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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Baum, Rochdale
Rochdale
OL12 0NU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about The Baum
Looks like I just missed Brainy Pool. I was there 3pm on the 23rd August.
I quite this level of serendipity. I had a comment on my walking blog about Brid's cross brewery after my last stage of the GM Ringway. 12 miles walked today and I noticed a 4x4 with the branding on the spare wheel cover, then a little later on route, a black van in their livery.
Baum was also recommended to me - and on arrival, a full tap takeover, as its their first anniversary. Then someone talking about them on here. What are the chances!
Anyway, the pub is exactly my type - a well converted shop, full of nick nacks, with some comfy seating in the windows, wooden floors and a nice bar.
I went for a delightful Under the Eildon Tree - a WC IPA. Wish the trains had been running as planned (storm Lillian) and I could have stayed longer.
On 26th August 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Brainy Pool left this review about The Baum
Called in here after the interesting museum next door. it’s Rochdale’s destination pub; on my visit it had a tap takeover by local Brids Cross brewery “inspired by folklore”. Comfortable and quirky interior and a friendly barman who will talk to you about the beers. enjoyed the Baum Rabbit, an easy drinking pale ale. Food is served and looked good and hearty.
On 25th August 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Baum
Interesting and award-winning pub, but perhaps not quite all it might seem? Housed in part of the Rochdale Pioneers building, but the age of the pub itself is uncertain? It also appears more food led than I was expecting, although none is served on Mondays (which happened to be the day I visited). Anyway, there is a lot to like in the various small seating / dining areas around the traditional-looking L-shaped interior (with the restaurant upstairs). I found six interesting real ales - including the unfined Repeater from Full Circle (£3.50 with Camra discount) - and a draught cider on the eight handpumps.
On 22nd March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Baum
My first visit to a place that made quite a name for itself a few years ago. Cut asunder from its former surrounds by the 1960s urban planners, it’s a lovely-looking pub, and inside is an old-fashioned feel but clean and tidy. Nicely done given that it didn’t actually become a pub until the 1980s; dark wood, exposed brick with distinct areas over a couple of levels. Conservatory out back. The piped music was a bit abrasive. Seven cask on over eight pumps with a good range. I plumped for Titanic First Class (NBSS 3.5) and Osset White Rat (NBSS 2 – didn’t fully clear) which was fag-end and indeed was the last one out as it ran dry for the next punter – I was mildly disappointed that for such a vaunted ale pub they didn’t pop over to check on mine. I enjoyed my stop here but it isn’t perhaps the Top 50 pub it was a few years back…? GBG’23 listed. 8.5
On 18th March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Baum
Visited The Baum for the first time earlier this week. 8 hand pulls at the bar with 6 of those available, including Bass for those so inclined (a beer I have never been that fussed about and don't really understand its cult following). That aside, there were two ales by Pictish (Samhain Stout and Tweed Pale Ale), Vocation Heart & Soul, Thornbridge Jaipur and a Salt collaboration beer called Inndustry.
The Samhain Stout was £3 for a pint (£1.50 for a half) and that seemed to be the going rate for the other cask ales too, based on what other customers were ordering.
This is a comfortable traditional feeling pub with banquette seating, tables (copper topped) and stools, dark wood, stained glass and a nice central island bar. Music was playing at a sensible volume.
My ale was in tip-top condition and I really enjoyed my visit here. I shall definitely be back if I find myself in Rochdale again.
On 24th November 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 830 recommendations about 657 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Baum
I visited the much-lauded Baum on a recent Monday evening when there were a handful of other customers. To the left is a curved bar that supports eight hand pumps (6x cask ale and 2 x real cider) and a premium keg range. The multitude of pump clips on the walls inform those not in the know that this is a destination real ale pub. Seating is found in the right hand-side and in the left is a raised seating area at the front and a raised conservatory area at the rear. Through the conservatory access can be gained to a well-kept walled beer garden at the rear. A small speaker in the garden was playing background music that was also in the pub. The only television screen I saw was showing a list of the available beers. I hadn’t heard of any of them, which is normally a good sign. Pub grub is available, I had the Baum burger which was very tasty and reasonably priced at £10.95.
I found the service to be very friendly and I am pleased to say that this was my favourite of the fourteen pubs I visited during my crawl of Rochdale.
On 4th September 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Baum
This pub is definitely right back up there. We found the pub to have a good atmosphere, with lots of like minded people enjoying a proper pub night out. The beer quality was excellent, along with their good choices of hand pumped beers, six in all, along with two ciders. The Northern Monk Don't Mess with Yorkshire Ale was a big hit on this visit. Also a big thanks to Rob for meeting up with us and leading us here from the centre of town. Cheers Rob.
On 30th July 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Baum
Now taken over by the team that have the Flying Horse in the town centre. A long way to go, but it's definitely on its way back up again.
On 2nd March 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Hurdle left this review about The Baum
I have been to Pubs of the Year before. My local was crowned 2011 POTY. So I knew what to expect! Decent beer, friendly staff. Probably a good score of 8.
As soon as I walked through the door and looked round my score went up to 9. When asked if I had a Camra card without me asking (or remembering!) it went up to 9.5.
When I tasted my pint of Slightly Foxed Flower Fox, my score went up to 10.5! The problem is - the beer vanishes too fast, so I cut it back to 10.
Landlord gone, so rating removed.
On 14th February 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 710 recommendations about 648 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Baum
I'm sorry to report that The Baum suffered a hostile takeover by Simon's ex wife on Monday.
Not only will I not be ordering beer anymore I don't have a local either.
RIP The Baum. It will never be the same again.
On 21st April 2018
- rating: 1
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]