Owd Betts Inn

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Owd Betts Inn
Owd Betts Inn front diagonal.jpg
LocationEdenfield Road, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England
Coordinates 53°38′26″N2°15′33″W / 53.6406°N 2.2591°W / 53.6406; -2.2591
Built1796
Greater Manchester UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Greater Manchester
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameOwd Betts Public House
Designated12 February 1985
Reference no. 1084290

The Owd Betts Inn (also known as Owd Betts) is a pub, restaurant, and historic building close to Norden in Greater Manchester, England. Built in 1796, is it a designated Grade II listed building by Historic England. [1] The current landlords are Rhys and Donna Knowles. [2]

Contents

It is located on Edenfield Road (on the A640), on the outskirts of Rochdale. The building is located adjacent to the Ashworth Moor Reservoir to the south and the Scout Moor Wind Farm to the north.

History

The building has been occupied by a public house since 1796, where it was known as the "Hare and Hounds", and was run by landlords Richard and Mary Ashworth. [3]

A photograph of the Hare and Hounds in the 19th century Hare and Hounds old image.jpg
A photograph of the Hare and Hounds in the 19th century

In 1869 the pub was taken over by Betty Ashworth, who was known to the locals as "Owd Bett". By 1950 the pub was officially renamed "Owd Betts" to commemorate Betty, who passed away in 1893. In 2016 her headstone was discovered at nearby St Paul's Church after the location of her final resting place had been a mystery. [4]

In 1985 the pub was designated by Historic England as a Grade II listed building, and in 2018 landlord Rhys Knowles placed the pub up for sale for £194,995. [5]

Paranormal activity

According to local media, Owd Betts is reportedly haunted by former landlady Betty Ashworth, with some claiming she can be heard walking the corridors and "keeping an eye on staff". In a 2018 interview with the Manchester Evening News , landlady Lynn Hartley claimed members of staff did not like to be left alone in the pub, with some reporting being pushed over and hearing footsteps on the landing. [5]

In 2017 the television series Ghost Dimension: Flying Solo filmed an episode at the pub. [6] In the same year, paranormal investigator Sean Reynolds claimed to have captured evidence of Betty Ashworth moving a bible and a cushion, as well as experiencing "strange noises" and a "blast of ice cold air." [7]

In 2025 Owd Betts made a brief appearance in the BBC paranormal documentary Uncanny . [8]

Food and drink

Owd Betts Inn has three handpumps which are used to serve real ales. The pub serves Wainwright Gold as a permanent ale, and two guest ales, one of which is typically from a local microbrewery. [9]

Dishes served at Owd Betts include traditional British pub-style food, including Lancashire hotpot, rag pudding, and cheese and onion pie (described as "famous" by the Manchester Evening News). [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Owd Betts Public House, Non Civil Parish - 1084290". Historic England. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  2. ↑ "DLK Restaurants Ltd people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". Companies House. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  3. ↑ Maidment, Adam (2 May 2025). "The historic Greater Manchester pub with stunning reservoir views". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  4. ↑ Statham, Nick (6 October 2016). "Legendary landlady is found - just down road" . Retrieved 23 July 2025– via PressReader.
  5. 1 2 Wilkinson, Damon (25 January 2018). "A 220-year-old pub 'haunted' by its former landlady is up for sale". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  6. ↑ Ghost Dimension (21 March 2022). Strange Things at Owd Betts - Ghost Dimension Flying Solo SE4 EP2 - #Paranormal #Haunted . Retrieved 23 July 2025– via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Burke, Dave (14 December 2017). "Landlady 'pours herself a drink' at pub - despite having been dead for 124 years". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  8. ↑ Uncanny - Series 2: 1. The Haunting of Hollymount Farm. BBC. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Owd Betts, Norden". CAMRA - The Campaign for Real Ale. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  10. ↑ Campbell, Jenna (22 April 2023). "The country pubs with perfect pints and spectacular views". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
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