Pub snub leaves a bitter taste

THE White Lion, Delph: 250 years of history insufficient for new guide...

LANDMARK pubs with historic pedigrees have been omitted from a new guide... all about heritage pubs.

Although Saddleworth boasts some hostelries dating back hundreds of years, none make the glossy pages of “Britain’s Best Real Ale Heritage Pubs”.

Only two — the Royal Oak in Union Street, Oldham and Stalybridge’s railway station buffet bar — appear in the Campaign for Real Ale and English Heritage guide.

The 284-page book, by Geoff Brandwood, highlights 270 pubs with interiors of “outstanding historical interest”.

In Saddleworth, the Waggon in Uppermill High Street (1831), is famed for its beautifully appointed circular side room — known affectionately as The Oval Office by locals.

Soon-to-retire landlord Adrian Dearnsley said: “The tiling in the gents is another of our historical features. It was highlighted in a BBC Radio 4 programme.

“I appreciate there are some truly wonderful pub interiors across the country, but surely Saddleworth hostelries deserve a mention?”

The Royal Oak at Delph Heights (1767) boasts many interesting interior features - including a bar made from coffin lids.

Oldham’s former heritage champion Councillor Mike Buckley was also surprised Saddleworth pubs had been left out.

“Saddleworth is blessed with some wonderful hostelries, many of these heritage buildings with hundreds of years of history,” he said. “The Royal Oak at Heights, built at the same time as the church next door, remains essentially unchanged from its beginnings in the reign of George III, 250 years ago.

A CAMRA spokesman said the book is their first about pubs selected for their historical significance rather than their real ale pedigree.

“The author and a team from CAMRA’s pubs heritage group have been working tremendously hard over the last 10 years to produce the heritage pubs list and then select the top 270 from that long list.”

The book’s author, Geoff Brandwood, said: “It would be great to have details and pictures of the pubs so we might consider them.”