Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Reviewing milestone with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Flying Horse, Rochdale
Rochdale
OL16 1NJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Brainy Pool left this review about The Flying Horse
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.
On 25th August 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1111 recommendations about 1076 pubs]
Ian Mapp left this review about The Flying Horse
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 :-)
On 26th July 2024
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1431 recommendations about 1414 pubs]
Old Boots left this review about The Flying Horse
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.
On 16th June 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3404 recommendations about 3095 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Flying Horse
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.
On 22nd March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8344 recommendations about 8343 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Flying Horse
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
On 18th March 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5386 recommendations about 5369 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Flying Horse
This is a large pub, popular with older gents at the time of my visit earlier this week. 12 hand pulls including at least one cider available - I think just one pull was out of service so that's a pretty decent offering. Sport was on the TVs but muted in favour of background music. Another pub I would be happy to recommend and make a return visit to if back in the area.
On 24th November 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 791 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Flying Horse
A fine ,large hotel building in a prominent position in Rochdale town centre.The main entrance gives way to a large interior to both sides with the bar directly ahead and sporting a long array of handpumps with a smaller collection to the right hand side .There is much wood panelling,bench seating running below the windows and traditional furniture throughout.there are decent original features ,fireplaces and an ale house style wooden floor.
The clientele is mixed,some folk in for food,others to sample the wide ale range (12 on my visit) while flatscreens will play sporting events.Rightly it's a regional CAMRA award winner with an excellent ale choice both in style and strength from many award winning brewers and lots of Locale.My choices of Titanic Raspberry Pale (NBSS 4) and Redwillow Weightless (NBSS 4) were terrific while my crew found equal quality amongst other selections.
An absolute must visit in Rochdale ,don't miss out on The Flyer.
On 15th July 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2830 recommendations about 2830 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Flying Horse
The Flying Horse consists of three seating areas in front of a long L-shaped bar that supports twelve hand pumps. The available beers are listed on a television screen on the back bar and a premium keg range is also available alongside Carling. More seating is found behind the bar and a couple of plasma screens were showing Sky Sports whilst some background music played. Food is available, the pub classics on the Specials board were all priced under £10 and there are food deals throughout the week. The service was polite, but my pint of Staropramen wasn’t the best.
On 4th September 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5497 recommendations about 5464 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Flying Horse
This was our first pub to visit on our trip to Rochdale and what an excellent place to start. The interior is traditional in style, with a good sized mahogany bar facing you as you enter, with lots of seating options along the front. Curiously there were branches fixed all around the ceiling areas. Ten ales on handpump, served by upbeat and friendly staff, who all take care and interest in cask ales. I went for the Eagles Crag Alter Eagle and Black Lodge Fear of the Dark, which was an excellent Black IPA at 5.9%.
On 30th July 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3483 recommendations about 3483 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Flying Horse Hotel
Just had a refubishment and the quiz machine & bandits have been removed. They are trying to have more of an emphasis on food. Currently only selling ales from the borough of Rochdale. So Lees, Wilson Potter, Hay Rake, Pictish & Phoenix. They're also now giving a 10p per pint CAMRA discount.
02/03/2013
Still one of our regular haunts. Several cask ales always available usually with one each from Phoenix & Green Mill plus a couple of Timothy Taylors beers along with a couple of guests.
10/03/2011
Has just had a refurbishment inside and now has a new carpet and is newly painted throughout. They've even spent some money on the gents toilets which really needed it. Still a good range of handpulled beers though.
13/10/2010
One of our regular haunts on the Rochdale real ale trail. Impressive stone built exterior directly facing the even more impressive gothic Town Hall. Inside is one large room divided into several areas by wooden partitioning and seating. There’s also a pool table in the area round the back of the bar. Has two large TV screens often showing sport of one kind or another. Has 6 handpumps on the bar. Serves Lees Bitter, Taylor’s Landlord and Best Bitter and 3 changing guests, one is always from Phoenix and the other two regularly feature local breweries such as Green Mill, Hornbeam and Moorhouses. It can get a bit raucous when the football is on, but it’s a decent pub.
On 5th October 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3253 recommendations about 3163 pubs]