Oldham pub with 'wonderfully priced' Guinness wins fans

The Willow Tavern on Ashton Road East in Failsworth has been crowned The Oldham Times' Pub of the Week, and locals say it's about time someone recognised what they've known for decades. Manager Paul Cheshire, who's been at the helm for years, says some regulars have been propping up the bar for nearly half a century-with one or two having visited for about 45 years easily.

What keeps people coming back isn't just nostalgia. The pub serves what regulars describe as one of the most reasonably priced pints of Guinness in Oldham, and apparently it's so good that customers who say they're just popping in for one end up staying for seven or eight. The food gets similar praise, with traditional dishes like rag pudding and cheese and onion pie flying out of the kitchen, alongside the chicken casserole and steak baguettes.

The Willow isn't just about drinking and eating though. It's become a proper community hub with darts teams for both men and women meeting weekly, quiz nights, poker on Thursdays, and live sports showing regularly. Weekends get livelier with karaoke and disco nights, plus various live music acts throughout the year.

Paul's particularly proud of their cleaner who's been with them for 27 years-though she's soon moving on. He says she gets loads of positive feedback about how clean and welcoming the place is. Open daily from midday to midnight, The Willow Tavern has managed to maintain that rare combination of being both a proper local boozer and a clean, well-run establishment that appeals to all ages.