From the Victorian Buffet to The Snug: Stalybridge, Ashton & Droylsden

From the Victorian Buffet to The Snug: Stalybridge, Ashton & Droylsden

On Saturday 17 August 2024, I started in Stalybridge before making my way through Ashton-under-Lyne and finishing in Droylsden. There was a brilliant mix of places along the route, from the wonderful Victorian buffet on Stalybridge railway station to small micropubs, independent bottle shops and newer bars. I visited three places in Stalybridge, five in Ashton and finished with two more in Droylsden. I enjoyed meeting the people behind the bars, discovering different buildings and hearing a little of the history along the way. It was a cracking day out, with plenty to see between the stops.

A Little History of Stalybridge, Ashton & Droylsden

Stalybridge grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, becoming an important cotton-spinning town. Its textile history stretches back to the eighteenth century, when water-powered mills helped transform the area. Ashton-under-Lyne also developed through textile manufacturing and has a long history as a market town, with its streets and older buildings reflecting that industrial past. Nearby Droylsden grew through industry and later became part of the wider Greater Manchester area. Railway links and, more recently, the Metrolink tram network make it possible to explore all three in a day, finding traditional pubs and newer independent bars along the way.

Stops on This Trip

Stalybridge

Stalybridge Buffet Bar
Ol’s Bier & More
Bridge Beers

Ashton-under-Lyne

The Nico Ditch
Hoppy Daze
Browtons
Tapsters
To The Moon and Back

Droylsden

The Silly Country
The Snug

Stalybridge Buffet Bar

I started the day at Stalybridge Buffet Bar, right on the railway station. This is one of those places I always enjoy visiting because the building has so much history. The station was rebuilt in 1885, and the Victorian buffet is one of a small number of its kind still serving travellers. It has been altered over the years, with the conservatory added later, but plenty of the original character remains. It even received a Railway Heritage Award in 1997. It was a fitting first stop for a day that would take me through three towns.

Inside, there are four different rooms, each with railway photographs, old signs and other historical memorabilia to look at. I love places where you can take your time walking around and spot something new in every corner, and this is certainly one of them. There’s a great connection between the pub and the station outside, with the building still feeling very much part of railway life. The later conservatory provides another space to sit, while the older rooms have that traditional station-buffet character. It was a lovely place to begin the day.

There were ten cask beers and eight keg choices on my visit. I tried Truth Be Told from Manchester’s Courier Brewing Co, followed by You, In Weird Cities, their collaboration with Closet Brewing. The latter was a refreshing strawberry-and-mango sour. There were also pies available at the bar.

Stalybridge Buffet Bar is also the starting point of my Transpennine Real Ale Trail.

Ol’s Bier & More

From the station, I walked into Stalybridge for Ol’s Bier & More, a bar and bottle shop that opened in 2021. A year later, it expanded into the former storeroom at the back to create more seating. I always enjoy visiting independent places that make good use of their buildings, and this one has developed its own character in a fairly short time. It was another welcoming stop, with plenty to look at on the shelves as well as at the bar.

The front of Ol’s combines the bar with shelves and fridges full of bottles and cans, while the extra space at the back gives people somewhere else to settle in. It feels different from the Victorian buffet I’d just left, which is part of the fun of visiting several kinds of pub in the same town. There was a friendly welcome when I arrived, and I enjoyed having a look around at the drinks available to enjoy there or take away. It’s a good little stop for anyone exploring Stalybridge.

There were three keg lines, including a guest, and I went for the guest cask West Coast Pale from We Are Wolf Brewing in Oldham. It was a new brewery for me and a very enjoyable pint. The fridges offered plenty more choice.

Bridge Beers

My third and final Stalybridge stop was Bridge Beers, a micropub and bottle shop connected with the local brewery of the same name, established in 2016. I received a lovely welcome from David and some of the regulars. I like visiting places where you can learn a little about the brewery behind the beers, and that is very much part of the appeal here. With its own local brewing connection and plenty of memorabilia, this was an interesting place to call before I headed onwards towards Ashton-under-Lyne.

There’s a small seating area as you walk in, with the bar to the left and bottles displayed on the right. More seating is available in an upstairs lounge, so the pub has a bit more room than you might first expect. The walls are covered with brewery history and other bits and pieces, giving plenty to look at while enjoying a drink. It has the welcoming feel of a proper micropub, helped along by David and the regulars chatting with me during my visit.

Four of the ten gravity-dispensed beers were available when I called in. I tried Down Under, an Antipodean-hopped golden ale, followed by Rakou, a single-hopped extra pale ale. I had planned to visit The Cracking Pint nearby, but it hadn’t opened by 1.25pm, so I caught the bus to Ashton-under-Lyne.

The Nico Ditch

My first stop in Ashton-under-Lyne was The Nico Ditch, a bar occupying what had previously been a leather goods shop. This was a change from the brewery-linked pubs I’d visited in Stalybridge, and another example of an old retail space finding a new use. Ashton has a long history as an industrial and market town, and I enjoyed seeing how its centre now includes independent bars alongside its older buildings. The Nico Ditch made a good starting point for the next part of my journey.

The Nico Ditch has seating on the upper level as well as downstairs, and there are outdoor areas on both sides of the building. I liked the choice of places to sit and the way the former shop has been put to use. There was a warm welcome when I arrived, which made it an easy place to settle in after the bus ride. It’s a comfortable stop in the centre of Ashton, with a different feel from the small micropubs and older inns earlier in the day.

There were eight keg choices alongside a cask beer. I went for Best Bitter from Beartown Brewery in Congleton, a lovely traditional English bitter with plenty of flavour.

