Local Pubs Week a Celebration of Stockport’S Pubs

APRIL 2009

COVERING THE CITIES OF MANCHESTER & SALFORD, STOCKPORT, TAMESIDE, TRAFFORD, N.E. CHESHIRE & MACCLESFIELD Local Pubs Week A Celebration of Stockport’s Pubs

A recent article in the Manchester Evening News complained that Stockport is “the largest town in the country that hasn’t been colonised by the branded bar chains”. The author seemed to think this was a bad thing. We believe it is something to celebrate

It is very easy to be complacent but, for those who appreciate what goes to make a good pub, Stockport town centre is the envy of towns across the UK boasting as it does a stunning array of traditional locals. This includes two that have made it to the shortlist for National Pub of Year in recent years. While acknowledging the sterling efforts of the tourism development staff at the Council, CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, locally is questioning why this unique selling point for the town has not been more fully exploited and why in contrast to Manchester city centre the town centre seems in many respects to give up the ghost after dark.

John Sutcliffe, the Campaign’s local Public Affairs Officer told Opening Times ‘It’s time to bring the life back into the town centre in the evenings before its decline is terminal. The time to act is now; we cannot wait for the multi million pound town centre plan to become reality if it ever does. Given Stockport’s incredible range of pubs and choice of quality cask beers at very reasonable prices the town could very well be marketed as Britain’s Capital of Cask’.

To promote Stockport’s town centre pubs and to illustrate the opportunity being missed the Campaign will be holding an extended week of action starting on 17th April with a stagger in the south of the town centre and finishing at the Pub of the Year celebrations on 25th April at the Arden Arms on Millgate. This local pubs week will also include the start of the Magic Mild challenge on 18th April, a multi pub mild social on 20th April – with a stop outside the now sadly closed historic Three Shires on Underbank for photos – and the Pub of the Month on 23rd April. For more details of venues and times go to page 18. Everybody is welcome at all these events whether CAMRA members or not!

We are now on the The Mild Challenge is back this home straight for year – with a new name and a the 23rd greater spread of pubs. Stockport Beer & Thanks also to our new Cider Festival. sponsor, Stephenson’s Once again catering supplies. Prizes sponsored by the include t-shirts, polo shirts and Stockport Express, a visit to Hydes Brewery. the Festival will take place Marble Brewery has also kindly at Edgeley Park from 28-30 May. The beer and cider orders agreed to let us offer the are being finalised and we are pleased to announce that chance for one winner to be Marble Brewery have once again agreed to brew this year’s “brewer for a day”. Just pick up Festival Special beer. There is a preview of the a card from a participating pub. entertainment on page 11. Full details on page 15. 2 OPENING TIMES April 2009

HE Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month for April 2009 is the Alexandra on TNorthgate Road in Edgeley. This imposing building was built in 1911 and has remained largely unspoiled since then. Indeed so well preserved is most of the interior that the pub has gained a place on CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. As you enter the pub there is a half tiled hall-cum-drinking lobby with five rooms off. To the right is a large lounge complete with original fixed seating and fireplace and to the left is the traditional vault, again with its original seating still in situ. At the back of the pub is another lounge, again with original fireplace, and to the left a snug behind a partially glazed wall, and again complete with original seating and fireplace. Down a corridor is the former billiard room now given over to pool but still complete with a stained glass ceiling panel. There is another impressive stained glass window halfway up the stairs. The only really new features are the bar fittings (and even here the old outdoor department remains intact but boarded up). Another new innovation is the impressive outdoor smoking area cum beer garden. New for April All of this heritage had become a little careworn over the Polska Bitter years but just over three years ago the pub was taken over by Paul and Emma Grimes who have slowly redecorated ABV 4.1% and restored the pub. 15 months ago they took a step back Hop Variety Marynka and and, while they remain the tenants, the pub has since been Lubelski very successfully run by Paul’s mum, Sue. This is the first pub that Sue has run on a permanent basis and she has really risen to the challenge. The Alexandra is a suburban community pub with a loyal band of regulars – it’s the type of pub that the doom mongers will tell you has no future. However in the skilful hands of people like Paul, Emma and Sue it is clear that the Alexandra has plenty of life left in it yet. As this is what is known as a “wet led” pub it is of course important that the beer is well kept and the handpumped Robinsons Unicorn and seasonal beer are always in fine form. This well deserved award will be presented on Thursday 23 April, from 8pm, as part of our Local Pubs Week celebrations. This is fitting as the Alex is in many ways a classic local pub – get along early for what should be an excellent night. JC April 2009 OPENING TIMES 3

