The Baum — Restaurant in Rochdale

Quick Facts:

● CAMRA's National Pub of the Year 2013

● Next door to the Co-op Museum

● Beer Garden

● Dog-friendly

● Can purchase cans to take away

● Featured in the Good Beer Guide

Drinks

The Baum offers an impressive selection with up to 10 keg beers and 8 rotating cask ales, including regulars like Vocation Brewery and local favourite, Pictish.

There's also an extensive range of bottled and canned beers, along with a good array of gins, rums, and whiskeys.

Food

The food offerings went beyond typical pub grub, with quality dishes averaging around £14 for a main. The menu ranged from burgers to Katsu curry, with plenty of sandwiches and sides. The food arrived promptly, and there was ample cutlery provided.

Facilities

While there were no pool tables, dartboards, or TV screens, these weren’t missed thanks to the warm atmosphere. The seating was cosy, and the rustic décor felt like a countryside pub. The walls were adorned with signs, pictures, and posters that wouldn’t have been out of place on an episode of American Pickers.

It was cold the day we went so we stayed inside, but there was a very nice beer garden at the rear.

Service

Service at The Baum was friendly, warm, and welcoming. The staff made us feel at home all night. They offered beer tasters and were enthusiastic about explaining their offerings. Though there wasn’t any seating available when we first arrived, they went out of their way to find us seats as soon as they could.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is where The Baum truly excels, alongside its quality beer. This pub is a social hub where both locals and staff readily engage with newcomers, making everyone feel at home.

One of the highlights of the night was watching Michael challenge the bartender to a game of chess, which was gladly accepted.

Final Scores

Here are our combined scores for the different aspects of the bar. We each gave a rating out of 10, which were added together to give us a score out of 50 for each category. The final scores were then averaged out to give us an overall score out of 50 for The Baum.

The scores:

● Service - 49

● Facilities - 45

● Food & Drink - 46

● Atmosphere - 50

Our overall score for the Baum is . . . 47 / 50

Final Thoughts

The Baum is more than just a pub; it's a vibrant social hub with a welcoming atmosphere, exceptional drinks, and quality food. Whether you're a beer enthusiast, a fan of good company, or just looking for a cosy spot to unwind, The Baum delivers on all fronts. The friendly service, combined with the rustic charm and community vibe, makes it a place you’ll want to return to time and time again. It's no surprise it was named CAMRA's National Pub of the Year in 2013—The Baum is a gem in Rochdale that truly feels like home.

We all agreed it was one of the best night's we have had in a pub. Brilliant place.

Check out our video review at...

New owners Dan and Nic are making a real go of #thebaum. Our server Ben was very helpful and polite when we called in for some grub last evening, whilst still sunny. We sat in the secret beer garden, which not many people are aware of, so maybe #the baum could advertise it more. It's very big with lots of tables and hidden from the main road, a proper sun trap. We both ordered the Katsu chicken curry, with rice, flatbread, spring onions, and chillis, wow that Katsu sauce has a kick to it, the chicken was very tender, also we had a portion of lightly salted fries, very moreish. The menu is changing today, Friday, but according to Ben, some of the dishes will still remain, plus some new ones, something for everyone, a great choice so you should enjoy your selection. Great selection of real ales, I had a rack of 3 to start with, and Diana had a J2O apple and mango with the food. Then she had a cheeky glass of Chardonnay, a large choice of wines available, I treated myself to a pint of Budvar from the Czech Republic, pure nectar. The majority of customers were also drinking this premium lager, a well-kept pint, whoever manages the cellar, well done. Dog friendly inside and outside, always a bonus, constructive comment, Dan and Nic, maybe consider asking customers to take their cutlery and condiments out with them after ordering, as we had to wait for both when our food arrived , but it wasn't an issue. We are looking forward to visiting again to try your new menu very soon. Please keep up the...

I have been a local to this pub for years and love it. I came for tea recently but, despite being a quiet evening, I noticed tables with empty glasses and food plates left on them during the entirety of my visit and food remnants on some tables which put me off sitting and eating there. The bar staff were not busy. It’s such a shame, when a few years ago the service was so much better. The beer remains spot on and the pub is still a favourite but I have noticed this decline in service such as described during my last few visits, even the broken sign on the side of the building. I went elsewhere to eat as a result and no longer recommend the Baum to others. Such a shame when Rochdale has few good places to go in the centre and I fear for its future if...