Top Places and Services in Bamford

Lovely atmosphere, décor like stepping back in time very traditional.
Spotless and clean.
Well recommend.
Food is excellent.

When the ☀️ is out is there a better beer garden in Rochdale than this? Such a comfortable pub both inside and out with a huge choice of cask ales. Only here for the 🍺

Ran the Tatton Half Marathon, came to replenish with a Sunday Roast and a couple of pints. Lazy, slow paced afternoon, where we ate, chatted, drank and left happy. Top venue, always has been.

Quick Facts:

● CAMRA's National Pub of the Year 2013

● Next door to the Co-op Museum

● Beer Garden

● Dog-friendly

● Can purchase cans to take away

● Featured in the Good Beer Guide

Drinks

The Baum offers an impressive selection with up to 10 keg beers and 8 rotating cask ales, including regulars like Vocation Brewery and local favourite, Pictish.

There's also an extensive range of bottled and canned beers, along with a good array of gins, rums, and whiskeys.

Food

The food offerings went beyond typical pub grub, with quality dishes averaging around £14 for a main. The menu ranged from burgers to Katsu curry, with plenty of sandwiches and sides. The food arrived promptly, and there was ample cutlery provided.

Facilities

While there were no pool tables, dartboards, or TV screens, these weren’t missed thanks to the warm atmosphere. The seating was cosy, and the rustic décor felt like a countryside pub. The walls were adorned with signs, pictures, and posters that wouldn’t have been out of place on an episode of American Pickers.

It was cold the day we went so we stayed inside, but there was a very nice beer garden at the rear.

Service

Service at The Baum was friendly, warm, and welcoming. The staff made us feel at home all night. They offered beer tasters and were enthusiastic about explaining their offerings. Though there wasn’t any seating available when we first arrived, they went out of their way to find us seats as soon as they could.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is where The Baum truly excels, alongside its quality beer. This pub is a social hub where both locals and staff readily engage with newcomers, making everyone feel at home.

One of the highlights of the night was watching Michael challenge the bartender to a game of chess, which was gladly accepted.

Final Scores

Here are our combined scores for the different aspects of the bar. We each gave a rating out of 10, which were added together to give us a score out of 50 for each category. The final scores were then averaged out to give us an overall score out of 50 for The Baum.

The scores:

● Service - 49

● Facilities - 45

● Food & Drink - 46

● Atmosphere - 50

Our overall score for the Baum is . . . 47 / 50

Final Thoughts

The Baum is more than just a pub; it's a vibrant social hub with a welcoming atmosphere, exceptional drinks, and quality food. Whether you're a beer enthusiast, a fan of good company, or just looking for a cosy spot to unwind, The Baum delivers on all fronts. The friendly service, combined with the rustic charm and community vibe, makes it a place you’ll want to return to time and time again. It's no surprise it was named CAMRA's National Pub of the Year in 2013—The Baum is a gem in Rochdale that truly feels like home.

We all agreed it was one of the best night's we have had in a pub. Brilliant place.

Check out our video review at @BarHoppersOfficial on Youtube

Love love love this place food amazing as always service just as amazing. We had a few strange requests but they met them all. I ate the special May the 4th menu and wow wow wow delicious 😋