Quick info
About The Baum
The Baum is an independent, free-of-tie pub on Toad Lane in Rochdale's Heritage Quarter, open since 1980. The old building keeps traditional pub decor, with wood panelled walls hung with vintage signage. The bar pours cask ales, including local brews on the cask line, alongside draught ales and continental beers. The kitchen serves modern British dishes and local specialities, with rag pudding and a steak and ale pie among the mains. The small plates menu includes a black pudding scotch egg, and a small plates deal lets diners choose three dishes.
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention rag pudding, black pudding scotch egg, cask ales and ribs.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention rag pudding, black pudding scotch egg, cask ales and ribs.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the cask ales, with local brews on the line and a wide choice of tap ales, in an old-style pub that several call lovely. Food is close behind, and the rag pudding is described as spot on, alongside a black pudding scotch egg, ribs that fell off the bone, a smoked salmon and prawn small plate, steak and ale pie, and truffle and parmesan chips. One diner praised a slow cooked brisket chilli with big plates and good value, and another enjoyed the pork scratchings. Service is called friendly and welcoming, and staff apologised for a possible wait after the change of ownership, though the food arrived without much delay. The caveats are mixed. One reviewer found a main dry and just ok, despite a great Sunday lunch on an earlier visit. Another gave a harsh account of an off-smelling steak, undercooked chicken, a mixed up order and a waiter unsure of the menu. One group found the scotch eggs had run out, so they plan to return to try them.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the cask ales, with local brews on the line and a wide choice of tap ales, in an old-style pub that several call lovely. Food is close behind, and the rag pudding is described as spot on, alongside a black pudding scotch egg, ribs that fell off the bone, a smoked salmon and prawn small plate, steak and ale pie, and truffle and parmesan chips. One diner praised a slow cooked brisket chilli with big plates and good value, and another enjoyed the pork scratchings. Service is called friendly and welcoming, and staff apologised for a possible wait after the change of ownership, though the food arrived without much delay. The caveats are mixed. One reviewer found a main dry and just ok, despite a great Sunday lunch on an earlier visit. Another gave a harsh account of an off-smelling steak, undercooked chicken, a mixed up order and a waiter unsure of the menu. One group found the scotch eggs had run out, so they plan to return to try them.
Featured reviews
- Ceri Miles
“What a hidden gem. Food, drink and service outstanding. Highly recommend anyone in the area to visit”
- karen moya
“I don’t usually leave reviews, but this experience really needed to be shared. The Baum - their food was the biggest let‑down. The beef steak was off and had an odd smell, like it wasn’t fresh at all, and the chicken was undercooked — only the outer fried coating was cooked, the inside was still raw. We honestly left hoping we wouldn’t end up sick afterwards. Our order was mixed up, arrived late and the waiter didn’t seem to know what was actually on the menu, which made the whole thing feel even more disorganised. The building itself might be listed, but it’s extremely outdated and in serious need of attention. It felt like we were the only people eating there, and after the experience, I can understand why. Based on this visit, I wouldn’t recommend this place for anything. It was not worth our money”
- Graham Jones
“A superb old school pub with great service and ale. Food brilliant as well. A must if in Rochdale”
- bren
“Visited on a Friday afternoon. Interesting pub with goods beer selection. Very old inside, was a Victorian hardware stone until transformation into pub in 1980. Interesting story about it's name... The area’s most famous resident is the Baum Rabbit, a spectral, red-eyed creature said to haunt the adjacent St Mary-in-the-Baum churchyard since the 17th century. Local legends claim it appears on a 125-year cycle, often accompanied by sightings of a thin, drifting shadow-man near the pub’s historic walls. The most frequently cited "recent" wave of activity occurred in the 1970s. During this decade, multiple witnesses reported a "thin, shady outline" of a man and a spectral white rabbit drifting near the churchyard. However, if following the strict 125-year legend cycle, the last "major" manifestation era would have peaked around 1901. Predicted Next Sighting The legend's 125-year cycle is its most famous trait. Based on the 1901 window, the next major "appointed" time for the Baum Rabbit to appear is: Predicted Year: 2026 (The current year!) Next Likely Date: Folklore often links boggart activity to Halloween (October 31st) or the Summer Solstice, but since the 125th anniversary of the last major cycle falls this year, locals keep a keen eye on the cobbles every evening. Oh and I enjoyed the look of the tiles in the gents toilet Research via AI”
- Joanne Freeman-beardsley
“Can not fault the pub itself. Very old original with a fabulous selection of drinks if you like 'tap/draft ales'. I didn't look at the spirit section but I'm guessing it will be good. It was £40.15 for 2 mains, 1 side and 1 pint. It was ok. Last time we had Sunday lunch which was great but the food today was a bit dry and just ok. The rag pudding and beef sandwiches that other dinners had looked really nice. The atmosphere and decor is lovely and relaxed. The staff really friendly and welcoming. In all it's definitely worth a visit .”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Recently under new ownership, The Baum is an independent & free-of-tie pub situated in Rochdale's Heritage Quarter on Toad Lane. A former regional & national pub of the year there's always a wide selection of cask ales and continental beers available and a variety of modern British dishes & local specialities on the menu. Originally opened in 1980, the pub oozes old world charm with it's wood panelled walls decked out in vintage signage and an iconic walled beer garden.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Assistive hearing loop
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
Location
Bars near The Baum
- The Regal Moon4.12,9350.1 mi
american-style breakfast, vegan breakfast, hot honey chicken bowl
- The Sandbrook4.03,3111.2 mi
carvery, roast beef, hand-battered fish and chips
- The Oxford4.59511.4 mi
cheese and onion pie, sticky toffee pudding, sunday lunch
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Baum | 4.61,095 | — | rag pudding, black pudding scotch egg, cask ales |
| The Regal Moon | 4.12,935 | 0.1 mi | american-style breakfast, vegan breakfast, hot honey chicken bowl |
| The Sandbrook | 4.03,311 | 1.2 mi | carvery, roast beef, hand-battered fish and chips |
| The Oxford | 4.5951 | 1.4 mi | cheese and onion pie, sticky toffee pudding, sunday lunch |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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