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





King William IV, Greenfield

King William IV, 134 Chew Valley Road, Greenfiled, Saddleworth OL3 7DD

01457 873933

It's a traditional pub on the main road through the village, and was named King William IV because it was opened in 1830, the year he came to the the throne. Before then, it was a private house. It is a venue for the Saddleworth Rushcart Festival in summer, and the Saddleworth Brass Band contest on Whit Friday. It has two small rooms, one on each side, at the front and a bar at the back.

ambience - 3
friendly atmosphere

decor - 4
newish and well maintained

service - 4  (though it was difficult to get to the bar on the weekend I was last there, due to the Liverpool-Oldham Athletic FA Cup semi final match being on the telly; the place was packed with local fans.)

ale - 2/3
usually two, sometimes three. Had Dobcross Bitter on my last visit.

features - 4
Serves food
Family friendly, children allowed in before 9pm
dogs allowed
Darts and cribbage

toilets - 3

Score 20/21 out of 30

The Norfolk Arms, Glossop

The Norfolk Arms, Norfolk Square, High Street, Glossop SK13 8BP

01457 851940

Not sure if this counts as a pub as it is also a hotel and restaurant, quite swish and appears to have a dress code: the occasion I was there, the customers were all smartly dressed, no casuals. But it does serve beer (and lager, and cider etc!)

     In the 19th century, it used to be a coaching inn, where the Royal Mail coaches would stop to change horses. For a while in the 20th century, the square in front was a bus terminus. It still offers accommodation, you can check out rooms and prices on its website.

ambience - 4

decor - 4

tastefully decorated throughout

service - 3

a bit rushed (though it was busy when I was there)

ales - 3

A Joseph Holts pub. also has guest ales and usually a farmhouse scrumpy.

features - 2

serves food during the day

has accommodation

The restourant is popular, so booking is probably a good idea if you want to eat here

toilet - 4

Score 20 out of 30

The Golden Lion, Todmorden

The Golden Lion, Rochdale Road, Todmorden OL14 6LZ
01706 816333

 

Big, pleasant, family-friendly pub alongside the Rochdale Canal (though you can't drink at the canalside as the towpath isn't part of the pub premises.)

 

ambience - 3

decor - 4

well maintained

 

service - 3

welcoming, and prompt

 

ale - 0

average mass produced stuff

 

features - 4

serves food

pool table

secluded beer garden

allows children in the dining area

 

toilets - 4

as well maintained as the rest of the pub

 

Score 18 out of 30

 

 



The Railway, Greenfield

The Railway, Shaw Hall Bank Road, Greenfield OL3
01457 872307

 

This one really is near a railway station, opposite Greenfield railway station on the Manchester Victoria - Huddersfield line. It is on the Transpennine Pub crawl, a series of pubs that can be reached easily by train, with the timing of the trains allowing for an hour at each pub (which makes for a slow pub crawl to my mind, and I don't know any-one who has got further than Marsden.) It's also a real ale pub par excellence: serves no ale but real ale.

 

ambience - 2

decor - 2

dark beams and off white walls which are badly in need of repainting. But has a lot of photographs of old Saddleworth, showing how the area used to be industrialised. Walking around the rooms is a fascinating history lesson.

 

service - 3

prompt and polite

 

ales - 5

extra point for the range of real ales, there are always at least five

 

features - 3

beer garden a few yards along the road from the pub, in a nice tree shaded space with views over the valley
Allows dogs on leads
Live music Thursday, Friday, Sunday

 

toilet - 3

 

Score 19 out of 30

The Moon and Sixpence, Glossop

 UPDATE: Pub closed, July 2015

 
The Moon and Sixpence, Bernard Street, Glossop SK13 7AA
01457 865777

Pleasant neighbourhood pub with a live music stage at the narrow end of a big open room, with small bar near the door. I could not find out why it is named after a Somerset Maugham novel, but I suspect this is not its original name. Good for a quiet drink duirng the week, lively on band nights.

ambience - 4

decor - 3

dark brown and cream theme

service - 4

attentive, friendly

ale -1

freehouse, one guest ale

features -3

beer garden

live music

small side room with pool table

toilet - 3

score 18 out of 30



The Railway, Oldham

The Railway, Rochdale Road, Royton, Oldham

There's no indication why this pub is called the Railway when it is a long way from any train station. But a look at the street atlas shows that there is a footpath which starts near the back of the pub and runs between houses in a straight line until it stops at the Rochdale-Manchester Victoria railway line; it looks very like it follows the route of a former branch line.

Ambience - 3

Piped music, not too loud for conversation

Decor - 4

Newish comfortable seating

service - 4

ale - 1

JW Lees cask ale

features -4

serves food during the day
live music at weekends
Quiz night
Comedy night

toilets - 3

Score 19 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 Wharf

The Wharf, Caroline Street, Stalybridge  SK15 1PP

0161 338 2662

Nice pub in a nice location next to Huddersfield Narrow Canal, a few minutes' walk from the centre of Stalybridge. It is still family run, and has a homely, friendly atmosphere.

ambience - 4

decor - 4

pleasant and bright inside

service - 4

welcoming

ales - 2

always at least two cask ales, had Bombardier when I was last there

features - 2

small beer garden overloking the canal

acoustic folk music sessions once a month

toilet - 4

good, but a bit scruffier than the rest of the pub

Score 20 out of 30