This weekend, we are launching Pub of The Week, a new feature highlighting some of the best local venues that Bury has to offer and showing off what makes hospitality in the borough so special.

This week, we spoke to Amanda and Mike Jones, who own Casked, a venue specialising in real ale on Prince Street, Ramsbottom. Boasting a wide selection of ales, craft beers and spirits, they aim to keep their products as local as possible.

Casked was recognised for its quality pints in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2024.  Casked opened in Ramsbottom in 2021 following the success of their first branch in Rossendale, which opened in 2017. 

Bury Times: Casked, RamsbottomCasked, Ramsbottom (Image: Casked Ramsbottom)

 

Name of the pub: 

Casked Ramsbottom

Landlord/landlady name:

Husband and wife duo Amanda and Mike Jones own Casked but day to day the site is managed and run by the amazing Claire Norris and her amazing team.

Claire has been running pubs and bars in Ramsbottom for many years and is highly respected and loved by the people of the town.

How long have you been the landlord/landlady for?

We opened the venue, our second, in October 2021 having worked on it through COVID.

Bury Times: Manager Claire Norris and owners Amanda and Mike JonesManager Claire Norris and owners Amanda and Mike Jones (Image: Casked Ramsbottom)

And how are you finding it?

We've become established as one of the town's leading bars, and are usually busy, offering great local cask and keg beers plus a huge range of premium gins and spirits, and lovely hand stretched pizzas.

Give us some history about the pub: 

Our first bar opened in 2017 in Rawtenstall. It quickly became clear how well received our offering was, and we decided to expand into neighbouring Rammy when a suitable site became available during Covid. It was generally thought to be a bit of a risk, at that time, but we're glad we jumped in.

Is food served?

YES. We just do a small selection of high quality handmade pizzas, including a weekly special or two, and half-price/2-4-1 deals on Wednesday and Sunday.

Bury Times: As well as a large selection of drinks, Casked also serves a selection of hand-made pizzasAs well as a large selection of drinks, Casked also serves a selection of hand-made pizzas (Image: Casked Ramsbottom)

Is there a beer garden?

We have a generous, level area to the side with space for 50-60 people.

What is the most popular drink served and why?

We specialise in offering a regularly changing range of five, mainly local, cask ales, plus 15 craft keg products.

We don't offer the usual, factory produced suspects, instead seeking out more interesting products including IPAs, fruited beers, sours and more.

In addition we offer over 80 hand-picked gins, once more, mostly not the supermarket ones, and instead seek out small producers from the North West and beyond. So it's hard to pick out just one drink as the most popular.

Bury Times: Casked serves a wide selection of real ales, craft beers, and local ginsCasked serves a wide selection of real ales, craft beers, and local gins (Image: Casked Ramsbottom)

What is the most memorable moment at the pub?

Probably setting off the entire building fire alarms on a Saturday when we were rammed and couldn't get access to the fire panel to reset everything! That was fun!

Do you have an entertainment line-up?

Yes, we have regular acoustic performances from solo and duo acts, plus occasional DJ sets for specific themes. Our chilled Sunday afternoons , 2-3 times a month are very popular.

What are the biggest challenges within the industry and how can you overcome them?

Massive energy costs still concern us, and all our suppliers have increased their prices significantly since Covid.

We try to offer something for every pocket, so even if you're on a budget, you can nab a shareable, half price 12 inch pizza and a two halves of local cask ale for less than £9 on a Wednesday.

Bury Times: You can find more than 80 hand-picked gins behind the bar at CaskedYou can find more than 80 hand-picked gins behind the bar at Casked (Image: Casked Ramsbottom)

What is the best thing about running a pub and why?

Making people smile.

What is the worst thing about running a pub and why?

Long hours on your feet, cleaning loos at midnight!

What bonus things are offered at the pub?

One thing that springs to mind is that we don't have sports or anything else (except the beer menu!) on a TV screen. Our space is fully inclusive for all, a place to chat and enjoy your precious leisure time.

Manager Claire also has three Labradors Kenny, Arnie and Stevie. We’re very dog friendly, offering free gravy bones! 

Do you own or run a pub or bar in Bury that you'd like us to feature? Get in touch with us at Burynews@newsquest.co.uk