The Greater Manchester pub in the running to be crowned the best in Britain at CAMRA awards

A pub in Greater Manchester has been shortlisted to be CAMRA’s Pub of the year for 2023. Oldham’s Fox & Pine is in the top 16 for the prestigious title - one of the highest accolades given to Britain’s pubs.

The popular pub was named Greater Manchester’s Pub of the Year at the Great British Beer Festival.

The awards have categories for the best pubs, clubs and cider across the UK. Once all 16 regional finalists have been announced, they’ll be in the running to be crowned National Pub of the Year.

Owners, Chris and Michelle Riley last year scooped CAMRA’s Rochdale, Oldham and Bury Branch Pub of the Year - an award their sister pub Cob and Coal at Tommyfield Market, which they opened in 2019, took home the previous year.

Shortlisted venues are judged on their best beer, real cider and Perry along with the welcome, inclusivity, atmosphere, décor, service and over-all impression. Chris and Michelle believe their varied selection of real ales, which are constantly changing, is what makes the pub stand out.

Michelle told Manchester World: “It’s been amazing and the pressure is on.”

She added: “One of the things you can’t get at home is real ale. You can’t replicate real ale and that is what we specialise in. We don’t have a lot to shout about in Oldham so the locals and our regulars are all behind us. We are very, very pleased we have got as far as we have.”

On its website, CAMRA describes the pub as a “new and very valuable addition to the previously sparse Real Ale scene in Oldham Town Centre” and describes it as a “real ale lovers delight”.

The pub, decorated with a Fox and Pine theme has 10 hand pumps serving varied beer styles, plus six Real Ciders. The pub also features 5 ABK fonts for those who like traditional Bavarian Beer.