retiredmartin

April 2024. Oldham.

Snooker finished just after 1pm due to a tense and tight final frame of the session, and Mrs RM just finished her own work in time to join me for Blackpool Jane’s latest exploration of the Manchester Beer Book.

Oldham has become the centre of the Greater Manchester beer world of late, eclipsing Whitefield, Weaste and Wythenshawe for reasons we will see later.

Sadly, one of Oldham’s triumphant trio of GBG entries was about to close (market hours) as we set off on the tram from opposite Primark, so we’ll have to go back for the Cob & Coal another day, perhaps the venerable but closed Royal Oak might even have re-opened by then.

And Jane would love the Art Gallery.

For now, she gets the joy of the “trees growing out of buildings behind the Tommy Hilfiger tram” art installation.

Actually, at the moment we left the tram at Central (Mumps is more prosaic but further away), Jane was getting notes out of a cash machine, our first Guide pub being resolutely anti-card.

At least 15 years since I ticked the Ashton Arms, and it hasn’t left the GBG since.

And nor will it if they maintain the beer quality we saw on Monday night, though the first thought on entry was “dog”.

A slight, Wellington-style, “fustiness” the only downside to a wonderfully homely locals pub, where Mallinsons at £3.40 was the bargain standout.

I love the welcome, the range of seating,

the giant fireplace,

and the sense it’s not an Old CAMRA Blokes pub, but welcoming to all.

Jane, straight on the pints, had just drained the last of the dark beer, Mrs RM had the pint of Mallinsons, I wimped out with half of Pictish (3.5). Jane and Mrs RM like to drink on a full tummy, I reckon otherwise, so we compromised with a packet of Yummy Yum Pappadoms with chutney dip, the scratchings of the north.

As always, lacings never lie…