Rochdale lock 1 - 24 closed

[noddyboater]

22 hours ago, LadyG said:

Lol, im on the services, which is allowed, sort of ..........

If you're still there at the weekend I'll have that new year drink!

Sorry I missed your invitation at the time, I was laid up and rather ill. 

I prefer the Fox, bit quieter than the Golden Lion. 

[LadyG]

22 minutes ago, noddyboater said:

If you're still there at the weekend I'll have that new year drink!

Sorry I missed your invitation at the time, I was laid up and rather ill. 

I prefer the Fox, bit quieter than the Golden Lion. 

Looks like its the Fox then....

I'd really like to get to the summit this year, might ge a long wait ...

6 hours ago, dmr said:

You might be there for a few days or even longer. If weather is dry and warm then the wharf can get lively at weekends with Golden Lion overspill. This can go on all night. Its mostly at the pub end but people might visit your end for a wee, a smoke, or even sex on the bench (thats right outside your boat)😀. There is little trouble but if all night noise bothers you then it might be better to move to the other side. If you are still lighting a fire then go to either end rather than the middle so that you are not right below the house. There have been complaints in the past though I think the owners might have changed 

Its a bit noisy from 13.00 to 24.00. Im not too near the infamous bench.

Edited April 10, 2025 by LadyG

[noddyboater]

10 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Looks like its the Fox then.... id really like to get to the summit...... , this year!

The summit is a good walk from Todmorden!

Take your own refreshments though, the pub is crap.

[IanD]

3 minutes ago, noddyboater said:

The summit is a good walk from Todmorden!

Take your own refreshments though, the pub is crap.

The pub was friendly and the beer was fine when we were there, didn't eat there though...

Edited April 10, 2025 by IanD

[noddyboater]

12 minutes ago, IanD said:

The pub was friendly and the beer was fine when we were there, didn't eat there though...

The beer was appalling last time I called in.

The "sample jars" in front of the pumps looked exactly like what most beer drinkers produce first thing in the morning.

All three full of cloudy opaque liquid, not changed in days, possibly weeks. 

All three beers - yes I did stupidly try them! were like vinegar. One was aptly called Penicillin. A helpful local pointed out that I'd be needing some if I drank any.

Why have 3 pumps on if you can't look after one? 

 

[dmr]

20 minutes ago, noddyboater said:

The summit is a good walk from Todmorden!

Take your own refreshments though, the pub is crap.

The Summit Inn has acceptable beer, decent unpretentious pub food and some good old pictures of canal and local history on the walls. Its friendly. But its just not right, the lighting is all wrong and there is bad music coming out of LoFi speakers in the ceiling, it sometimes feels like an old peoples dining room. Its frustrating because with a few changes it could be really good.

And Warland (lock 35) to the Golden Lion is exactly a one hour walk----I know this 😀

10 minutes ago, noddyboater said:

The beer was appalling last time I called in.

The "sample jars" in front of the pumps looked exactly like what most beer drinkers produce first thing in the morning.

All three full of cloudy opaque liquid, not changed in days, possibly weeks. 

All three beers - yes I did stupidly try them! were like vinegar. One was aptly called Penicillin. A helpful local pointed out that I'd be needing some if I drank any.

Why have 3 pumps on if you can't look after one? 

 

Ive not been in for a few months, it used to be Wainwrights beers which are usually adequate but not exciting. I did read that the Mega Beer Company who own Wainwrights were going to stop making it so maybe things have changed.

Beer does go very downhill west of Tod.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

10 minutes ago, noddyboater said:

The summit is a good walk from Todmorden!

Take your own refreshments though, the pub is crap.

