Church Inn

Lively good value community pub with own brews from big range, lots of pets, and good food; children very welcome

One reader described this appealingly unconventional place as ‘an absolute joy'. He was particularly delighted with the fabulous range of own brew beers and the very good value straightforward pubby food. High up in an elevated position on the moors, the big unspoilt L-shaped main bar at this quirky place has high beams and some stripped stone. One window at the end of the bar counter looks down over the valley, and there's a valley view from the quieter dining room; the conservatory opens on to a new terrace. Comfortable furnishings include settles and pews as well as a good individual mix of chairs, lots of attractive prints and staffordshire and other china on a high delft shelf, jugs, brasses and so forth; TV (only when there's sport on) and unobtrusive piped music. The horse-collar on the wall is worn by the winner of their annual gurning (face-pulling) championship which is held during the lively traditional Rush Cart Festival which is usually held over the August bank holiday. Local bellringers arrive on Wednesday to practise with a set of handbells that are kept here, while anyone is invited to join the morris dancers who meet here on Thursdays. When the spring water levels aren't high enough for brewing they bring in guest beers such as Black Sheep and Hydes Jekylls Gold. At other times you might find up to eleven of their own-brew Saddleworth beers, starting at just £1.50 a pint. Some of the seasonal ones (look out for Rubens, Ayrtons, Robins and Indya) are named after the licensee's children, only appearing around their birthdays; continental wheat beer and dark lager on tap too. There's a delightful assortment of pets roaming around in the garden, rabbits, chickens, dogs, ducks, geese, horses and a couple of peacocks in the adjacent field and an army of rescued cats resident in an adjacent barn. Children and dogs are made to feel very welcome

Reasonably priced bar food includes soup, sandwiches, steak and ale pudding, a range of pies, lasagne, jumbo cod, and puddings such as jam roly poly or hot chocolate fudge cake and ice-creams.