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 One Eight Six as Manchester cocktail bar finally reopens two years after devastating New Year’s Eve fire
Daisy Jackson
One Eight Six, the Manchester cocktail bar that was destroyed in a blaze on New Year’s Eve, is finally ready to reopen.
The stunning subterranean bar and live music venue has been closed since the very early hours of 2022, when a fire broke out shortly after the midnight countdown.
Terrifying CCTV footage at the time showed balloons across the ceiling catching fire and around 170 people fleeing the blaze.
It’s since been confirmed that the cause of the fire was real pine Christmas trees that were fastened to the ceiling, set alight by celebratory sparklers inside the bar.
Ever since that fateful night, One Eight Six has been quiet – until now.
The popular Deansgate bar is finally ready to quite literally rise from the ashes, having undergone an extensive refurbishment.
Its interior was completely destroyed in the New Year’s Eve fire, but has been reborn better than ever before.
Customers will again enter the bar through a barbershop at street level, with in incredible twisting neon light feature hanging from the ceiling.
The stage is set for more late-night live music at One Eight Six in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupCustomers enter One Eight six through a barbershop on Deansgate. Credit: The Manc GroupOne Eight Six’s original interior was destroyed in the New Year’s Eve fire. Credit: The Manc Group
Then after heading down the stairs you’ll find yourself in an art deco speakeasy, with the stage set for live music until the early hours.
Huge curved velvet booths in shades of pink and red will provide guests with a luxurious night out setting.
One Eight Six has installed opulent black marble floors and glowing light arches too – not to mention a giant ‘One Eight Six’ sign in mirrors.
Walls and pillars have been covered in even more mirrors to reflect the huge mirror ball and stage lights.
Founder Dean Mac said: “After nearly two years, we are finally allowed to be back on our feet giving the people of Manchester what they have been waiting so patiently for.
“Thank you again for sticking with us and supporting our journey this far. This new chapter of ONE EIGHT SIX will be better than ever. Same vibe. Same location. Just a whole lot sexier…”
It’s all looking pretty luxurious – just like before.
One Eight Six will officially open its doors this weekend on Deansgate, with bookings live here.
Namaste Nepal – West Didsbury favourite reveals new look and even more phenomenal curry
Daisy Jackson
Namaste Nepal, one of the best restaurants in West Didsbury – if not all of south Manchester – has undergone a big refurbishment, with new menu dishes to boot.
The family-run business has become a local institution over the last 15 or so years, famed for its comforting, authentic Nepalese food.
For the first time since it opened, Namaste Nepal has had a full-scale cosmetic transformation to become a modern – but still cosy and welcoming – neighbourhood restaurant.
You’ll now find green suede, gold, and marble, in amongst the Nepalese artefacts on the shelves.
Namaste Nepal is known for its menu of curries and street food which takes influences from India and China.
One of its hero dishes is its handmade Momocha dumplings, which are stuffed with lamb mince and topped with a classic peppery, spicy sauce.
There are platters of mixed shashlik, the meat slow-cooked in the tandoor oven; fiery traditional Chwela; and Kantipur Methi, where Tandoori chicken and minced lamb are mixed together.
Curries range from the mouth-numbingly spicy (looking at you, vegetable naaga) to a crowd-pleasing Makhan Chara (aka butter chicken).
There’s plenty to keep vegetarians well-fed, from saag paneer to aloo gobi.
Namaste Nepal has been spicing up our lives since 2005 and is well and truly standing the test of time.
Daisy Jackson -
18th August 2023 
