POPULAR pubs and breweries across Saddleworth are raising a pint to celebrate after being named in CAMRA’s prestigious Good Beer Guide 2019.
Eight from the area are listed among 159 others as being the best in Greater Manchester.
CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide is the original independent guide to good beer and good pubs across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and offshore islands.

It is researched by independent volunteers with every pub, country inn, micropub or tap room featured being visited at least once for assessment.
This year’s edition includes 4,500 of the best real ale pubs, with 36 new pub entries and five new breweries across the Greater Manchester region.
The citations in the guide for the pubs and breweries in Saddleworth include:
• King William IV, 134 Chew Valley Road, Greenfield, OL3 7DD: Six hand-pulled beers are available, including two or three locals, at this traditional stone-built pub. The outdoor cobbled area to the front has seating, heaters and a retractable awning, and is a welcome addition.
• Navigation Inn, 21-23 Wool Road, Dobcross, OL3 5NS: The
Navigation was built in 1806 to slake the thirst of navvies cutting the Standedge Tunnel. A traditional family-run pub, it serves four real ales alongside a varied choice of freshly prepared food.
• Royal Oak (Th’ Heights), Broad Lane, Delph, OL3 5TX: A 1767 stone-built pub on a pack horse route enjoying an elevated panoramic position. The building comprises a cosy bar area with three rooms each with an open fire, and retains exposed wooden beams and a hand-carved stone fireplace.
• Wellington Inn, 29 Chew Valley Road, Greenfield, OL3 7AF: The Wellington is a family-owned village free house with a friendly welcome. The bar features seven hand-pulled cask ales. A varied menu of good-value, home-made food including daily specials is available on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
• White Hart Inn, 51 Stockport Road, Lydgate, OL4 4JJ: A true free house in a classic stone building dating from 1788, commanding impressive views over the surrounding hills
Quality food is served daily in the pub and separate brasserie. Three regular hand-pulled beers are supplemented by three guests.
• Donkeystone Brewing Co, Units 17/18 Boarshurst Business Park, Greenfield, OL3 7ER: This new microbrewery produces craft ales, creating great-tasting seasonal ales with many original flavours in their recently installed, custom built 10bbl brewery. They have a brewery, tap room and shop and offer tours and tastings.
• Greenfield Brewery, Unit 8, Tanners Mill, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield, OL3 7NH: This family-run brewery is sat on the edge of the Peak District National Park and brews with the freshest spring water, adding the finest malted barley and fragrant hops to create a range of unique, award-winning beers.
• Saddleworth Brewery, at The Church Inn, Church Lane, Uppermill, OL3 6LW: Julian Taylor and his family have been brewing in Saddleworth since 1997, when they refurbished a derelict brewhouse at The Church Inn and they now produce eight core beers as well as seasonal ales.

CAMRA is a not-for-profit consumer group that has been operating since 1971, and their vision is to have quality real ale and thriving pubs in every community.
Tom Stainer, Chief Communications Officer at CAMRA, said: “It’s fantastic to see the number of new pub entries in the Good Beer Guide 2019 and the continued growth in local brewing.
“We’ve seen such sweeping changes across the brewing and pub scene over the past year with brewing becoming more collaborative and socially-minded, and pubs continuing to diversify to cater for all tastes.
“This is the 46th issue of the Guide – a book that has become an essential companion for those with a passion for real ale and discovering the best places to find it.”
The Good Beer Guide 2019 is available to order in print for £15.99 at https://gbgshop.camra.org.uk or as a phone app: https://gbgapp.camra.org.uk
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