Branch 50th Anniversary

2025 sees the 50th Year of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury Branch. A small Sub Committee, chaired by Viv Cooper has a number of recommendations as to how we will mark this milestone. Monthly meetings are being held to discuss progress and as plans come to fruition, they are being publicised on the Branch Diary section of this site, and also contained in CAMRA Calling newsletter mailings.

Branch Golden Anniversary Celebrations

Below is a list of celebratory events:

• Commemorative polo shirts were commissioned and several members have already purchased these.

• Anniversary Celebration at the Cross Keys, Uppermill on 25th March

• A Members only preview Social event on the evening before Oldham Beer & Cider Festival on Thursday 10th April. This included a big-screen showing of film taken at 12th Bury Beer Festival in the very early 1990's

• A cask of Wakey Wakey 50 Winks, a Ruby Mild at 5%, celebrating our milestone anniversary was generously gifted to Oldham Beer and Cider Festival. Many Thanks to Antony and Leanne at Wakey Wakey Brew Co.

• A display of memorabilia/records collected over the years by keen members was on display at Oldham Beer and Cider Festival

• A guest speaker from Runaway Brewery in Stockport was booked to talk at OBCF about KeyKeg beer, and allow comparison samples of the same beer in Cask and KeyKeg dispense. Regrettably, the speaker had to withdraw at the last minute, but sampling of beers still took place.

• It is hoped that Phoenix Brewery's Tap House will be open for business this year so that a Social visit can be arranged

• A Pub Quiz night will be held in the upstairs Court Room at The Flying Horse on Tuesday 23rd September

• Articles throughout the year in “More Beer” recalling memories of beer Festivals and other matters of interest gathered from the last 50 years. ​Additionally, a series of "pull-out and keep" booklets giving Names, Addresses and Operating Companies of ALL current Real Ale pubs in our Branch Area are being produced. There will be one for each of the three town areas, Rochdale, Oldham and Bury.

• Members supported the IndieBaum Beer Festival in St Mary in The Baum Church, Toad Lane, Rochdale 13 & 14 June

• Special Award Certificates are being presented to certain pubs that have won inclusion in The Good Beer Guide for over 20 years of our 50 year history (See details under Socials on our Branch Diary page)

• Social outings in each of the three Towns in our area will be organised and publicised under Socials on our Branch Diary page

• A Social outing by Tram will be arranged in which a visit will be made to selected pubs along the route, to include pubs in each of the three towns of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury (Details will be published under Socials on the Branch Diary page)

• A Christmas Social will be held after the December Branch Meeting Tuesday 2nd December

• Members may wish to support pubs in the area during the Saddleworth Rushcart weekend 22nd to 24th August

• There will be a Tutored Cider & Perry Tasting to be held at Our Gracie's in Rochdale on Tuesday 21st October (See details under Socials on the Branch Diary page)