The Baum

Tucked into the historic – and evocatively-named – cobbled street of Toad Lane, in the heart of Rochdale’s conservation area, The Baum is a pub that quietly wears its credentials with pride. The green-tiled frontage and traditional wood-panelled interior immediately set the scene. Once the site of a hardware store, the building was converted into a pub in the early 1980s. From modest local beginnings it has grown into one of the most regarded drinking houses in the area, balancing heritage charm with serious beer and food credentials.

Step inside and you’ll find snug corners, exposed wood-floors, heritage signage and a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. The bar is well-stocked, with up to seven or eight changing real ales on hand-pump, guest ciders, and an impressive bottled and draught beer selection from home and abroad. It’s no surprise the pub was awarded the top honour of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) National Pub of the Year in 2012, cementing its reputation among the region’s most loved institutions – think forward-thinking brewers like Deya, Vocation and Manchester’s very own Cloudwater.

Food at The Baum carries the same practical, unpretentious flair. The menu is built around high-quality British pub classics — think hearty pies, bangers and mash, a classic rag pudding, and twists like a beef and bone marrow burger with smoked bacon chutney. Small plates also feature, letting you nibble your way through garlic-herb mushrooms, hummus with flatbread or house-fried chicken on lemon-thyme aioli. Located just steps from the iconic Rochdale Pioneers Museum, in the building where the cooperative movement began, The Baum occupies a spot where past and present sit side by side. You’ll find a generous walled beer garden at the rear – with covered and open sections – so whether you’re tipping a pint in sunshine or settled inside by the bar, it works for both relaxed afternoons and lively evenings. There’s also a brilliant live music programme, taking in everything from unplugged sessions to traditional bluegrass.

Service and welcome are part of the appeal too. Whether you’re a local regular or passing through, staff engage with genuine enthusiasm about what’s on the pumps, what’s on the plate and what’s worth trying next. The Baum doesn’t feel overly slick or corporate – it has the warmth of a place that still knows its roots. If you’re looking for a pub in Greater Manchester that serves real ale with character, honours tradition without being stuck in the past, and offers food with true good-pub heart, The Baum is hard to beat. In short: it still stands out.