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!”
Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display
Daisy Jackson
Spring has really sprung in Salford – legendary pub The Black Friar has just revealed a sensational makeover, with gigantic flowers sprawled across its frontage and a new seasonal menu to go with it.
The historic pub is celebrating the changing of the seasons with both a striking floral installation and a menu that celebrates spring and Salford in equal measure.
Most Mancs will by now have spotted the 4,000 flower-strong installation that now adorns the front of The Black Friar, with bright pink, yellow and purple flowers spilling from a gigantic pink tap.
And all those florals continue inside, with the pub’s Tavern – previously a cosy winter hideaway – now filled with trailing blooms and woodland installations, just off their award-winning garden.
Cheshire-based artist Kelly Louise Chapman is the woman behind this sensational transformation of the much-loved gastropub.
As for the pub’s kitchen, they’ve crafted a new very seasonal and very British menu, with plenty of nods to Black Friar’s Salford roots.
There are dishes like a Boddingtons braised ox cheek (the pub still proudly displays its Boddingtons sign outside), aged beef tartare, butternut squash and ricotta tortellini, and pan-roasted cod fillet.
Spring small plates at The Black Friar pubDelicious spring drinksInside The Tavern at The Black Friar
A popular item from the Valentine’s Day menu – the Cornish crab vol-au-vent – will be sticking around on the spring menu, along with an enhanced grill section that includes a lamb Barnsley chop cooked over coals.
Then for desserts, you’ll be spoilt with a banoffee knickerbocker glory, and passionfruit panna cotta.
And for drinks (because this is a pub, after all), The Black Friar has put together a range of seasonal drinks like a rose sangria sharer, and non-alcoholic sodas like kaffir lime and coconut.
Ben Chaplin, head chef at The Black Friar, said: “This new menu is all about celebrating the best of spring produce.
“We’ve carefully crafted each dish to highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavours, adding new depth to our offerings while still delivering the comfort that will always be associated with The Black Friar.
“My top recommendation and personal favourite dish is the Slow-Cooked Boddingtons Braised Ox Cheek.”
Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, commented: “We wanted to bring a taste of spring to The Black Friar, inside and out. This floral installation will transform the space and bring sunshine and smiles, whatever the weather!
“My top recommendation on the new menu is the Cumbrian Spiced Lamb Scotch Egg. It’s EXCEPTIONAL.”
To find out more about The Black Friar and to book a table, visit HERE.
Team behind award-winning Higher Ground to open new Bar Shrimp seafood bar in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Higher Ground, one of Manchester’s very top restaurants, is to open a brand-new seafood bar later this year.
With Bar Shrimp, they’ll be bringing a brand-new offering to town, with cocktails, beers on tap, British seafood and snacks.
Bar Shrimp will come from Daniel Craig Martin, Joseph Otway and Richard Cossins, who at this point are a well-oiled operational machine.
They’re the team behind proudly British bistro Higher Ground, which grows much of its own produce at its Cinderwood Market Garden and earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand within a year of opening.
The same team are also behind Flawd, the beautiful waterside wine bar at Ancoats Marina.
And they’ve cemented themselves as one of Manchester’s most widely acclaimed hospitality teams – even Rick Stein says Higher Ground is one of the best places to eat in the entire country, which is high praise indeed.
Bar Shrimp, set to open in Manchester this winter, aims to be a ‘relaxed and focused bar with delicious food’.
They say: “Whether it’s a beer after work, some food with friends or after dinner drinks late into the night, Bar Shrimp will be a dynamic space where the music and energy evolves throughout the evening where everyone and anyone can come together for a memorable experience.”
They announced the news this morning on Cerys Matthews’ BBC 6Music Show.
British seafood with a side of cocktails? Sounds alright to us.
A location, opening date and more info on Bar Shrimp will follow – stay up to date with their latest HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
18th August 2023 
