Page 15 - Real-Rochdale-07

Flyer celebrates double CAMRA success
The Flying Horse Hotel has once again
galloped to glory, being named the
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Greater
Manchester Pub of the Year for the second
year running.
Lined up this year against eight other exceptional
pubs in Greater Manchester, an expert team of
volunteer judges visited unannounced and
evaluated the qualities of each. The businesses
were scored on a variety of weighted features
including quality of welcome, value for money,
community focus and – most importantly – the
quality of beers and ciders.
Trade at ‘The Flyer’, as locals call it, began in 1691
and it now serves a unique selection of food and
beer to the locals of Rochdale and beyond.
It is presently named amongst the top 16 pubs in
the UK.
This journey of success began in 2011 when
landlords Benjamin Boothman and Craig
Richardson took the reins of the town centre
business.
Ben himself has been a local to The Flying Horse
since he first visited the pub in 1988, before
officially starting work there in 1997 and
becoming manager in 2000. Leaving for four
years to learn more about the trade he was
passionate about, Ben returned in 2007 and sub-
sequently bought the business with
partner Craig.
Ben could see the potential to transform the
Edwardian stone-built premises into a
destination for drinkers, diners and overnight
visitors, as well as having an ambition to become
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the town’s premier free live music establishment
with a long-term commitment to providing the
very best real ales underscoring his efforts.
The Flying Horse is a supporter of town centre
initiatives including the Rochdale Ale Trail,
Rochdale Food and Drink Festival and the Feel
Good Festival, and has been recognised locally by
the Rochdale, Oldham & Bury branch of CAMRA
as its Pub of the Year for the last four years.
In the Good Beer Guide since 2002, The Flyer
was most recently shortlisted as a finalist for
Best Craft Pub at the Manchester Food and
Drink Awards 2019; the ever-growing success
saw a doubling in size of its real ales to twelve
handpumps, with traditional ciders, craft keg and
a selection of foreign beers, making it a drinkers’
delight.
The business has also scooped gold for the past
three years with its floral displays, representing
Rochdale in the ‘small accommodation’ category
of North West in Bloom, and was presented with
a Mayor’s Recognition Award in 2018 for
services to the town.
A finalist for Rochdale Business Person of the
Year this year, Ben hopes to build on his
achievements with his involvement in some of the
larger family-run group of pubs and
restaurants including The Baum, Littleborough’s
Hare on the Hill, and, most recently, the takeover
of The Crown & Shuttle pub in Firgrove, which
re-opened in October.
Bombay Brew – an Indian Street Food and Cask
Ale Emporium – is also set to open soon in the old
Wellington building on Drake Street, under the
operation of Ben and his team.
REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2019