I’d keep going down to the otherside the Red Lion at Littleborough, 

a pub stuck in a time warp

(or was)

 

[IanD]

47 minutes ago, 5239 said:

I’d keep going down to the otherside the Red Lion at Littleborough, 

a pub stuck in a time warp

(or was)

 

Certainly their prices were, last time I was there... 🙂 

[LadyG]

8 hours ago, dmr said:

You might be there for a few days or even longer. If weather is dry and warm then the wharf can get lively at weekends with Golden Lion overspill. This can go on all night. Its mostly at the pub end but people might visit your end for a wee, a smoke, or even sex on the bench (thats right outside your boat)😀. There is little trouble but if all night noise bothers you then it might be better to move to the other side. If you are still lighting a fire then go to either end rather than the middle so that you are not right below the house. There have been complaints in the past though I think the owners might have changed now.

Ive had a reply from my ten day overstay request pointing out I don't need it, fair enough, but I dont think i can stand the Golden Lion noise for very much longer! I have to say no one in Tod seems to have a job, the pubs and cafés are busy from 10.00am to midnight.

I might be able to change my mooring, but at least I'm afloat where i am, it could be a lot worse.

 

Edited April 10, 2025 by LadyG

[dmr]

59 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Ive had a reply from my ten day overstay request pointing out I don't need it, fair enough, but I dont think i can stand the Golden Lion noise for very much longer! I have to say no one in Tod seems to have a job, the pubs and cafés are busy from 10.00am to midnight.

I might be able to change my mooring, but at least I'm afloat where i am, it could be a lot worse.

 

We were discussing this just this afternoon, there are loads of cafes in Tod and they are all busy.  I like the Lion a lot but are not keen on the weekend DJ events, not my sort of music and too much youth from Manchester, though the reggae/dub events are good. Best approach is a few early evening pints then leave before the music starts. Ticket only events don't usual start till 8 or later.

If you go on 'tother side near (or even on) the lock landing you will be almost out of earshot. People also moor on the next pound up but its not very pretty.

[LadyG]

5 hours ago, LadyG said:

Looks like its the Fox then....

I'd really like to get to the summit this year, might ge a long wait ...

Its a bit noisy from 13.00 to 24.00. Im not too near the infamous bench.

I've had to put the engine on to discourage action on the bench, a few bursts of blue smoke killed the moment

And the guy who has been learning to play bongo drums for two hours has given up

Edited April 10, 2025 by LadyG

[haggis]

1 hour ago, LadyG said:

I've had to put the engine on to discourage action on the bench, a few bursts of blue smoke killed the moment

And the guy who has been learning to play bongo drums for two hours has given up

spoilsport! 

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

2 minutes ago, haggis said:

spoilsport! 

Yeah, if you can’t beat them join them,

 

But it sounds like they have been beaten 😃

[Steve Manc]

Had a drink at the Ship Inn, Rochdale on Wednesday. I believe lock 58 is next to the pub. There was plenty of water passing through the by wash heading towards Manchester.

 

[dmr]

6 minutes ago, Steve Manc said:

Had a drink at the Ship Inn, Rochdale on Wednesday. I believe lock 58 is next to the pub. There was plenty of water passing through the by wash heading towards Manchester.

 

 

I quite like the Ship.  There will be very few/No boats using the Manchester side of the Rochdale at the moment which will help with the water. Its interesting as I believe that the entire Rochdale/Manchester end is fed only from the summit (and Hollingworth at Littleborough) while the Yorkshire side has a few additional feeds but has more water issues. The Manchester side does ok as long as nobody messes it up.

 

I think the ship is between Locks 54 and 55?

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

7 minutes ago, dmr said:

I think the ship is between Locks 54 and 55?

the Ship that only takes cash ?

or is it card ?

 

[dmr]

Strictly cash only at the Ship.

I got a bollocking from the Lion landlady a couple of weeks ago for paying with a card. She said I should know better 😀 Still puzzling over this.

Don't like using cards in a pub but its a lot easier than counting out the pennies when youv'e had a few beers.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Cash is King!

10 minutes ago, dmr said:

Don't like using cards in a pub but its a lot easier than counting out the pennies when youv'e had a few beers

geezer in the Cravern Arms was very Adam Ant he wouldn’t be taking coppers !

