Us northerners are *simply obsessed* with a good pub crawl, from the Didsbury Dozen in Manchester to the Otley Run in Leeds to the Ale Trail along the train line between the two – and now the Glossop Hop has come to join the party.
The picturesque town on the very edge of the Peak District is packed full of great local pubs and bars, and now it’s created its own pub crawl between them all.
Just 30 minutes from Manchester by train, as you roll your way between these brilliant pubs you’ll have views over the rolling hills that surround Glossop.
Describing itself as ‘a country pub crawl with attitude’, the Glossop Hop takes in real ale pubs, cocktail bars, secret beer gardens and even a brewery.
You’ll even go past some of Glossop’s cultural landmarks, like the mural of Dame Vivienne Westwood, who was born here.
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The Glossop Hop breaks down in to three options, from the relaxed afternoons to the hardcore day-long pub crawls.
There are options to start in Old Glossop, the postcard-perfect part of town with charming cottages and proper traditional country pubs like The Wheatsheaf, The Bull’s Head and The Queen’s Arms.
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The Glossop Hop pub and bar crawl – Oakwood. Credit: SuppliedThe Glossop Hop pub and bar crawl – Oakwood. Credit: Supplied
Then you can walk across to the Distant Hills Brewery for a pint straight from the source and a sunny beer garden.
There’s the historic pub The Commercial Inn, which has been serving pints since 1839, on the way back to central Glossop.
Or if you start from the train station straight away, you’ll be right beside cask ale pub The Star Inn, and near craft beer pub Cask and Kitchen (where you can also order quality pub grub to soak up some booze).
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A must-include on the Glossop Hop is The Oakwood, which formerly had a celebrity clientele that included Ludwig Wittgenstein, L.S Lowry and sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill Cody himself, who used this spot as residence during his Wild West Roadshow tour through the UK.
The Globe is arguably Glossop’s most famous pub, with a rock heritage and an all-vegan menu.
The Glossop Hop pub and bar crawl – Oakwood. Credit: SuppliedThe Glossop Hop pub and bar crawl – Victoria Lounge. Credit: Supplied
The Glossop Hop doesn’t just stick to pubs either – there are cocktail bars like Mixologist and Square West, a hidden bar behind a deli in The Two Hares, and The Beehive with its dizzying array of whiskies and great Thai food.
And no trip to this lovely town on the outskirts of Greater Manchester could be complete without a visit to Harvey Leonard’s, a stunning wine bar with its own wine machine and charcuterie boards.
Steven Dexter from Glossop Creates, which masterminded the Hop said: “It’s no secret that the hospitality industry has borne the brunt of some pretty huge global crises these last few years – from pandemics to rising energy prices, to the current cost of living situation – our local pubs, bars and restaurants have been through the mill.
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The Glossop Hop pub and bar crawl – Oakwood. Credit: SuppliedThe Glossop Hop pub and bar crawl – Oakwood. Credit: Supplied
“What’s more, our pretty town, which is peppered with idyllic stone cottages and lies in the shadows of the stunning Dark Peak, is only 30 minutes away from Greater Manchester and even closer to towns such as Ashton, Stockport and Stalybridge – meaning it’s a great place for a day out and easily accessible for many.
“The Glossop Hop is tailor-made to showcase the very best of what Glossop has to offer in an easy to follow journey around the town centre. There are so many incredible establishments in Glossop and we don’t want to keep them to ourselves any longer!”
Steven continued: “Cheers to an unforgettable pub crawl experience in Glossop! Enjoy the lively atmosphere, meet new friends, and create lasting memories in the gateway to The Dark Peak. We can’t wait to see what people from Greater Manchester make of our venues!”
Beloved Manchester Italian restaurant unveils big refurb
Thomas Melia
Much-loved Italian restaurant Italiana Fifty-Five has just unveiled a beautiful refurbishment at one of its Manchester sites, along with a new menu of fresh, handmade pasta.
Gone is the famous yellow colour palette of this Italian eatery as they swap in a sophisticated and regal turquoise blue at their Liverpool Road restaurant.
This establishment is known for its impressive shop-window pasta making stations where you can see your food prepared live in-store and while walking past outside the venue.
They’re continuing their foodie legacy serving carby creations, like a flaming cheese wheel pasta where staff blowtorch the cheese to ensure it’s as melty as possible.
One of the biggest menu highlights at Italiana Fifty-Five is the cappellacci, which comes in two equally gorgeous forms and much like its English translation, emulates tiny hats.
These cute little plates come in two delicious stuffed pairings – the burrata, combined with a tangy tomato and beef filling, and a salmon with cream sauce and fresh lemon for a match made in heaven.
Beloved Manchester Italian restaurant Italiana Fifty-Five unveils big refurb. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Italiana Fifty-Five as it unveils a new look on Liverpool Road. Credit: The Manc Group
How can you think of anything more ideal than a table full of hearty and home-comforting meals than one that also features an array of beautiful sides?
Usual delights like the burrata on a bed of rocket, tomato and finished off with a balsamic vinegar glaze area great addition to your already faultless food.
Cheesy garlic pizza bread is quintessential when dining in an Italian restaurant, and Italiana 55’s lovely flavour-packed favourite is a go-to when ordering here.
The Liverpool Road restaurant also has a tonnata pizza which uses toppings that are an exact ingredient breakdown of the Mediterranean sauce, which it shares its name with.
In photos: Italiana Fifty-Five has undergone a refurb. Credit: The Manc Group
What better way to wolf down some incredible Italian feasts than with some perfectly paired alcoholic offerings like the classic Aperol spritz, trusted espresso martinis and a selection of fine wines.
Their menu is staying as tasty as ever with their delicious pizzas and pastas, with the new fresh pasta menu available at their restaurants on Liverpool Road and in Didsbury.
Bakery chain Gail’s is attempting to win over Prestwich after spelling mishap
Daisy Jackson
Gail’s has announced a plan to try and make amends with Prestwich after spelling the village’s name wrong on the new bakery’s signs.
The massive bakery chain finally confirmed that it would be moving into the suburb on the fringes of Bury and Manchester, but made a fatal flaw at the first step.
The huge posters are missing the letter ‘T’, instead saying ‘Hello Preswich’.
More than a few eyebrows were raised locally, with people saying it’s ‘not a great first impression for the locals…’.
And now Gail’s is attempting to put things right by offering free tea to Prestwich residents.
In new material released today, they wrote: “Oops… people of Prestwich, we owe you a ‘T’.
“You may have seen how we missed out a ‘t’ in our new bakery signage.
“We’re sorry for the mistake, and to make up for it we’d like to brew you a tea when we open.”
The new advertising has a QR code which people can scan to claim their free cuppa.
Gail’s has also passed its thanks on to ‘local resident Clair’, who actually came up with the suggestion on The Manc’s LinkedIn post here.
With this development, Gail’s has now confirmed it’ll be opening in Prestwich – directly opposite the new Rudy’s – in early 2025, with free tea served then to those who scan the QR code.
Gail’s will hand out free tea in Prestwich to apologise for spelling the village’s name wrongHuge bakery chain Gail’s confirms move to Prestwich – but spells village’s name wrong in signage
Daisy Jackson -
18th August 2023 
