A pub in Bury has claimed a top industry award as the owners celebrate its fifth anniversary.
The Holcombe Tap in Ramsbottom was named the Leading Restaurant of the Year (Casual) at the This Is Manchester 2023 awards last week and co-owner Will Gallie said he and his team are ‘still absolutely buzzing’ over the recognition.
First opened back in 2018, the bar and kitchen on Bolton Road West has gained a reputation for its cosy atmosphere and good food. Alongside traditional Sunday roasts, the venue serves a main menu featuring small plates and specials such as beer-battered haddock, steak, duck breast and cauliflower red Thai curry.
READ MORE: Inside the Salford pub and restaurant transformed into a medieval tavern with winter cabins
The Holcombe Tap also holds the respected title of being the number one pub in Bury on TripAdvisor and Google, where it holds a five and 4.6 rating respectively.
“I had always wanted to open up my own place since I started out working in hospitality, that was the dream,” Will says of the venue. “My dad had worked in the industry previously in his career but had become a teacher for nearly 10 years. We discussed the site that is now Holcombe Tap and started planning what we thought would work well in Ramsbottom.
“When we were planning to open and get everything in place, the last thing on our minds was winning awards. We focused on getting the basics right & recruiting and training well to ensure we could operate a successful business where people enjoyed visiting.”
Alongside his dad Bill, Will took over the Eagle and Child pub on Whalley Road in Ramsbottom last year, which was also shortlisted for Leading Restaurant (Formal).
“Being shortlisted twice at the This is Manchester Awards was an incredible achievement in itself against the other great hospitality venues you’d recognise from the city centre,” he added.
“We certainly didn’t go expecting to win. We were honoured and grateful to be there on the night and to have the opportunity to take our team to congratulate them on all their hard work. It was a real pleasure to socialise with so many industry professionals and people from the great city of Manchester. The This is Manchester Awards Team did a fantastic job on organising the whole event, it was truly amazing.
“When we were announced as winners of our category, we were ecstatic. I can’t tell you how proud I felt of the team, and the work they had put in to make this possible. I’ll be honest, I’m still absolutely buzzing now, as I’m sure the whole team are!”
Will said the achievement is due to the venue’s hard-working staff and their loyal customers who have made the Holcombe Tap what it is today - and Will promises that the pub will continue to strive to be as best as it can.
“A special mention needs to go out to our amazing customers,” he added. “Their support and loyalty since our opening has been second to none and we definitely wouldn’t be receiving any awards without them. We posted on our socials prior to the event and the support & backing we received was outstanding. We then posted the news of winning and it was very humbling to see how proud everyone was of Holcombe Tap.
“Another mention must go out to our team, past & present, and everyone who has helped us on our journey to where we are today. We ask a lot of the team, we want to provide an excellent experience for anyone who visits and that wouldn’t be possible without the team of people who make it happen.
“Chef Jacob and his kitchen team use local suppliers and fresh ingredients to design seasonal small plate style dishes that are designed to be shared. Lucy and her front of house team aim to provide great service and an atmosphere where you feel comfortable.”
The Holcombe Tap is at 13 Bolton Road West, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9NA.