Hoppy Daze

Next door to The Nico Ditch was Hoppy Daze, which had only opened that month, August 2024. It’s always good to find a new independent bar on my travels, particularly one that already seems to be getting plenty of interest. On the day I visited, the venue was using its downstairs space and outdoor terrace, with plans to open an upstairs area later on. It felt like an encouraging addition to Ashton’s growing choice of places for a drink.

Inside Hoppy Daze, the main seating area was downstairs, while a spacious terrace at the front provided somewhere to sit outdoors. I was greeted warmly by the staff and enjoyed looking around a place that was still very much in its early days. There were fridges stocked with bottles and cans, and a good amount of choice at the bar. The different spaces worked well together and gave it a welcoming feel, whether you wanted to sit inside or take advantage of the weather outside.

The bar had twelve keg lines and two cask lines during my visit. I chose Mjni Crema Strawberry from Pastore Brewing and Blending, a strawberry-and-lime sour that was wonderfully tart.

Browtons

Browtons was my third call in Ashton-under-Lyne. It began as a bottle shop in 2012 and gained an on-licence in 2015, allowing customers to enjoy drinks on the premises. I always like seeing how independent bottle shops have developed into little bars, and Browtons is a good example. It has been part of the town’s drinks scene for quite a few years now, and I received a really friendly welcome when I called in.

Browtons is a single-room shop and bar, with its bottles and cans on display and a seating area for anyone wanting to stay. There is also outdoor seating at the front. I enjoyed the smaller setting after visiting a couple of larger bars nearby. It’s the sort of place where you can have a good look at what’s available and chat to the people behind the counter. The atmosphere was welcoming during my visit, and it was a lovely stop on my walk around Ashton.

I went for The Wizard from Juggernaut Brew Co, a locally brewed hazy IPA dry-hopped with Citra and Mosaic. Juggernaut was a new brewery for me, so it was nice to discover it here.

Tapsters

A short walk brought me to Tapsters, a pub that had previously been a pram shop before opening in its new form in 2018. I find these changes of use interesting, especially in town centres where former shops and businesses have become independent pubs. Tapsters was another good example along my route around Ashton-under-Lyne. I received a friendly welcome from the people behind the bar and a few regulars, which is always a lovely part of visiting somewhere new.

The bar sits on the left as you enter Tapsters, with a comfortable seating area inside. At the back, there’s a courtyard and beer garden, offering another place to sit when the weather is good. I liked the layout and the chance to look around before settling down with a drink. The pub felt relaxed and welcoming, with the regulars happy to chat and the bar staff making me feel at home. It was another enjoyable stop without having to walk far from the previous venues.

I chose Yakima Valley from Stalybridge’s Bridge Beers, a hoppy pale ale made with American hops. It was nice to find another beer from a brewery I’d visited earlier that day.

To The Moon and Back

My last stop in Ashton-under-Lyne was To The Moon and Back, a corner bar run by Jason, who also owns Juggernaut Brew Co. I’d already tried one of the brewery’s beers at Browtons, so it was great to meet Jason and have a chat. Independent brewery connections are one of the things I enjoy discovering on these trips, and this was a nice way to round off the Ashton part of the day before catching the tram to Droylsden.

To The Moon and Back has a spacious main seating area indoors, with outdoor tables as well. Its corner position helps give it an open feel, and there was plenty of room to sit and enjoy the surroundings. The bar offers both draught choices and cans and bottles that can be enjoyed there or taken away. Jason gave me a really warm welcome, and I enjoyed our conversation. It was a comfortable place to spend some time before setting off for the final two stops of the day.

I chose Cerulean from Edinburgh’s Holy Goat Brewing, a mixed-fermentation blueberry sour. It was tart, fruity and a lovely change of pace before the tram journey.

The Silly Country

I then took the Metrolink tram to Droylsden, where The Silly Country was my first stop. The pub takes its name from a nickname associated with the town. I’d visited several years earlier, so I was pleased to return and see it again. After a day spent visiting new places in Stalybridge and Ashton, it was nice to revisit somewhere familiar. Even though the bar was busy, I received a warm welcome and was served promptly.

The Silly Country has a spacious open-plan bar with plenty of seating inside and outside. I remembered the layout from my previous visit, and it was good to find it still offering somewhere comfortable to settle in. The outdoor area adds to the appeal on a pleasant day, while the main room gives people plenty of choice for sitting and chatting. Despite it being busy when I called in, the staff were welcoming and the atmosphere made it an enjoyable return visit.

There was a good selection of cask and keg beers, ciders and packaged drinks. I chose Get Shronky from Nottingham’s Bang the Elephant Brewing Co, an easy-drinking session pale ale.

The Snug

My final stop of the day was The Snug, just across the street from The Silly Country. The micropub opened in 2023 in a former charity shop, another example of an old retail unit becoming a place for people to meet. It was a fitting finish to a day that had taken me through railway heritage, industrial towns and plenty of independent pubs. I received another warm welcome when I arrived, ending the journey on a lovely note.

The Snug has a traditional-looking interior, with a patterned ceiling, tiled floor and plenty of wooden features. I liked the contrast between this small micropub and some of the larger bars I’d visited earlier in the day. There is plenty of character in the details, and it feels like somewhere people can settle in for a chat. I enjoyed looking around and taking in the surroundings before my final drink. It’s a lovely little place to finish an adventure around the area.

There were two cask beers available, one of them from nearby Bridge Beers. I chose their Mumbai golden ale, a refreshing beer with a good hoppy flavour. It made a cracking final pint.