A pub in Oldham has just been named the best in Greater Manchester by the UK beer authority CAMRA (The Campaign For Real Ale), leaving its landlords absolutely overjoyed.
Describing the achievement as “amazing”, owners shared the news with followers on Facebook as they wrote: “Just been announced by CAMRA. The Fox and Pine has been voted Greater Manchester Pub of the Year. Now into the National Competition against 16 other pubs around the UK.”
If the pub makes it into the next stage, it could be crowned the best in the whole of the UK in what is undoubtedly a coup for Oldham’s local pub scene.
John Duffin, Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA’s Branch Secretary, told the Oldham Chronicle: “I’m delighted for Chris, Michelle and the team on their victory in what is usually an extremely close vote.
“Winning the ROB Pub of the Year is difficult enough.
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Image: The Fox and Pine Oldham
Image: The Fox and Pine Oldham
“Personally I have participated in local and regional judging for several years and know the competition they are up against.
“It is testament to Chris and Michelle’s hard work and experience to be judged the best pub in Greater Manchester.”
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Proud landlord Chris Riley told the paper it was a ‘great honour’ to be granted the award.
“Michelle and I are delighted to be recognised for our hard work,” he told the Chronicle.
“But it’s not just us. We’ve great staff and a lovely customer base.
Reopened in 2021, the pub marks a new addition to the town centre’s previously sparse real ale scene with ten hand pumps serving various styles of beer.
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There is always one style of dark beer to be found here, alongside various pales, IPAs, ciders and more.
Featured image – The Fox and Pine
Boroughs
Stockport named one of the 12 best places in the UK to retire
Emily Sergeant
The 12 best places in the UK to settle down and spent your retirement have been revealed as part of a new survey by Which?.
And it’s good – and somewhat, surprising? – news for one Greater Manchester borough.
Fresh off-the-back of being chosen for the prestigious honour of Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2023, and also being highlighted as one of two town’s in the region where first time buyers should consider getting their foot on the property ladder, Stockport has now been named one of the best places in the UK to retire.
It’s according to a new survey by consumer group Which?, and it falls in line with the town having been hailed by for its “spectacular transformation” in recent years.
Results from the survey published today have revealed that around a third (36%) of Brits who are ready for, or are approaching retirement, said they had already moved or have considered moving house as part of their “later-life plans”.
Stockport named one of the 12 best places in the UK to retire / Credit: Stockport Market | Stockport Foodie Friday
More than 1,000 Which? members were surveyed to determine what is most important to them when they retire.
Healthcare access (88%) topped the list of important factors for respondents, followed by green space (75%), and proximity to local leisure activities (31%), while many also said they’d prefer to live somewhere with low crime levels.
Experts at Which? then analysed these factors and applied them to find the top-scoring local authority for each of the nine regions in England, as well as in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Each local authority was given a score out of 10 for healthcare, happiness, green space – specifically parks and playing fields – and house price affordability, which eventually identified the 12 locations as the best areas to retire, and picked out Stockport as the North West‘s worthy representative.
It’s all according to a new survey by Which? / Credit: Geograph
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Kirklees, South Tyneside, and High Peak are some of the other places highlighted as retirement hotspots in Northern England.
Speaking on the results of the survey that’s spotlighted Stockport, Jenny Ross, who is the Money Editor at Which?, explained: “Whether you’ve always dreamed of escaping to the countryside or the seaside, the decision of where to retire can be just as important as the decision of when to retire.
“Our latest research has uncovered gems across the UK that would be great places for retirees to consider”.
She also urged anyone nearing close to retirement to start thinking seriously about their retirement plans, and advised everyone that “the sooner you can start financially preparing for retirement, the better”.
“Check your state pension forecast and track down any lost pension pots to get a clearer picture of whether you’re on track,” Jenny added.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 2 – 8 October
Emily Sergeant
We’ve finally waved goodbye to September and welcomed October with open arms.
Not only is it the first week of a new month, but we’ve now also officially ushered in a new season, but while summer may have passed us by in the blink of an eye, that doesn’t mean the fun’s stopped now autumn is here, as there’s still loads of events happening in Greater Manchester to make the most of.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to choose, we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week.
A magical new Halloween lakeside light trail is opening this week, and it’s set to transform the popular Partridge Lakes Fishery in Warrington into what’s being described as “an enchanting Halloween attraction”.
Organisers say the hour-long immersive experience is like “stepping into a living Halloween storybook”.