Proud to be a CAMRA National Pub of the Year 2008 finalist

Opening Times – Comment

This month we are running Local Pubs Week, a national CAMRA initiative which can be given a local slant. There are many fine pubs in central Stockport and the town has so far avoided “chain bar blight”. When other CAMRA branches come to Stockport they are always pleasantly surprised at the concentration of good pubs in such a small area. However, the town does seem to be backwards in coming The Crown Inn, Heaton Lane forwards about this. It’s difficult to know why this is but we hope that our initiatives (to be followed up in May with the publication 16 Handpumps of the brand new Stockport Pub Guide) will galvanise a few Real Cider Guest Lagers Foreign Beers people into action. Our local Stockport readers can help by Lunches Served patronising more town centre pubs more often. 12 - 3pm Monday - Friday Opening Times - Information Special Occasions Catered For Opening Times is produced by the Stockport & South Folk & Acoustic night Manchester Branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. Additional material is supplied by the High Peak & NE Cheshire, every Tuesday from 8.30 pm Trafford & Hulme, North Manchester and Macclesfield & E Cheshire Branches. The views expressed are not necessarily Come along and have a sing or strum those of CAMRA either locally or nationally. 7,000 copies a month are printed by Phil Powell Printing of Failsworth. All Open every day from Noon articles copyright CAMRA unless otherwise stated. http://thecrowninn.uk.com/ News, articles and letters are welcome to the editorial address – 45, Bulkeley St, Edgeley, Stockport, SK3 9HD. E-mail CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it! – [email protected]. Phone 0161 477 1973. Advertising rates on request.

Postal subscriptions are available at £6 for 12 issues (make cheques payable to Opening Times). Apply to John Tune, 4 Sandown Rd, Cheadle Heath, Stockport, SK3 0JF.

Trading Standards – problems in pubs should normally be resolved by a quiet word with the licensee. However sometimes it may be necessary to take it further. These are the local contacts: Stockport 0845 644 4301 Trafford 0161 9122274 Manchester 0161 234 1555 Derbyshire 08456 058058 Salford 0161 925 1346 Cheshire 0845 1132500 Tameside 0161 342 8355

th Copy Date for the May issue is Saturday 11 April

Contributors to this issue: John Clarke, John Tune, Dave Open Mon-Sat 12-11 Hanson, Peter Butler, Robin Wignall, Peter Edwardson, Mark McConachie, Andy Jenkinson, Dave Hallows, Paul Felton, Jim Sunday 12-10.30 Flynn, Frank Wood, Stuart Ballantyne, Pete Farrand. Food Available 12-4 every day Opening Times 296 - Contents

Pub of the Month 2 Festival Entertainment 11 Cask Marque accredited High Peak Pub News 4 Manchester Matters 12 Peak Practice 5 Chorlton 13 Thwaites Wainwright and Stagger 7 Mild Magic 15 Curmudgeon 8 Local Pubs Week 16 changing guest beers Macclesfield Pub News 9 Brewery News 16 OT Birthday Beer 10 Pub Grub 17 Stockport Supping 10 CAMRA Calling 18 CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it! 4 OPENING TIMES April 2009