 

am I wrong waiting for 5p change ? I now feel I’m expected to shrug off the odd bit of silver and copper. 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2025 by 5239
Now

[dmr]

16 minutes ago, 5239 said:

Cash is King!

geezer in the Cravern Arms was very Adam Ant he wouldn’t be taking coppers !

 

am I wrong waiting for 5p change ? I now feel I’m expected to shrug off the odd bit of silver and copper. 

 

 

I was quite surprised when we first arrived/got stuck in Tod in 2018. Quite often I would wait for change and get none, and worked out that the price was often rounded up or down to the nearest pound (The Golden Lion here, not Tod in general). This is likely because the Landlady comes from a different culture.

It works both ways, sometimes you get a free pint or two. Maybe an obsession with every last penny is a weakness of our society??

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

5 minutes ago, dmr said:

Maybe an obsession with every last penny is a weakness of our society??

I think it’s an age thing,

pints used to go up by pennies and we paid and waited for change,

now we tap a card,

 

 

 

[Steve Manc]

9 hours ago, 5239 said:

I think it’s an age thing,

pints used to go up by pennies and we paid and waited for change,

now we tap a card,

 

Yes the Ship Inn is still cash. Thankfully we had some. I didn't check my change I just put it in my packet. Hopefully they gave me the correct change 😂 

 

 

[Ian Mac]

I Really enjoy the Home Guard Club in Failsworth above lock 68

I like the Boat & Horse in Chadderton, food is quick and cheerful, can be noisy around here with the motorway and Broadway rd.
The Radclyffe at Grimshaw Lane is OK, the beer is better in the Gardeners, over the lights, and its a good deep mooring, the Manchester side of the Lift bridge.
Then there is the Minders Arms, a bit of a walk from the footbridge about lock 64, and then under the railway a good local pub.

Next up you have the Rose of Lancaster at Mills Hill very similar to the Boat & Horse. good mooring up be the aqueduct below lock 63

The Ship Inn at the top of Slattocks is excellent, it is also well worth the walk up to the Tandle Hill Taven, but check its open first. It is a really good spot to moor at the top of Slattock, there is also a bus service. I have to say the Hopwood arms has always been a disappointment for me.
I have always enjoyed the Blue Pits Inn by lock 51, although I have never spent the night here.
The Sandbrook just by the motorway tunnel, Rochdale side,  is good for a mega breakfast, but poor mooring.

The Horse & Jockey by Well I' Th' Lane is a really good Sam Smiths boozer, had several good dinnertime sessions in there! Ridiculously cheap. Unfortunately this is Rochdale Centre and not a place to spend the night, such a shame.
The Tophams Taven at Smith bridge is over the level crossing, I've not been in there for years. The Red Lion in Littleborough has always been the attraction, watch the opening hours though, dinner time drinking here can be a bit sparse.
The West Summit Inn is OK in my book, well it was 6 months ago when I last went.

I like the waggon & Horse in Walsden walk in from around lock 29.
Its then a bit of a desert till you get to Tod.

 

[TheBiscuits]

The Old Post Office is handy for the canal - you can moor outside it!

 

The Flying Horse is worth a visit, but again it's in the town centre.

[dmr]

Right then LadyG, I assume you are still stuck in Tod. Tomoro is Tuesday which is cheap beer day at the Golden Lion. Myself and a friend, another long time boater, will be there from about 4 doing a bit of semi-serious beer drinking. You are welcome to come and find us, most likely sat on the stage.

[IanD]

1 minute ago, dmr said:

Right then LadyG, I assume you are still stuck in Tod. Tomoro is Tuesday which is cheap beer day at the Golden Lion. Myself and a friend, another long time boater, will be there from about 4 doing a bit of semi-serious beer drinking. You are welcome to come and find us, most likely sat on the stage.

Semi-serious?!?!?

 

Seriously, the team beer trolley had 200 pints on it when we started Boat Race Day yesterday, and none when we went to the pub four hours later... 🙂