Experience Rochdale town centre’s finest food and drink

Date published: 12 October 2019

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 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, offering Rochdale’s finest food and drink.

From traditional pub fare and over 60 cask ales on tap to wines and gins at Vicolo del Vino and La Mancha’s Mediterranean dishes, there truly is something for everyone.

Paul Ambrose, Business Improvement District manager, said: “One of the key reasons why the transformation of the town centre has moved up a gear in recent years has been the growing range of restaurants, pubs and bars.  

“These high-quality customer focused food and drink businesses offer a fantastic experience for locals and visitors, they help drive footfall and make the high street a better place for all.”

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Rochdale has got such a strong offer because of the range of independents. Chains are likely to pop up in the Riverside development, but we already have a fantastic choice of family-run and independent pubs and restaurants. 

“We are lucky to have them, and we should all bob in to show our support. Whilst I’ve been the cabinet member for regeneration, through the early evening economy board, the council has been trying really hard to get behind these businesses and this initiative will give the town a real boost.” 

 

 

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.

 

 

The Garden

Recently opened, the Garden’s bar offerings feature real ales, continental lagers, and draught ciders. Classic cocktails, as well as specials and seasonal. Premium gins, craft bottled beers and ciders, along with a selection of premium zero and low alcohol beers.

 

 

Themed as an indoor garden with stone and tree root tables, the Garden plays background classic 80’s and 90’s music.

Open Fridays & Saturdays from 7pm ’til 1 and 2am, just off South Parade on the timber cobbled King Street.

 

 

The Medicine Tap

Located in the grade II listed former post office, with its beautiful baroque-style facade, The Medicine Tap is a brewpub, coffeehouse, grill house and bar located within one of the Esplanade’s finest buildings.

With its backdrop of the magnificent Town Hall, The Medicine Tap offers a wide variety of ales and has recently launched an extensive new food menu.

 

 

The new vault bar is available for hire for birthdays, small gatherings, business events and even weddings. 

With quality-sourced continental food, fine crafted ales and an extensive menu to suit all palates and preferences, The Medicine Tap endeavours to create that perfect ‘going out’ experience that will keep you coming back time after time.

 

 

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.

In 2019, the pub was awarded the CAMRA branch Cider Pub of the Year for Rochdale, Oldham and Bury

It has 18 different ales and serves food from 8am-11pm, seven days a week.

 

 

The Cask and Feather

Located in the centre of the historic Drake Street Heritage Action Zone, which is undergoing an extensive regeneration, you can be assured of a friendly welcome at The Cask and Feather.

Cosy with lots of entertainment, including pool, darts, rock nights, karaoke with televised sports plus a beer garden, this established Drake Street bar has been named as this year’s Most Improved Pub of the Year by Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA.

Expect to find a wonderful selection of lager, cider, real ales, deluxe whiskeys and gins and much more.

 

 

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 third 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.

Situated 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.

 

 

You can find all of the venues through Rochdale360, which combines a custom interface with virtual tours of businesses and places of interest allowing users to learn more about the town’s retail offers, food and beverage outlets, as well as buildings of historical importance using their computer, smartphone or in virtual reality:

• rochdale360.co.uk