You’ll be able to see the “mesmerising world of Halloween wonder” come to life as you stroll along a winding path around the lake’s edge that leads that takes you on a magical journey through woodland decorated by eerie and captivating lights.
You’ve only go two more days left to make the most of Oktoberfest 2023 in Manchester.
Albert’s Schloss in the heart of the city centre has been at the helm of the iconic celebration of German heritage in Manchester for the seventh year running, with all the fun of the festival having well and truly kicked off in style with the tapping of the first keg, and now only a couple of days left to get stuck into all the action.
There’s biers, bratwurts, the sound of Albert’s Oompah band, and plenty of the usual Albert’s Schloss debauchery.
There’s a ‘rock opera’ musical stage show about the life and times of former Prime Minister Tony Blair coming to The Lowry this week.
TONY! The Tony Blair Rock Opera is a show for “Tony lovers, haters, and everyone in between”, and tells the story of how one man went from “a peace-loving, long-haired hippy, and would-be pop star” to a “warmongering multimillionaire” in just a couple of decades – with a stellar cast of larger-than-life characters setting the scene.
Co-written by comedians Harry Hill and Steve Brown, the musical is taking to The Lowry stage from Monday 2 – Saturday 7 October.
Luna’s Legendary Creature Halloween Trail gives visitors the chance to get up close to five of Chester Zoo’s most magical species.
Kicking off this Sunday 1 October, and running right up until Halloween itself, the rhinoceros hornbill, Sulawesi-crested macaque, and huge Sunda gharial crocodile are just some of the species you’ll get to learn all about as you make your way around the 90-minute interactive trail.
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You’ll be tasked with helping Luna the witch discover a legendary creature living deep inside the zoo’s Monsoon Forest habitat.
Did you know you can get a pass to visit loads of National Trust sites across the UK for FREE this autumn?
Autumn in Greater Manchester is a wonderful thing, and and our region is filled with places to appreciate the beauty of this much-loved season – but if you were looking for a reason to travel a little further afield to experience everything nature has to offer and see the leaves change colour, then it doesn’t get much better than this.
This is why the National Trust wants to give people the chance to “experience the awe of the season” at no extra cost.
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Autumn at the National Trust / Credit: National Trust
The pass allows free entry for two adults and up to three children, one adult and up to four children, or just two adults on their own.
Find out more about how to claim the limited-time offer here.
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Richard Kelly: A Time and Place
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Monday 2 October – late October
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Richard Kelly: A Time and Place / Credit: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Some rarely-seen photos of Amy Winehouse have just gone on display in Manchester to mark the late singer’s 40th birthday.
The exclusive images of the legendary vocalist are forming part of an exhibition showcasing work by critically-acclaimed music photographer Richard Kelly that’s currently happening down at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the city centre.
Following its unprecedented popularity, the exhibition‘s stay in our city has been extended, and will now be running until the end of October.
Greater Manchester’s new and returning students can get themselves fixed-up with some amazing deals and discounts at the Trafford Centre this week.
All Saints, schuh, and Michael Kors are just some of the brands inside the shopping centre offering big discounts for one night only on Tuesday 3rd October from 6pm-10pm – with live entertainment, experimental brand activation, and so much more also on the lineup.
Fancy trying out some new bars, and restaurants that have opened in Greater Manchester this month?
October is set to be a big month for new restaurant openings in Manchester.
Some of the most high-anticipated launches of the year are taking place this month, with everything from Sexy Fish, that hugely glitzy London establishment that’s moving into Spinningfields at long last, to Louisiana fried chicken legends Popeyes.
Leeds’ favourite ramen house House of Fu is also opening, and there’s a Broadway Diner, where wait staff sing musical numbers at you while you eat.
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You’ll also find new restaurants to check out right across Greater Manchester too.
Museum After Hours is a unique opportunity to unleash your inner child and explore everything on offer inside the Science and Industry Museum… without all the actual kids running around.
Kicking off from 6pm this Thursday, tickets to the one-off event include evening passes to the museum’s showstopping special exhibitions ‘Power Up’ and ‘Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You’, as well as access to the popular Revolution Manchester, Textiles Gallery, Experiment areas, and so much more.
There’ll also be a bar on site serving up a wide range of both alcoholic and soft drinks, so you can wet your whistle while you’re wandering around.
The north’s biggest beer festival is back in Manchester this weekend.
The beloved Indy Man Beer Con (IMBC) is returning to its home at Victoria Baths from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 October, welcoming some of the finest brewers from the UK and across the globe for four days of tastings, talks, and special beer collaborations.
Georgina Pellant -
10th August 2023 
