The event will see 14 pubs, bars and venues across the borough open their doors this weekendFox & Pine on Greaves Street was named Greater Manchester’s Pub of the Year at the Great British Beer Festival(Image: Fox & Pine)

A new beer festival and bar crawl will take place in a Greater Manchester town this weekend, with the aim to shine a spotlight on the borough’s vibrant nightlife, independent venues and local culture.

The Oldham Bar Hop will take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 2-3, and feature stop-offs at some of the town’s best boozers, bars and pubs. Venues are dotted around the town centre and each offer something unique.

Billed as an “inclusive trail of Oldham’s flourishing bar culture” with something to “satisfy all thirsts”, it will encompass both a pop-up beer festival and a bar crawl spanning 14 venues including award-winning pub The Fox & Pine, food hall The Egyptian Room and The Tommyfield pub.

Cllr Peter Dean, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure at Oldham Council, said: “The Oldham Bar Hop is a fantastic way to showcase the brilliant local venues we have in our town centre.

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“It’s about bringing local back – celebrating our pubs, bars and clubs, encouraging people to support local businesses, and creating a buzzing, welcoming atmosphere right here in Oldham.

“With the ongoing regeneration in the town centre, this is a key ingredient in positioning Oldham as a vibrant destination of choice.”

The team at Billingtons Oldham

Starting from 12pm, the free event includes a pop-up at Billingtons Ballroom on Ashcroft Street, which will boast two bars, six real ale lines and six craft beer and cider lines, as well as cocktails and street food.

Those heading down also have the chance to win a free limited-edition Oldham Bar Hop t-shirt by collecting a stamp from each venue when they purchase a drink.

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Participating venues are Billingtons, Fox and Pine, The Bank Top Tavern, Bees Knees, The Egyptian Room, The George Tavern, Liquid and Envy, Whittles@Tokyo, Molino Lounge, The Tommyfield, Town Hall Tavern, Up Steps Inn, The Ashton Arms and The Old Bank.

Maps will be available from participating venues throughout the event weekend.

Those planing on heading down have been told to keep an eye on local venues social media pages and the I Love Oldham page for updates.