Not a vast number of new Guide pubs in Greater Manchester for me this year, particularly in the city centre.
But trips to Burnage, Prestwich, Westhoughton and Failsworth are enough to keep me happy. What art ! What history ! What incomprehensible dialect !
Ah ! Failsworth, the glamorous bit of Oldham (or is that Saddleworth ?)
My first time here for a pub since 13 May 2012, which you may remember produced this never-to-be-forgotten sporting image.
Oh yes, one of the greatest days of my life, and after the trophy presentation I went to one of the great Blues Supporters pubs, the Willow Tavern. It took me 20 minutes to get a pint of Copper Dragon (NBSS 3) that day, but I don’t remember caring.
Since then I’ve thought about doing some of the attractive looking pubs along the A62, like the Waggon & Horses, before a City match; perhaps Tandleman will join me for a pint in this Proper Pub once he’s finished the Sam Smiths pubs in Rochdale.
But the GBG newbie is one of those immaculate Lees estate pubs, a bit like the Lancashire Fold I was only in a week before.
The Millgate looks newly refurbished, and for an open plan all-rounder (and former British Legion) its very well done.
And very successful, with a better mix of folk at 4pm on Thursday than you’ll get anywhere outside of the local Spoons.
Old Boys, couples, mums placating screaming babies. All human life is here.
In fact, the three Bs- betting, bawling and Bitter.
I go for the Bitter, even though the keg taps are shinier.
The big grip glass makes it easy to identify the cask drinkers, about three of them I’d say.
The Bitter is decent enough(NBSS 3) though I find Lees a bit sweet for my Holts taste buds.
Quite how I resisted the lure of the sweets cabinet, I’ll never know. Unlike Spoons, they don’t put the calorie count on display to scare you off.
More unfussy suburban pubs like this please, R.O.B. CAMRA.
retiredmartin 
I see the Waggon & Horses has accommodation -perhaps a nice place for a weekend break when the “contractors ” aren’t about !
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We’ll start a Crowdfunding site to raise funds for you and your hubbie to have a Thursday there in January, Pauline.
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Reasonable rates too I imagine – know you have an eye for a bargain. Also impressed you remembered the beer score at the Willow!
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Remember ? Remember ! They’re all written down on a vast spreadsheet, Duncan, all 11,072 rows of it ! Actually, if it had been a 1.0I wouldn’t have taken it back !
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Know your input in St Albans is on Chinese Takeaways in Hertfordshire (1871-1959) but now wondering if you could put on a fringe event taking us through your spreadsheets.
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If you still have an original set of Supercalc floppy disks with you I’ll load it on my Amstrad.
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I’m not at all keen on that “glass”, in fact it’s an abomination. I’d also say it’s hard to clean and even harder to stack! I’d rather have one of those new Adnam’s glasses, and that’s saying something!
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“I’d rather have one of those new Adnams glasses”
You can say what you like on this blog, Paul, but that’s very close to getting you a lifetime ban !
I’m no fan of the Lee’s glass either. The thick straight glass in the Burnage bar is my ideal.
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Coming up with a new “stylised” glass is like trying to re-invent the wheel, (if it ain’t broke, don’t try fixing it). Yet time after time some bright spark in the brewery’s marketing department thinks it would be a good idea to have a glass which is unique to that particular concern.
For the record, I’m not keen on the new Harvey’s glasses either (there’s one featured on my recent “Perfect storm” post), but they’re slightly better than the Adnam’s offering!
Am I exonerated now??
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Good recovery, Paul !
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I do hope that Armitage Shanks never engage the designer of that “glass”.
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A proper pub! Looks terrific ….almost as good as your City title winning photo. 😉👍⚽
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