The New Oxford, Salford

Busy and pretty rowdy on my recent Saturday night visit towards the end of November, perhaps not helped by some loud stumbling gentlemen who had clearly been indulging in a slight excess of strong Belgian beers. Completely unaware of their surroundings, banging into furniture and other customers, spilling drinks - you can picture the scene. Loads of real ale as usual and two real ciders observed. My second ale was perhaps not in the best of nick. I will be back, but this was a bit of a let down compared to previous visits.

Almost 12 years since I was last drinking in Salford, I returned to the New Oxford, remembering it as one of the two best pubs in the area. My favourite of the two was the Crescent, which I see has now closed. The New Oxford is a traditional corner pub set in a nice square with a large range of cask ales and ciders, as well as a sizeable bottled beer selection. Having just come from Sadler's Cat, where I'd had a nice Cloudwater stout, I was hoping for another dark beer. However, exactly the same stout was on here. The full cask selection was Cloudwater SoCal & Coming Home, Roosters Dreaming Of A Wheat Christmas, Thirst Class Mosaic Pale, Rat Snow Rat, Bristol Beer Factory Independence, Eagles Crag Pale Eagle, Phoenix Spotland Gold, Mallinson's Columbus, Ashover Font & Moorhouse's White Witch. Ciders were Lilley's Fire Dancer & Raspberry Mojito. With friendly and knowledgeable bar staff and a traditional two-room interior, this is easily the best pub in Salford nowadays.

Impressive corner pub in what is now a quiet suburban square that benefits from the surrounding heritage. It retains two separate bars, both refurbished but keeping their traditional feel. Plenty of outdoor seating too for the better weather. Excellent choice of ten real ales - including my Eagle's Feather from Eagle's Crag (£4.50) - at least 20 beers from the (mostly crafty) keg taps and a great selection of bottled Belgian offerings.

First time re-visiting since the C-word struck so worth an updated review. 10 cask ales were available and there were a few unclipped pumps on top. A mix of styles and certainly enough to choose from. Various keg beers too. Pretty much a two room layout (one to the front and one behind the central bar) and there is also a sectioned off seating area to the front of the pub on the square. Always worth a visit when in the area, in my opinion.