside

Built in 1846, this is a solidly built traditional pub, with a bar, snug and restaurant area inside.

Ambience - 4
Friendly, but can get a bit mad at weekends

decor -4

service - 4

ale - 1
one guest ale. Unicorn last time I was there.

features - 3
disco at weekends
serves food. I don't do reviews of pub food, but I'll say this: I've eaten here on some-one's recommendation and they weren't wrong.
accommodation

toilet - 3
could be better supplied; often no toilet paper, for example

Score 19 out of 30

The Hare and Hounds, Uppermill

The Hare and Hounds, High Street, Uppermill

The oldest surviving pub in Uppermill, this was first licensed in 1794. Its lowish score only reflects that it is an average High Street pub with no room for extras like a pool table or darts, or a beer garden. The inside is pleasant and homely, not a bad place to relax.

ambience - 3

decor - 3

comfortable

ale - 0

usual range of ordinary beers, lagers, wine and spirits

service - 3

features - 0

toilets - 3

score 12 out of 30

The Granby Arms, Uppermill

The Granby Arms, High Street, Uppermill

This pub got its first beer licence in 1831 and has been through several changes of name since then, before sticking with the present one. It was first the Dog and Partridge, in 1840 it was the Queen Adelaide. After this date its licensee got a full licence. (In times past, pub licensees could be given licenses to sell beer only, or to sell beer, wine and spirits. 'Beerhouses' were distinctly downmarket premises.) In 1842 it was renamed the Marquis of Granby, but the locals called it the Granby Arms and the name stuck.

ambience - 3

decor - 4

well maintained, light and bright

service - 3  prompt and polite

ale - 1
one guest ale when I was last there, though I'm told it normally has a range of guest ales

features - 3
serves food until early evening, varied menu
quiz night once a week
poker night once a week

toilets - 3

score: 17 out of 30