Author: manchestercamra

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has named the best four member clubs in the country as part of its Club of the Year competition and they include the Greater Manchester Club Of The Year Flixton Conservative Club (which won the award in 2018)

The other finalists include two other former winners, the Cheltenham Motor Club in Gloucestershire (2017) and the Appleton Thorn Village Hall in Warrington (2019).

The Orpington Liberal Club in Greater London is also in the running, which has made it to the final four in past years. 

Continue reading “Flixton Con Club into final four”

A Rochdale pub has romped away with the Greater Manchester Pub of the Year for the second year running.

The Flying Horse adjacent to Rochdale’s magnificent Town Hall was in need of Ben Boothman’s vision when he took it over. Trade at the site started in 1691, but it endured a spell renamed as The Sports before he took the reins.  Ben could see the potential to transform the town centre building to provide a destination for drinkers, diners and overnight visitors, as well as an ambition to become the town’s premier free live music establishment. But a long-term commitment to providing the very best real ales underscored his efforts.

Ben is well-known in amateur rugby league circles as he combined turning out in the green and gold colours of Rochdale Cobras alongside his work at the Flying Horse. It’s a real family success as mum Pat has supported Ben throughout, taking charge of functions as well as finding time to run a popular outside catering business, Quirky Catering. The pub is also a vital supporter of town centre initiatives including Rochdale Food and Drink Festival and the Feel Good Festival.   

Continue reading “Flying Horse gallops to double glory”

On Friday 27th September, the region presented the Greater Manchester Club of The Year award to Flixton Conservative Club, Urmston.

Deputy Regional Director Beverley Gobbett presented the award to stewards Andrea and Pat Doherty.

The stewards who took over in March dedicated the award to the team who run the bar and cellar at the club who have ensured that the club retained the Greater Manchester title for an unprecedented fifth year.

The award was presented during the club’s monthly brewery night in their function room which was hosted by Brightside Brewery’s Carley Friedrich. A second presentation was then made in front of the club’s regular attendees in the downstairs bar.

The local brewing and pub scene in Greater Manchester is booming, according to the Good Beer Guide 2020, CAMRA’s premier publication featuring the very best pubs to find a great pint in the UK.

It reports that across Greater Manchester there are:

• 33 newly featured pubs, bringing the total of surveyed pubs in the area to 159
• Five new breweries, including the Cheadle Brew House, Howfen Brew Co, Manchester Union Brewery Ltd, Made of Stone Brewery and Tin Head

In addition, the Flying Horse Hotel in Rochdale has been named one of the best pubs in the UK, having made its way to the next stage of the competition in the nationwide search for CAMRA’s Pub of the Year.

First built in 1691 and re-built in 1926, this is an impressive Edwardian stone-built free house with many original architectural features situated in the Town Hall Square. Ten cask ales and two traditional ciders are available as is live sports and music. The hotel features log fires and provides accommodation and a function room is available for hire.

It will now compete in the next round of the competition, hoping to be named one of the four super-regional finalists – and stay in with a chance of becoming the overall winner, to be revealed in February 2020.

The Good Beer Guide, which reviews over 4,500 pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinkers’ guide to the very best pints in the most picturesque and friendly pubs. Compiled by thousands of independent volunteers, it helps identify significant trends and themes locally and nationally.

Tom Stainer, CAMRA’s Chief Executive said: “For nearly five decades, the Good Beer Guide has been a comprehensive guide to the UK’s breweries, their ales, and the best outlets to find them in across the country. 

“What makes the Guide unique is that all the entries are compiled and vetted by a huge volunteer team, based around the country. We work hard to ensure that all areas of the country are covered and, unlike some competitor titles, inclusion in this book is dependent on merit, not on payment.

“The Good Beer Guide has therefore always played an important role in acting as a barometer of the beer and pub industry. We believe information gleaned from the Guide is absolutely vital in the drive to save our pubs from closure and campaign for policies that better support the pub and beer industry.”

Discover all of the pubs listed, and more, with CAMRA’s new Good Beer Guide app, available on both iOS and Android device or visit the CAMRA shop for your copy: shop.camra.org.uk 

Rochdale’s Flying Horse Hotel has retained its title of Greater Manchester Pub Of The Year for a second year.

First built in 1691 and re-built in 1926, this is an impressive Edwardian stone-built free house with many original architectural features situated in the Town Hall Square.

Judges praised the quality of the pub’s ten cask ales and two traditional ciders available as well as the welcome offered by knowledgeable staff.

The hotel features log fires, provides accommodation and is well known for its regular live music events.

The runner up was The Brewery Bar, Horwich situated on the first floor of Blackedge Brewery with Stalybridge Buffet Bar taking third place in the voting.