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!”
The Didsbury Dozen loses one of its best as The Dockyard confirms closure
Danny Jones
The Didsbury Dozen has lost one of its strongest stops as the much-loved Dockyard sadly closed for good this past weekend.
A favourite among those taking on the popular Greater Manchester pub crawl and a busy bar in its own right along the main Didsbury Village strip, The Dockyard has been a staple of South Manchester boozing for some time.
However, it’s time as part of the Dozen and in the heart of the community has come to an end, with the staff having completed their final service on Sunday, 19 January.
Sharing a short but heartfelt goodbye on social media, they welcomed customers to join them one last time “to raise a glass and say cheers!”.
An unreal beer garden too. (Credit: The Manc Group)
The post begins: “Right Didsbury… Thank you so much for your welcome and custom when we arrived here in the village, but the time has now come to say goodbye. We have had a blast over the last four years and we hope you have too!”
Although many relatively new to the area or at least its drinking scene will only know it as The Dockyard, the venue has actually been under a lot of names over the years.
Originally known as Times Square, it was then refurbished into a branch of O’Neills in 1996 before going on to re-open as The Stokers Arms in 2014.
Nevertheless, it maintained a regular and loyal following as The Dockyard and many will be “sorry to see it go”; one person commented: “Oh no! We had a fab time in here over Christmas and [were] hoping to return soon. Sorry to see you go and I will be visiting your other sites.
Thankfully, they did go on to confirm that the remaining pubs in Salford Quays and Northwich will remain open – as is the Left Bank location in Spinningfields overlooking the River Irwell. Better still, the building itself will still remain a pub and we already know what’s taking its place:
Although there is still no news on when we can expect to see The Salmon’s second venture launch, if it’s anything like the success the Northern Quarter one has seen then we’re in for a treat.
So don’t worry, The Didsbury Dozen may have taken a hit but it’s still intact and there are plenty of other pubs you can work into the crawl in the meantime.
For now, though, all we can say is rest in peace to The Dockyard Didsbury, you were a real one – we’ll always have the memories.
Michelin guide Prestwich restaurant Osma announces heartbreaking closure
Daisy Jackson
Osma, a beautiful, Michelin-recommended restaurant in Prestwich, has announced its closure next month.
The Scandi-esque restaurant has been a front-runner of Prestwich’s ever-growing food and drink scene since it opened in 2020.
Fronted by Manchester born Danielle Heron, who you might recognise from the Great British Menu and MasterChef: The Professionals 2024, alongside Sofie Stoermann-Naess.
Osma has been a favourite among Prestwich locals over the last five years, famed for its inventive small plates and delicious Sunday roasts – but now its time in the suburb has come to an end.
In a statement shared online, Osma said that they have ‘struggled to find experience staff, leaving us with little to no personal life’.
The restaurant has teased a move into the city centre, where it’s hoped the business will be more sustainable and ready to grow.
“This is by no means the end of Osma,” they wrote.
Their kitchen at Exhibition in the city centre will remain open even after Osma in Prestwich closes on Sunday 9 February.
Osma in Prestwich has announced its closure. Credit: Instagram, @osmakitchenbar
Other food and drink businesses in the village have all been sharing farewell messages, with The Pearl commenting: “Prestwich’s foodie foundations will be very wobbly without the OG cornerstone that welcomed the ‘foodie neighbourhood’ accolades. Good luck in town both, we’ll definitely come and visit the new place.”
Whole Bunch Wines, formerly known as Grape to Grain, said: “Absolutely devastating news for Prestwich. A HUGE loss but a sign of their quality that they’re forced to move.”
Osma’s full statement reads: “Neighbours & Friends. We’ve spoken with some of you already, but it’s time to make it official. It’s with a heavy heart, but excitement for the future, that we have decided to close our Prestwich restaurant ahead of a move to the city centre.
“Being fully transparent – we’ve struggled to find experienced staff, leaving us with little to no personal life. We have made the decision to move on to what we hope will be a more sustainable business that can grow, and allow us more time to follow our dreams. This is by no means the end of OSMA.
“We’re optimistic, but it’s bittersweet. After (almost!) five years we have met so many amazing and incredible people, who we’re proud to call our friends and OSMA family. So many of you have kept coming back week after week – we feel honoured and so grateful for your company. There have been hard days over the years and your kindness, patience and good moods have made such an impact on us to keep pushing forward. Thank you! 🙏🏼
“Of course, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our one-of-a-kind staff. Your efforts make OSMA what it is. Even when so understaffed, you all keep moving and help each other get through the day as a team. There’s not many of you, but what you guys can achieve is incredible!
“Lastly, we want to thank our landlord, Tony Freeman, for taking a risk on two 26-year-old girls wanting to open a restaurant. OSMA wouldn’t be here today without him believing in us. You will live on in our memory forever.
“Our last day of service will be Sunday, 9th February. Bookings are open now and we’d love to see as many of you as possible before we go. Stay tuned on our socials as we’ll be throwing a leaving party, too.
“A little housekeeping… gift cards bought after the 9th of Feb 2024 may be refunded to the original payment method, or extended to use at our new site (to be valid for one year after the opening date). Our Kitchen at Exhibition on Peter Street will also remain open as usual, so please don’t be a stranger.
“We appreciate every single one of you… and we’ll be back before you know it! Love Dani & Fie x”
Daisy Jackson -
18th August 2023 
