115 The Old Grey Mare - Royton

First  visited  :  22  December  2015

Although  I've  recorded  this  one  as  being  in  Oldham , its  postal  address  indicates  that  it's  actually  in  Royton.

It  had  only  just  opened  when  Simon  and  I  visited  this  morning  so  it  was  understandably  deserted. It's  a  large  well-kept  pub  with  a  games  room, small  beer  garden  and  a  small  separate  dining  area. They  had  a  problem  with  the  freezer  so  we  couldn't  sample  the  food. There  were  some  interesting  old  photos  on  the  walls  and  posters  advertising  live  bands  on  a  Friday. The  barmaid  was  very  friendly.

Simon  liked  it  and  there's  no   reason  why  we  wouldn't  visit  again  if  we  were  in  the  area.

114 The Queen's Arms - Oldham

First  visited  : 1989

This  is  a  sad  one  for  me.

The  Queen's  used  to  be  on  the  corner  of   Rochdale  Road  and  Chadderton  Way. This  junction  is  controlled  by  traffic  lights  so  my  bus  home  from  work  ( 1987-93 )  would  usually  be  halted  there.  Some  time  in  1989  I  noticed  a  poster  in  the  window  for  "Uncle  Peter's  Pop  Quiz",  a  weekly  event  though  I  can't  now  remember   which  night  of  the  week  it  was. It  would  either  have  been  Wednesday  or  Thursday.

Eventually  I  interested  someone  else  - again  I  can't  remember  who  was  first  - into  going    along  with  me  to  check  it  out. This  was  during  my  first  year  of  driving  and  I  always  preferred  company  even  if  they  weren't  drivers  themselves.

Uncle  Peter's  Pop  Quiz   was  very  simple  in  format. He  played  ten  songs  on  a  theme, you  wrote  down  title  and  artist  and  then  swapped  papers  with  someone  else  in  the  pub. If  you  won  you  got  one  of  those  minature  whiskey  bottles ; if  there  was  a  tie  one  of  you  went  up  to  his  deck   and  he  asked  a  tie-breaker  question. And  then  it  would  all  start  again.

More  often  than  not  my  team  would  win  whoever  my  companions  were; the  competition  was  mainly  a  bloke  called  Colin  who  stood  at  the  bar  and  must  have  been  peeved  whenever  I  showed  up  but  he  never  let  on. It  was  actually  a  very  friendly  pub  and  I  remember  one  time  we  went , we  ended  up  playing  for  two  girls  on  the  adjacent  table  to  win  some  prizes. I  often  wish  I'd  made  a  bit  more  of  that  opportunity. I  can't  tell  you  how  often  I  went  now , perhaps  half  a  dozen  times  over  a  three  year  period  ?

Then  the  poster  disappeared  from  the  window. I  rang  the  pub  up  to  check  whether  it  was  still  on. They  told  me  Peter  didn't  do  it  there  anymore  but  generously  told  me  where  I  could  now  find  him. I  didn't  recognise  the  name  of  the  pub  and  never  followed  it  up.

There  has  been  a  lasting  significance  to  my  visits  there. One  of  my  companions  was  a  guy  called  Graham  Mather  who  started  work  in  our  office  at  the  tail  end  of  1989. He  noted  my  prowess  and  a  couple  of  years  later  invited  me  to  join  him  and  a  couple  of  other  guys  at  a  regional  pop  quiz  run  by  two  guys  calling  themselves  Northern  Pop  Quizzes. I'm  still  in  touch  with  them   - one  was  DJ  at  my  wedding  reception - and  met  my  current  quiz  partner  at  one  of  their  Christmas  quizzes. So  thanks  for  that  Uncle  Peter.  

I  don't  know  when  it  closed. It's  now  a  Shisha  bar.  

113 Trap Inn - Oldham

First  visited : 12  December  2015

This  was  a  strange  one.  The  Trap  Inn  is  further  down  Rochdale  Road  on  the  right  hand  side. Having  worked  out  where  to  park  which  took  a  bit  of  time  as  there's  nowhere  obvious, I  approached  with  some  trepidation. The  corner  window  let  you  see  into  a  completely  bare  games  room, there  was  no  signage  as  far  as  I  could  see  and  there  was  a  hole  - possibly  even  a  bullet  hole- in  the  front  window.

I  walked  into  the  lounge  and  it  was  lovely, practically  deserted  but  well  laid  out  and  spotless. I  had  obviously  visited  mid-refurbishment  with  all  the  seating  newly  upholstered  and  clean. The  bar  man  hadn't  much  to  serve, just  a  couple  of  fridges  full  of  cans  and  bottles  and  a  handful  of  packets  of  crisps  and  you  wonder  why  they've  bothered  to  open  up  at  all  before  the  work's  finished  but  hey  ho  it 's  another  one  off  the  list.

112 Spotted Cow- Oldham

Not  visited

We  must  have  been  sitting  upstairs  on  the  bus  to  spot  this  one  which  was  situated  on  a  side  street  some  way  off  Rochdale  Road  as  it  exits  the  town  centre.

111 The Roebuck - Oldham

Not  visited

This  one  was  also  on  King  St  Oldham. It  is  now  an  Indian  restaurant.

110 The Star Inn - Oldham

Not  visited

This  one  was  right  in  the  centre  of   Oldham  on  King  St. It   closed  in  2005  and  is  now  a  fast  food  outlet.

109 The Mare and Foal - Oldham

Not  visited

This  pub  was  right  at  the  top  of  Ashton  Road, on  the  left  just  before  the  big  roundabout  giving  access  to  Olham  town  centre. The  building's  still  there  but  the  pub  closed  down  in  2003.

108 Junction Hotel - Oldham

Not  visited

This  pub  was getting  into  Oldham  proper  on  the  left  hand  side  of  Ashton  Road. It  has  been  closed  at  least  since  2009.

107 The Greaves Arms - Hathershaw

Not  visited

I seem  to  have  just  missed  this  one  as  it  closed  down  earlier  this  year.

106 The Druid's Arms - Hathershaw

First  visited  :  6  December  2015

This  one  didn't  look  too  promising  either.  It's   a  little  further  towards  Oldham  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  road  , tucked  in  amongst  Asian-owned  fast  food  outlets  and  taxi  firms  with  a  Krishna  Community  Centre  behind  it.

I  was  quite  surprised  to  find  it  well  patronised  this  afternoon  with  only  Welling  v  Carlisle  on  the  TV.  It  has  the  one  large  lounge, over-lit  and  cheaply  decorated  but  clean  enough  and  advertises  live  entertainment  at  weekends. There  was  nothing  calling  for  a  return  visit  but  it  was  OK.