Award-winning Royton pub Halfway House named Pub of the Week

The Halfway House in Royton has been named Pub of the Week after a remarkable transformation that's turned it into the beating heart of the community. When Vinnie Caira took over the pub seven years ago, it was struggling. Today, it's a thriving hub with 12 staff, award-winning food, and a reputation for bringing people together.

Vikki Caira joined her father eight months after he took over, and together they've built something special. 'When I first started there, it was me and one other girl working in the daytime,' she told The Oldham Times. 'Now we've got up to 12 staff in a daytime, in the kitchen and out front.

The pub's success isn't just about good food and drink. It's about creating a place where people feel at home. The team encourages staff to know customers by name and remember their favourite drinks.

Head chef Connor Thwaite has built a kitchen that's the envy of many pubs, specialising in classics like pies and fish and chips alongside weekend specials. The beer garden has been renovated for summer, and they're already planning for the World Cup. But perhaps most importantly, the Halfway House raises over £10,000 annually for Dr Kershaw's hospice and hosts weekly Friends to You meetings where lonely residents can find company.