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The Baum, Rochdale
Rochdale
OL12 0NU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Baum
A cracker of a pub. Descriptions are elsewhere but this is a must if you're in Rochdale. Highly recommended.
On 13th August 2015
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Baum
There isn't a huge amount which can be added to the existing reviews here or from CAMRA given The Baum's former Pub of The Year status.
I was staggered to learn from ROB Camra, the font of all Baum knowledge, that the pub only became a pub in the '80's having previously been a hardware store. It feels like a proper pub which has been here forever which is testament to the thought which went into the pub in the first place. It's a very comfortable place to be with friendly and efficient staff, relaxed and chatty locals and the odd celebrity fitting right in without any fuss.
Mr. F lists the beers which were available on our visit and both the Silver Street Wild Flower and Green Mill Delta Star IPA were excellent ales in very good nick. The pricing policy is interesting with everything, no matter the strength, being priced at £3.00 on the basis that it all evens out in the end and makes life much easier all round. There's also a 40p discount per pint for CAMRA members which is offered by the staff rather than you having to ask. I think I remember those numbers correctly but it certainly makes the quality ale look exceptional value.
I really liked The Baum and it fully deserves it's awards. A great pub and a real ale oasis.
On 22nd July 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Baum
What more can be said about this award winning pub? My overriding impression was the way a real pub atmosphere has been retained,the barmaids were helpful and charming,service was spot on,and regulars are a friendly bunch always up for a chat.You could even watch World Cup football being screened discretely without this ruining the atmosphere for others in the wide clientele base who come in here for other things.It's been lovingly converted from a hardware store over the last 30 years but appears to have been a pub for ever.Numerous features of interest abound,I particularly liked the enamel cigatette adverts and the impressive rear courtyard and garden beyond the conservatory,there is a boules league in operation in the area and the Baum has a team.
I was lucky enough to get a guided tour from ROB Camra to the first floor rooms which are available for private hire.The committee room is impressive and there is a small serving bar up there,it all beautifully wood clad.
The pub prides itself on local food ingredient sourcing,and although we didn't have a meal even the crisps and pork scratching have been carefully selected for quality and sourced from the area.
Walking around the bar ,I think I spotted 8 handpumps with two drawing from the Marston's portfolio as part of a supply agreement,Ringwood Old Thumper and Marstons Charge on my visit.Phoenix Spotland seems a regular given the Rochdale FC connection leaving 5 rotating guests including Black Hole Apollo,Green Mill Delta Star IPA,Silver Street Brewing Wild Flower and Bootleg Brewing Metro Pirate on my trip.The guests are drawn from many local micros and the Meet to Brewer evenings attest to the commitment to seeking out intersting ale.I also spotted a perry on handpump.Beer quality was top notch.
I have only scratched the surface,this is a Rochdale institution and if I lived locally,this would be my local.You just have to visit.
On 18th July 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Baum
Situated in a pleasant local conservation area, this is a cosy little pub, nicely hidden away from the bustle of the town centre. The interior is somewhat larger than it first appears, with the simple U shaped layout extending into a conservatory area at the rear, whilst a compact raised seating area at the front left makes good use of the available space. There is a mix of wooden and stone flooring as well as wood panelled and bare brick walls which have been decorated in places with a selection of old metallic signs. Fireplaces either side of the bar have been bricked up which is a bit of a shame, but the one on the left hand wall is still an attractive feature thanks to its detailed surrounds. There are some nice stained glass windows, including one in the door that seems to lead to the first floor restaurant, which bears the image of a tree with the pub’s name written in the branches. A couple of TV screens were showing the afternoon’s FA cup tie between Sunderland and Arsenal with music playing quietly in the background. The conservatory leads out into what looks like a surprisingly large walled garden, although in the half light of the evening, it was difficult to get a good look.
Eight handpulls were dispensing a good variety of ales which on my visit consisted of Taylor Golden Best, Phoenix Navvy, Marble Draft (£2.70) and Dobber, Fuggleston FSB, Boggart Cascade, Hornbeam Black Coral Stout plus Valley Gold Pure North Cider. The beers I tried were all in excellent condition, with the Draft in particular being a wonderful pint. I also noticed a fairly lengthy bottled beer menu, with a good mix from around the world at very reasonable prices that puts some of London’s ‘craft’ beer bars to shame for charging so much for the same product.
The pub is quite well position for away fans visiting Rochdale’s Spotland ground given that it is roughly halfway between the stadium and train station, thus breaking up an otherwise long and uninspiring walk. Regardless of this, I would gladly go well out of my way to drink in this pub again, as it has just about everything you could ask for from a good community pub.
On 26th February 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Baum
I can well believe this is the best pub in Rochdale, although ROBCamra describes it well as "wine bar meets real ale bar". A U shaped room decorated in Victorian style convincingly made to look the part with dark wood, anaglypta/lincrusta ceilings and a fine Jacobean style fireplace. It was very lively even on a late Friday afternoon, the four liveried staff coping well with what looked like a lot of groups of office/shop staff, so big faltering orders for Chardonnay and J2O as well as the fine range of very well kept microbreweries beers on the six handpumps or the selection of european and UK beers both prosaic and interesting. A bit of a walk from the railway station but a haven of fine ale.
On 18th July 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
peter ashworth left this review about The Baum
ROB from Camra says it all in his comments,the pub is supurb I tried a pint of The Grease Band Pale Ale (4.7) which went down a treat. Definitely worth a visit
On 28th April 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2318 recommendations about 2274 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Baum
This is my local, it’s not my closest pub being about a mile from where I live, but it’s my local, because it’s such a good pub.
It’s next door to the Co-op Museum in the conservation area so it looks the part. Wine bar meets real ale bar feel with wood panelling and floors, has old metal adverts all over the walls along with hundreds of pump clips from past guest ales. It’s one large horseshoe shaped room really, but with several distinct areas including a conservatory. Large walled garden with 2 boules pistes and lots of bench seating out the back.
Has 6 handpumps selling ever changing guests which always include one from Phoenix and a real cider. Large range of bottled beers from around the world and a good selection of wines. Also does food throughout the day, both tapas and larger meals.
GBG regular and won the Rochdale, Oldham & Bury CAMRA Pub of the Year award for 2009. What can I say, it’s the best pub in Rochdale, come along and try it.
On 31st December 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Baum
Coach House Farriers Best, Phoenix Mid-Summer Madness, Slaters Queen Bee, Holts Humdinger, Coach House Dick Turpin, in banks of 3 at front & 2 to side, the front bank double-clipped. I wasn't really in review mode but, in deference to ROBCamra & kindly guv Simon, the sketchy notes state wood-floored, L-shaped bar, lots of old pumpclips on display, up a step to an open snug area, my exclamation mark presumably suggests the red-cushioned settles are quite bright(?), to the rear a good conservatory, and beyond to a large outside area with the surprise of two boules pistes - that's right folks, a petanque league is alive & well in the Dale! Old tin adverts decorate the walls, I have a vague memory of an upright piano (unsupported by notes). You would deffo need local knowledge to find, hidden behind the central of 3 menu boards between door & bar, a great old photo of the shop that the place used to be (notes fail again, but hardware store, I think), anyway very well done to those who made the transition to the fine pub it has now become. I reckon the walk back to stn is ~a mile, so leave more time for your train than I did, or take a cab but don't try to offload yr mexican pesos round here!
On 30th July 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]