A TINY pub which was in danger of closing forever five years ago is in the running to retain its title of Greater Manchester pub of the year.

The New Oxford, in Salford, was voted top-of-the-pubs in the region last year by the Campaign for Real Ale.

Now the North Manchester branch of Camra has voted it their pub of the year, which means it will be in the region-wide final again in July.

The pub, formerly The Oxford, sits in a corner of Bexley Square near Salford magistrates' court.

The square was the location of an infamous battle in 1931 when police baton charged hundreds of people demonstrating about unemployment - the incident featured in the classic film Love on the Dole.

Transformation

The New Oxford's transformation is due to Tim Flynn and his partner Paulette Scanlon who took over the pub in January 2007.

Fifteen guest ales are stocked plus a house beer - Flat Back - made by Salford brewery Bazens'.

Tim, originally the cellarman at the pub, said: "I love the place - it is my life. I get up at 6am to do the cellar and don't knock off until 4pm - then come back to clear up.

"As well as the British beers we have three Belgian beers on draught and more than 100 German, Czech, and Belgian bottled beers.

"People from Belgian breweries are visiting this month - they see us as the nearest thing to a Belgium beer bar that Manchester has.

"Since we won the pub of the year last year takings have gone up 2000 per cent and we are rammed full every night - I don't have a quiet night. We have customers from all over the north west and from Scotland and London."

Haunt

Business is so good they have now taken on two full time bar staff to help out.

The pub will stage a beer festival from June 5 to 8 with 50 different ales on sale.

Tim and Paulette previously ran a bar in Kerry, Ireland, and the food they provide is prepared in a newly refurbished kitchen - with Irish stew a speciality.

The pub dates from the 1830s and has become a regular haunt for Coronation Street stars and music business people - including Mark E Smith, lead singer of The Fall, and Alan Wise, manager of New Order.