The new landlady of a Scouthead pub has said she has several exciting plans for its future. Jodie Bennett announced she had taken on The Three Crowns in March and reopened its doors after an eight-week closure on Good Friday (April 3). She has already launched a new food menu, which is reportedly being cooked up by a Michelin-guide named chef who has come from another restaurant in Saddleworth. The 42-year-old landlady said that the pub has always been her 'local' and that it had fallen in popularity over the last few years. She said: "It's not had the best reputation in the past couple of years, unfortunately. I'm planning to give it my all and hopefully really get it going again for the co
A housing association has been shortlisted for three categories at the Northern Housing Awards. First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has been recognised for its work across biodiversity, housing development, and retrofit improvements. The Northern Housing Partnership of the Year nomination is for its 'Greater & Greener' project, delivered in collaboration with the National Trust to improve biodiversity in communities. FCHO's West Vale scheme, which includes 62 rental apartments and 26 shared ownership homes in Coldhurst, has been shortlisted for Best Affordable Housing Development (£10m-£20m). The organisation is also in the running for Best Retrofit Initiative or Project for its £5.4 million, t
A restaurant in Lees has returned to its original pub roots and name after a rebrand. The Devi Lounge opened on Elliott Street in 2024, after The Milan Bar, which had been occupying the building, shut down. New signage at the pub (Image: Devonshire Arms) It was opened in a joint venture between the owners of Bad Manners , a restaurant formerly in Grotton and K's Lounge Bar, Grill and Indian Restaurant. The restaurant was opened under the name Devi Lounge in a nod to the building's former life as The Devonshire Arms, which was open between the 1960s and 80s. Inside The Devonshire Arms (Image: Devonshire Arms) Now, the business has gone a step further and fully rebranded back to The Devonshire
Levers Fish and Chips, the legendary chippy at the heart of Oldham town centre, has confirmed its new location. For the last 30 years, the chip shop has been located in one of the outdoor-facing units of Tommyfield Market. Last month, most of the traders inside the market left Tommyfield for good and set up shop inside the new space at Spindles shopping centre. The outside units, including Levers, are still open for business at Tommyfield for the time being, but will soon be moving to new locations. Levers Fish and Chips has now confirmed to The Oldham Times that it will be taking over the town centre shop formerly occupied by BrightHouse. It is located opposite the Home Bargains and next to
Lees Village Service Station in Oldham has asked customers to 'be kind' as fuel prices rise substantially due to the war in the Middle East. The family-run business posted on Facebook that it had 'more or less' sold out of fuel, forcing prices to increase the following day. The station clarified it would not benefit from the price increase and urged customers not to panic buy, noting that 38,000 litres were due the next day. The price rise follows air strikes by Israel and the US on Iran and the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Staff have been asked to be treated kindly during these difficult times, with the business noting that fuel prices do eventually come down unlike many other goods.
Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White has praised Grandpa Greene's Luxury Ice Cream from Saddleworth with a two-word verdict after trying their ice cream at Old Trafford during a Manchester United match against Crystal Palace on March 1, 2026. The ice cream business, which operates parlours on Ward Lane in Diggle and at King George V Park in Uppermill, shared that Pierre White described their ice cream as 'deliciously good' when asked for his opinion. The chef particularly praised their 'classic Old Fashioned White' flavour, noting it celebrates the quality of milk used as the base for their products. Grandpa Greene's expressed gratitude for the endorsement, stating such moments make their hard work worthwhile.