The Flying Horse, Rochdale

I can see why it would be Ian’s pub of the year. A great example of how to “modernise” and be popular with all groups whilst remaining a totally traditional pub. perhaps smaller than I expected, it’s a standard two sided pub with partitions, wet led but with a substantial food offering including local rag pudding and cheese & onion pie. Twelve (I think) ales on the bar and I eventually settled on a decent Tiny Rebel Samba. Clearly now the premier real ale venue in Rochdale with something for all tastes, unsurprisingly it was very busy on a Saturday afternoon.

Going to be my 2024 Pub of the Year. Walked 13 miles over moorland and then a tortuous 2mile journey by bus, that took 30 minutes - but what a reward. Housed on the main square - it offers continental style drining on the square. Multi roomed inside - with different beers lists at each bar. I was too knackered to move from my spot on a leather bench in the window.... except to go back to the bar to work out what to order next. Think its 10 cask and 10 keg. I tried draught Bass, a cask craft from Wakey Wakey brewery and finished with a german wheat dunkel on keg. All superb. One day, all towns will have pubs like this :-)

A pub beloved of Pubs Galore contributor ROB Camra, you can see why, it is a fine pub. It’s setting is now enhanced by being on the edge of the revamped town hall square and there are a number of decent drinking establishments nearby. A good choice of well kept ales as usual and it’s a regular outlet for Pictish beers which are not often seen on my side of the Pennines. Naturally it’s GBG 2024 listed.

Fine old pub in a row of interesting buildings on Packer Street that would normally overlooking the Town Hall square (but this is temporarily obscured by building works). Opened-out into a L-shape - all parts traditionally furnished and decorated, but the different seating / dining areas still have some separation. Excellent selection of ten real ales and a couple of ciders from the 12 handpumps, and after a little thought I went for the local Pictish Lancashire Best, just £2.50.

Large place that's been sympathetically modernised so retains charm; there’s a number of discrete areas with banquettes, wallpaper, panelling, carpets etc and with a fire on the go for a dank drizzly January day it all felt rather cosy. I was also taken by the impressive stained glass flyover above the solid-looking mahogany bar. The illuminated twigs on the ceiling are a design mis-step though. The offering is aimed at a cross-section of punters and there were plenty of ladies in attendance. A plethora of cask, my Pictish Lubelski was in decent shape (NBSS 3.5), served-up by a polite, demure barmaid. I liked it here, another really strong pub in this unassuming town and shouldn’t be missed. GBG’23 listed and rightly so. 8.5