The Waters Green Tavern Local 96 Waters Green, CAMRA Macclesfield, Pub of the Cheshire SK11 6LH Season Tel 01625 422653 Winter ‘08 he Roe Cross at Mottram was the venue for High Peak Ever Changing Guest Beers including: CAMRA’s monthly Branch meeting in March and with TShaw’s Bitter, Thwaites Wainwright, Marble J P Best and Phoenix, Pictish, Thornbridge, Oakham, Phoenix Arizona on offer that night, it is certainly the best choice Roosters and many more of beers in the area at the moment. The Shaw’s Bitter is to a new formulation, a lighter coloured version than the former beer of the Your Hosts, Brian and Tracey same name, and it is selling well in the normal outlets. Bar Meals Served Mon to Sat Lunch Down in Mottram village, the White Hart is a shadow of its former days when Geoff Oliver owned it before he sold it on to J This is not a free house W Lees. There was no real ale on offer early that night and recent reports are that J W Lees Bitter is the only beer normally on offer. At the Junction, no real ale there either, with Robinsons beers CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it! available only on fonts. The Gardeners Arms on Astley Street Dukinfield seems lost. The pub signs recently were removed (Robinsons) and Pugh & Co. auctioneers signs are up on display instead. However in Stalybridge, a gain, with the Wharf Tavern selling real ale again. Wells & Youngs Bombardier was spotted recently on sale. Through February and early March the Rock Tavern on the Marple Road from Charlesworth remained shut as did the Nags PHOENIX BREWERY Head on Charlestown Road, Glossop. The Grey Mare in Charlesworth is open but up for sale. GREEN LANE, HEYWOOD, OL10 2EP TEL. 01706 627009 Planning permission has been granted by Tameside Borough Council, to turn the Junction Inn at Mottram traffic lights, a Best Bitter, Old Oak, Navvy, Double Dagger, conservation area, into 4 terraced houses, each with three Monkeytown Mild, Arizona, White Monk, bedrooms. Pale Moonlight, Midsummer Madness, Bantam, The architect cited the smoking ban, credit crunch and licensing law changes as the reasons for its demise. It was felt White Monk, Black Shadow, March Hare, by Robinsons Brewery, the owners, that there was no way that May Fly, Sticky Wicket, Double Gold, the pub could be saved. Permission was also granted for 8 Flash Flood, Black Bee, White Tornado, further houses on the pubs car park. Last Leaf, Massacre, Porter, Snowbound, Wobbly Bob, White Hurricane, Uncle Fester, Mike Wawiorko adds Following a walk in Lyme Park we Christmas Kiss, Humbug, Tyke, Thirsty Moon stopped for lunch at the Boars Head in Higher Poynton for lunch and found good food at a reasonable price with well kept ales to wash it down. We chose the soup and sandwich offer for £5.95 MORE CHOICE and thoroughly enjoyed the freshly made mushroom soup, sandwich, good size portion of chips and salad. There’s a choice BETTER BEER of three cask ales. The Boars Head can be found by the Nelson Pit visitor centre by the former Higher Poynton railway station. It International Brewing Awards is handily placed for the Macclesfield canal, hiking in the hills, cycling or walking the Middlewood Way or following a visit to the nearby Anson Engine Museum. In the Peak a couple of Cheshire pubs at Kettleshulme well 1998 2002 worth a visit are the Swan, with a good reputation for its food and 2002 2004 choice of ales from independent breweries and the Bulls Head. Wobbly Bob Navvy Wobbly Bob Wobbly Bob They form a good base for a hike up to Windgather rocks and Shining Tor with an hourly bus daytime Monday to Saturday between Macclesfield and Whaley Bridge. The Nursery Inn Energetic Erica Lindop has wasted no time in making her GREEN LANE, 432 2044 mark on the Rising Moon at HEATON NORRIS, Matley. Erica, from Newton, STOCKPORT has attracted new customers · Good Home Cooked Food Served Daily by putting her previous · Lunches every day including Sundays for background as an interior families in our Dining Room designer to good use. She · Beer Garden with Eating Area Brewers of explains: “It’s all about · Bowling Parties & Function Room Traditional presentation and attention to · Egon Ronay Guide, Cask detail. Having worked here behind the bar for the past 12 months · AA Best of British Guide Beers I built up some good ideas to make a real difference, so when I · CAMRA Good Pub Food Guide had the chance to take over as licensee I seized the opportunity · CAMRA Regional Pub of the Year 2001 Always in and put my plans into action.” Our photograph shows Erica · CAMRA NATIONAL Pub of the Year good taste (centre) and her mother Susan (right) receiving their training certificates from Veronica Robinson. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it! April 2009 OPENING TIMES 5 The Legion Club Greater Manchester CAMRA Club of the Year The Home of Live Music and Live Sport

