THERE are two red letter days in the pipeline for the Harewood Arms, Broadbottom. The first is February 17 the CAMRA national Pub of the Year Award is announced; the second is March 3 when BBC’s Countryfile names its Rural Pub of the Year.
The homely village pub on the way to Glossop is on shortlists for both honours. Quite remarkable really when it’s only 15 months since the current owners took it over from the dead hand ownership of Enterprise Inns. So what’s the secret?
The formula is simple. These days there is only room for one, possibly two pubs in a village of this size. The rest have gone to the wall. The Harewood Arms almost did until Phil Wild and his family bought it, installing their Green Mill brewery, previously in Rochdale, in the basement. As a brewery tap it brings in the real ale checkers to sample some fine beers, notably 5.5% premium bitter Big Chief, which won gold at the 2014 SIBA national beer competition.
Guest beers and a handpulled proper cider plus a fine range of continental bottled beers complete the drinks roster and there’s an affordable pub grub menu, but the Harewood is a long way from being a gastropub. What it is, on the evidence of our visit, is a real convivial community pub where despite the presence of an awesome jukebox locals of all ages can talk.
Once a multi-roomed pub, it is now open plan but the lay-out retains it cosiness, darts area and pool table at the back, the glorious log fire centrepiece of the main room. In truth the clutter of horse brasses and implements dangling from the rafters is over the top twee. I suppose it might swing the rural vote. The quality of beers could seal both awards for this real success story in a world where pubs go under daily.
Harewood Arms, 2 Market Street, Broadbottom SK14 6AX. Note the opening hours – 3pm-11pm Mon-Thu; 3pm-midnight Fri; 2pm-midnight Sat; 2pm-11pm Sun.
