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!”
A huge new Irish bar has opened in Manchester city centre (yes, another one)
Daisy Jackson
There’s another new Irish pub in Manchester city centre, this time on one of our busiest nightlife strips, Peter Street.
Katie O’Brien’s has officially thrown open the doors to its enormous two-storey venue, taking over and transforming the former Peaky Blinders bar.
Inside, there are three bars pouring both Guinness AND Murphys, a huge elevated stage on its own mezzanine level, which will host live musicians seven nights a week, and walls packed with decor transporting you to the Emerald Isle.
The makeover they’ve given this massive unit really is quite something, creating all sorts of cosy corners and snug areas where you can nurse a pint of stout.
Faux fireplaces, leather booth seating, and low ceilings all set the tone for a relaxed pint in the snugs.
Or if you want something a little livelier, head to the heart of the bar, where you can dance the night away to the live entertainment above your head.
Manchester’s Katie O’Brien’s is set to be their largest Irish bar yet, with existing locations all over the UK, including in Leeds and Sheffield.
Their rapid expansion has now brought them to the heart of Manchester, where they’ll be neighbouring bustling nightlife spots like Albert’s Schloss, Manahatta, and Impossible.
Katie O’Brien’s has opened on Peter StreetIt’s taken over the old Peaky Blinders barCosy snugs in Katie O’Brien’sIt serves both Murphy’s AND Guinness
The venue has taken over what was once the Peaky Blinders bar, which shut down back in March.
The previous occupier had themed its venue and menu around the hit gangster show, with cocktails named after characters.
They wrote at the time: “It is with an extremely heavy heart that we unfortunately have to announce the closure of Peaky Blinders Manchester with immediate effect. On behalf of our entire team, we are truly thankful to every guest who has stepped through our doors since opening in 2018.
“We are devastated it has had to end this way, but grateful for the journey. Thank you so much for your continued support over the years. It’s been a blast, Manchester!”
Katie O’Brien’s is open now on Peter Street in Manchester.
One of Manchester’s most popular brunch spots is opening its second location
Daisy Jackson
A brunch spot with queues down the street, and an edible Labubu French toast on the menu, is opening a second location this summer.
Bruncho has revealed plans to expand from its home on Deansgate and take on the Northern Quarter.
The all-day brunch cafe is set to move into the huge unit left empty by the shock closure of Feel Good Club.
Bruncho is known for its brunch dishes that have a real knack for going viral on social media, including New York-style breakfast rolls in croissant bread; fresh coconut water and matcha served in the coconut; and its absolutely stacked French toasts.
It’s consistently packed out at its original location on Deansgate, and now it’s taking over a 4,378 sq ft unit in the Northern Quarter too, set to open this June.
Omer Umut Mutlu, owner of Bruncho, said: “Manchester has shown Bruncho so much love, and expanding into the Northern Quarter feels like the natural next step for us.
“Hilton House gives us the space to elevate what we do – more covers, more events, and a new home for the kind of food and atmosphere people will make the journey for.
The viral Labubu French toast at Bruncho in ManchesterA breakfast spread at Bruncho
“We’re excited to bring something fresh to the neighbourhood, with the opening scheduled for June 2026.”
Paul Shakeshaft, Head of Property Management at CERT, commented: “We’ve found the ideal tenant to join the Hilton House community. Bruncho provides a new focal point for the building and for the community.
“They’re a fantastic operator with big plans that bring the right fit and the right atmosphere to the building and neighbourhood.
“Signing Bruncho brings Hilton House back to full occupation, including a full refit in just seven months, underpinning our neighbourhood vision for our commercial properties, and their continued success and appeal far beyond their completion.”
Bruncho will open their second Manchester cafe in the Northern Quarter this June.
Daisy Jackson -
18th August 2023 