All Prem Plus matches Robin Wignal’s monthly round-up on the Peak Pub Scene As well as all other Sky Sports Channels nce again a local history society meeting produced some gems of information about pub history. In Buxton Spring OGardens there was a Shakespeare Hotel from 1711- Porkies Folk Club 1926. The site was eventually occupied by Woolworth’s, now closed of course, whilst the stables at the rear of the hotel First Friday of Month became the Shakespeare Garage. The Hardwick Hotel was lost in the building of the shopping precinct. The Eagle, on the Market Place, now a Hydes house, was the Devonshire for over a Ultimate Quiz century until the 1930’s, but from 1592 until the 19th century there Last Saturday of Month had been the Eagle and Child on the site. Wetherspoon’s Wye Vale House had been the Midland Hotel, and as such is likely to have been a railway hotel. There is more on pub history at Furness Vale Local History Live Jazz Society on Tues. 5 May at 7.30 p.m. A talk entitled All Cakes and With Mart Roger Manchester Jazz Ale, presents a history of the English inn through inn signs. Visitors are welcome. Admission is £1 to non-society members, Third Thursday of Month and includes refreshments. A Hydes beer is available in the club Magnificent choice of Cask Beer bar afterwards. I gather that non-members can access this. There is also real ale to be had at the Soldier Dick and the served in a convivial atmosphere Crossings, both a minute’s walk away from the club, in the village Poynton Legion For more information centre. The Crossings gave a chance to try Robinson’s Trouble and Strife in early March. George’s Road West contact Nick Williams Poynton on 01625 873120 Still on pub history, up at the Shady Oak at Fernilee, some of the pub’s history can be seen on menus, place mats and leaflets. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it! Old photographs show the Shady Oak as a Clarke’s house. Clarke’s was the Reddish brewery bought and closed by Boddington’s in 1963. Boddington’s ownership of the Shady Oak also shows in photographs. With the demise of Boddington’s as first a brewer and then a pub owner, there was a chequered history for the pub, including periods of closure, until it was Steve , Johanne & Molly bought by Jennings of Cockermouth. This was surely their most welcome you to southerly pub. This ownership was brief as Jennings was bought out by Marston’s, although the Shady Oak is still badged Jennings. The current beer range reflects this duality with Ye Olde Vic Marston’s Bitter and Pedigree, and Jennings Cumberland and Snecklifter available. 1 Chatham Street, Edgeley, Stockport A recent visit to the Navigation at Buxworth found two guest (0161) 480 2410 beers, both from Howard Town at Glossop. Longdendale Lights and Monk’s Gold were both in good form. Opening Hours: The Fox at Brook Bottom is well worth a visit for good Robinson’s Hatters and Unicorn. It is not the easiest pub to find, Mon – Fri: 5pm – 11pm; a short walk uphill from Strines Station, a longer walk from Sat: 7pm – 11pm; Strines P.O. bus stop, or a drive along the narrow lane from New Sun: 7pm -10.30pm Mills.. At the Old Hall at Whitehough, where dining has extended into the room with a minstrel gallery, recent guest beers have included Hornbeam Lemon Blossom, refreshingly pale and 5 Alternating Cask Beers hoppy, Storm Silk of Amnesia and Copper Dragon Best Bitter. Westons Traditional Cider chilled, This Skipton brew was in very good form. The Kings Arms in Chapel en le Frith had no real ale on a Selection from 12 single malts in recent visit, which was my first call for a couple of years. There had at that time been real ale available, Black Sheep Bitter if I 35ml measures recall rightly, but perhaps that was a brief flirtation with cask conditioned beer. Solid Fuel Open Fire The Fallow Deer just off the by-pass on the edge of Chapel en An Establishment for the Discerning Drinker!! le Frith seems to have had a busy start since opening in December. Food sales were probably helped by a voucher for £5 We still maintain our no off on the back of Morrison’s till receipts in Chapel. Regular beers swearing and good are Pedigree and Jennings Cumberland. The third hand pump is behaviour policy. for guest beers from elsewhere in the Marston’s brewing empire. STOCKPORT & SOUTH Wychwood Dirty Tackle was available when I called. MANCHESTER PUB OF THE Finally a bit of good news as the White Hart in Whaley Bridge MONTH MARCH 2005 has re-opened. A glance through the window shows three hand pumps with pump clips. More next time. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it! 6 OPENING TIMES April 2009

