Community Pub

2 related articles grouped into one thread.

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

The Halfway House pub in Royton has been named Pub of the Week after transforming from a struggling establishment to an award-winning community hub. Landlord Vinnie Caira took over seven years ago and completely refurbished the pub, with his daughter Vikki joining eight months later as restaurant manager. The pub now employs up to 12 staff during daytime hours and has won awards including JW Lees Pub of the Year in 2022 and Charity Champion in 2025. Head chef Connor Thwaite leads the kitchen specialising in pub classics and weekend specials. The pub raises over £10,000 annually for Dr Kershaw's hospice and hosts weekly Friends to You meetings for lonely residents.

Oldham pub Colliers Arms overcomes storm damage

The Colliers Arms pub in Chadderton, Oldham, has been named Pub of the Week for its strong community spirit. Landlord Patrick Smith, 33, took over in June 2024 and faced his first major challenge when Storm Claudia in November 2024 brought down trees on the pub and beer garden shelter. The community rallied to help with cleanup, and the damaged pagolia was replaced. The pub, dating back to 1806 when it was called the Slack Inn, offers live sports, music on Fridays, karaoke on Saturdays, and Foster's and John Smith's as popular drinks. Patrick describes it as an 'old school pub' where customers feel they belong.