For the latest Tameside news sign up to the MyTameside newsletter here The best nights out are never forgotten - and the venues that host them always hold a special place in the heart.
For hundreds of people who grew up in Ashton, Tameside and further afield, that place is The Birch Hotel. Built in 1892 at a cost of £3,000, The Birch gained a new lease of life in 1973 when Ron Stubley became licensee - a position he would hold for 21 years.
Ron remembers The Birch as a bustling venue with three bars - a taproom, a lounge and a cellar bar - attracting music lovers with a variety of tastes.
He said: "If you weren't able to go anywhere else, The Birch was the place to be. "We had great bands and the atmosphere was brilliant." For those who
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