In the new era of the town centre renaissance, Rochdale is quickly building a reputation for heart-warming food and drink with its vast selection of welcoming pubs, bars and restaurants.
If you have not been into Rochdale in the evening for a while, you may be surprised at the growth of the centre’s food and drink on offer, with a wide variety of restaurants, pubs and bars.
The ‘Alive After Five’ campaign is designed to ensure the town centre is vibrant after 5pm by promoting the food and drink businesses.
Paul Ambrose, town centre manager, said: “Over the last few years, the food and drink offered in the town centre has grown considerably with the likes of the Medicine Tap and the Wellington opening. The town centre is fast becoming known as a great place to wine and dine with friends.
“Recently, we had some German beer enthusiasts visiting, as they had heard we were the cask ale capital of Britain. There are over 60 cask ales on tap which can be found in The Baum, The Flying Horse Hotel, The Wellington, The Medicine Tap and The Regal Moon.”
Be spoiled for choice across Rochdale’s finest venues: Mediterranean dishes at La Mancha, CockaDoodleMoo’s barbecued meats, modern British cuisine at Madisons Restaurant, great cakes and bakes at Touchstones’ Arts Café, the chic Clock Tower dining room in the historic Town Hall, The Riverside Restaurant, plus China City World Buffet and well-loved pubs like The Baum, Medicine Tap, The Wellington, The Flying Horse, the Regal Moon and Yates.
If wine or gin is more your tipple of choice, Vicolo del Vino has a range of specialist wines and gin from around the world.
All venues are within a five-minute walking distance of each other.
The Medicine Tap
Located in the grade II listed former post office, with its beautiful baroque-style facade, Medicine Tap has been lovingly restored by John Stoner, who owns the Mighty Medicine Brewery in Whitworth. Try one of their hand-stretched pizzas or succulent steak burgers, washed down with one of their many craft beers.
With quality-sourced continental food, fine crafted ales and an extensive menu to suit all palates and preferences, Medicine Tap endeavours to create that perfect ‘going out’ experience that will keep you coming back time after time.
The Wellington
One of the most well-known and historic buildings in Rochdale, the grade II listed former Wellington Hotel, once the town’s leading coach house during the Victorian period, was given a glamourous new lease of life in 2017 following extensive refurbishment.
One of Rochdale’s finest gastro pubs with an elegant interior, offering a comprehensive lunch and dinner menu, afternoon tea, plus cocktails, gins, cask ales and fine wines.
The Baum
Tucked away on a small cobbled street on the north side of the town, the multi-award-winning Baum is next to the original Co-op store which today serves as the Pioneers Museum.
Formerly a CAMRA national pub of the year, the Toad Lane pub first opened with its cosy and classic atmosphere during the early 1980s. There are seven ever-changing cask hand pumps and over 30 continental draught and bottled beers.
Home to the town centre’s 'best beer garden', The Baum is an acclaimed ‘relaxed boozer known for its beer’ and for its menu of delicious food, made from the freshest local ingredients.
Regal Moon
Housed in the former Art Deco Regal Cinema, the Regal Moon is the number one pub selling real ale across the entire Wetherspoon estate.
It has 18 different ales and serves food from 8am-11pm, seven days a week.
The Flying Horse
Built in the late 18th century, The Flying Horse is perfectly situated in the heart of Rochdale town centre, parallel to the historic Town Hall.
Serving 10 cask ales and six draught ciders, The Flying Horse is open daily and is widely regarded as one of Rochdale’s premier live music venues, hosting live entertainment every weekend. The kitchen also serves traditional meals, all produced using the finest locally sourced ingredients along with an additional daily specials board.
The popular venue proudly retained CAMRA’s Branch Pub of the Year award for the second year running earlier this year.
La Mancha
Established in 1998, La Mancha Tapas bar is Rochdale's only specialist tapas restaurant, serving authentic Spanish cuisine and vino. On The Butts Avenue, you’d almost be fooled into thinking you were walking the Spanish streets, as La Mancha has truly brought the best of the relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere into the town.
Vicolo del Vino
Located opposite La Mancha, Vicolo del Vino was once an abandoned cellar. The ‘Wine Alley’ has since been transformed into a candlelit wine cellar with a true Mediterranean ambience. Featuring a private booth, grand piano, plus an artisan gin collection, antipasti platters and a wall of wordly wines – perfect for those with a refined palate. Live music every Friday night.
CockaDoodleMoo
Rochdale’s ‘moovellous’ meatshack is all about serving up the very best in barbecue, and having a good time whilst doing so. Expect meaty meals, tasty sides, classic cocktails, craft beers and shakes.
With their own in-house rubs, each piece of meat is smoked using hickory and oak wood in an authentic American style and is also available for delivery with the new ‘Moo to You’ service.
Their two-course Early Bird Menu is available from 4-6pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and features favourite Moo meals with a wide range of starters and mains for selection.
Councillor John Blundell, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Business, Skills & Employment, said: “Alive After Five is exactly what Rochdale needs. We have many fantastic pubs, bars and restaurants who work hard, and they deserve that recognition and local support.
“Rochdale is currently undergoing extensive regeneration, and what better way to show off what our flourishing town centre can offer? Support your local economy and see what Rochdale has for you.
“I whole-heartedly support this endeavour to promote our town centre.”
Heidi Crompton, who runs The Baum, and manager Dan Brett, said: “This is all about bringing the community spirit back to Rochdale. We were on board straight away and it’s so good to see the pubs coming together.
“It’s dispelling that myth that you need to travel into Manchester for a good drink. There are loads of really good places locally that strive for high standards and high quality. Rochdale is comfortable and homely, which is a feeling you just can’t get anywhere else.”
Geoff Dardis, general manager at the Medicine Tap, said: “We are all looking forward to bringing Rochdale ‘Alive after Five’. We are all in close proximity to one another, come down and discover all the great places Rochdale has to offer.
Michael Howarth, who runs The Wellington and Vicolo del Vino, said: “Rochdale is a much more pleasant place to be as the economy and demand evolves. Give it a chance, you would be surprised at the change in recent years.”
The face of Rochdale is changing – and there has never been a better time to experience Rochdale ‘Alive after Five’. See you soon.
13 Jun 2018