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it! April 2009 OPENING TIMES 7

this is a permanent or temporary development I do not know. As most will know, it’s a free house, usually with something from Millstone, and often something from Hydes. On this night there were four beers available, two King Street West with Paul Felton from Millstone including Olde Vic, the latest in a series e started the evening in the Florist on Shaw Heath, of beers named almost opposite the bottom of Longshut Lane West, after some of their Wand the first of four Robinsons pubs en route. It has a outlets, plus the large, quite impressive exterior; and the inside is divided into a latest Hydes lobby and five separate seasonal and UXB drinking areas in a semi from Beer Works; circle around the bar, there was also Ross-on-Wye Discovery Blend cider. All of us the ‘doors’ to all of which drank the Millstone Olde Vic, and one enthusiastic soul also had possess comparatively a half of UXB: both easily kept up the high standard of beer thus tame examples of the far in the evening. infamous Robinsons arch – it would be nice if Then it was past the former Tom Thumbs to the Comfortable any future refurbishment Gill , down the hill on the corner of King Street West and Wood could get rid of the Street. The attractive double doors lead into a very constricted arches. Now run by the entrance; the bar is immediately in front when you enter, with same people that run little room to move. It’s a dark U-shaped interior, with a pool the Armoury (see room back left. The Comfy Gill styles itself as Stockport’s below), it’s been turned around somewhat over the past couple premier karaoke venue; but there wasn’t much custom, of years by its current licensees. The standard two Robinsons although credit where it’s due, some of the karaoke singers beers were available, Hatters mild and Unicorn best bitter, and could actually sing! The only beer available was thought to be both were pretty good. Theakstons XB, though this is in some doubt as it came out of a handpump with a Black Bull clip. Whatever it was, it wasn’t The Grapes is at the top of Castle Street, and Robinsons again. bad: while it was probably the least good beer of the night (to Much smaller than the Florist, it’s a two room local that has been use “worst” might be unfair) this says more about the good smartened up recently. The vault has a pool table, and the quality available elsewhere than any particular failing at the lounge is festooned with numerous sporting plaques and cups. Comfy Gill. Again, Hatters and Unicorn were the choices; and again, both were good, if not quite up to the standard set by the Florist. One The Pineapple on Heaton Lane was the fourth and final word of warning: on the way to the toilets at the back of the Robinsons pub of the night, and the initial impression was lounge, there is a cunningly disguised slope which can catch out favourable if only for the stained glass in the entrance lobby and the unwary. Or perhaps we’d just been drinking. front windows (and anyone who knows the writer’s architectural tastes will know of his liking for stained glass, and indeed for Across the road to the arches, though by choice the latter would be Romanesque or Armoury on the Gothic, rather than Robinsons …). There’s a small room front corner of Shaw Heath left, divided from the remainder of the pub above waist level by and Greek Street. a wrought iron frame which I expected to be long gone. The There are three larger main room on the left is decorated with a myriad of plates rooms here, wood on the wall. As well as the standard Hatters and Unicorn, a first panelled lounge, sighting was made of both Cumbrian Way and the current vault and back room seasonal, Trouble & Strife; yet again, all beers were good, with (formerly for darts). the seasonal causing one of our number to go into raptures. The separate lobby in the vault has been Most readers lost, creating a larger will know the room and more space Crown on for the darts board, but losing a little in character. The back Heaton Lane, room has art deco uplighters and swags and tails on the recently a curtains, which seemed a little incongruous. Never mind: this is finalist in being a little over-critical of a good, well-run pub. Four beers CAMRA’s were available, the ubiquitous Hatters and Unicorn, but also national pub Double Hop and Old Tom (though no one was brave enough to of the year try the latter this early in the evening). Again, all the beers were competition, pretty good. so there’s almost little There were once four other pubs in this area which served cask point in a long description. Compact, five different drinking beer. Of these, the Swan on Shaw Heath, Bluebell on King areas including the often-crowed space in front of the bar, more Street West and Church on Moseley Street are all closed, some beers that you can shake a stick at, a must-visit for visitors to long since; and the Greyhound on Bowdon Street is keg. the town. Oh, and the beer was good, too!

