THE clue is in the name but the Halfway House, located equidistant between Oldham and Rochdale, is definitely back on the Royton pub map.
After several changes of tenants this year, the prominent Rochdale Road pub is welcoming customers old and new with a return to a tried and trusted menu of drink, food and entertainment.
And just over a month after taking over the reins, Vinnie Caira believes the fortunes of the Halfway House are heading in the right direction.
“My mission in life is to build up the trade again,” said Vinnie, well-known locally in the trade for his time at Tara Leisure and the Morning Star in Shaw.
“I love working with people and I don’t like failures,” he smiled.
“The drinkers are starting to come back and the diners are gradually coming back too.”
And why wouldn’t they? There’s a restaurant serving competitively priced, tasty, home-made food, weekly steak and fish nights plus a three-course Sunday lunch for £11.50.
For thirsty customers, there’s a good range of JW Lees beers and entertainment includes a revived weekly quiz night, a guest act every Saturday, the return of a pool table plus soon-to-be-installed Sky Sports.
“We are a community, wet (drinks) led pub with a restaurant serving good pub food,” added Vinnie.
The spacious and handily located Halfway House, with its large car park and beer garden, also caters for small functions including baby showers, wedding receptions and funeral wakes.
It is open Monday to Thursday from 12noon to 11pm, Friday and Saturdays from 12noon-12pm and Sundays from 12 noon to 11pm.
“I keep trying to retire but I can’t do it,” smiles Edinburgh born Vinnie.
“It drives me bonkers not doing anything and I am here to make this place succeed.”
So, how far is the Halfway House between Oldham and Rochdale?
“It was one of the questions in a recent quiz,” he added.
And the answer? “Two and a half miles.”