IT is the season for awards. Rochdale’s The Flying Horse, shortlisted for Pub/Beer Bar in the Manchester Food and Drink Awards (narrowly missing out to sandbar), has found consolation, romping away with the CAMRA Greater Manchester Pub of the Year for the second year running.
The substantial ale house next to Rochdale's magnificent Town Hall was in need of Ben Boothman's vision when he took it over. Trade at the site started in 1691, but it endured a spell renamed as The Sports before he took the reins.
Ben could see the potential to transform the town centre building to provide a destination for drinkers, diners and overnight visitors, as well as an ambition to become the town's premier free live music establishment. But a long-term commitment to providing the very best real ales underscored his efforts. It now has 12 handpumps
It's a real family success as mum Pat has supported Ben throughout, taking charge of functions as well as finding time to run a popular outside catering business, Quirky Catering.
The Flying Horse first made the Good Beer Guide in 2002. and has been Rochdale, Oldham & Bury branch’s pub of the year for the last three years.
The Flyer, as locals call it, lined up this year against eight other exceptional pubs nominated by the Greater Manchester branches of CAMRA. An expert team of volunteer judges drawn from the 9,500 members in the region visited unannounced and evaluated the qualities of each. They scored the pubs on a variety of weighted features including quality of welcome, value for money, community focus and – most importantly – the quality of beers and ciders.
The pub is now in the last 16 across the country as CAMRA seeks to identify the national Pub of the Year. Rochdale has form in this race as The Baum – also under Ben's wing now – was a previous champion in 2013.
ToM is a fan of a further Boothman project – The Hare On The Hill in LIttleborough.
The Flying Horse, 37 Packer St, Rochdale OL16 1NJ. 01706 646412.