So it was on to the Olde Vic on Chatham Street. This is a small I think these days this must count as one of the better staggers. building which externally has perhaps seen better days. Short walks, some very goods pubs, and basically good beer Internally it’s one room in a B shape: it’s good to see that the everywhere we went. Can’t ask for too much more than that. small stage in front of the fire which seemed to take up too much Didn’t rain, either. of the floor area had gone since my last visit, though whether 8 OPENING TIMES April 2009

Reaching for the Revolver

HE past couple of years have seen an unprecedented range of pressures on the pub trade in the shape of the Tcredit crunch, the smoking ban, a 20% increase in beer duty, a torrent of questionable “health advice” about drinking and now the threat of a mandatory code of practice which is likely to cost pubs hundreds of millions of pounds. Most of these factors are either the direct responsibility of government or have been exacerbated by their actions. So it was quite astonishing to hear the Home Office minister in charge of licensing policy, Alan Campbell, admit that he couldn’t remember the last time he had been in a pub, while Trade minister Angela Eagle denied any government responsibility and said it was all down to “shifting consumer tastes”. Another minister, Caroline Flint, could not understand why people went to pubs just to drink

This really does underline how out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people the government are. They give no indication of understanding why people should want to visit pubs or showing the slightest degree of sympathy for the plight of the licensed trade. They seem to see pubs as a kind of health hazard, scenes of fighting and binge-drinking and purveyors of unhealthy, fatty food, and totally fail to appreciate that most pub customers are entirely responsible and most pubs are friendly, trouble-free places that play an important role in community life. Given this attitude, it is perhaps wishful thinking that the beleaguered pub trade will manage to wring any meaningful concessions out of the current administration, so don’t expect the wave of closures to abate any time soon. In the words of Jonathan Neame, chairman of Shepherd Neame, “for other industries the government reached for the chequebook, but for pubs, Labour has reached for the revolver”. A Bunch of Fakers

F you mention the world “charity”, most people will automatically think of an organisation funded by public Idonations and existing to help the sick and needy. But in recent years, another form of charity has grown up, which is largely funded by government grants, and is essentially a lobbying group rather than one that actually helps anyone. They may claim to be independent of government, but in reality any opposition they display is merely to egg government on to impose ever tighter restrictions in favour of their particular hobbyhorse. Such bodies have justifiably been dubbed “Fake Charities”.

One of the worst examples is Alcohol Concern. Far from devoting their efforts to helping the unfortunate victims of the disease of alcoholism, their primary purpose is to campaign in favour of every proposed curb on drinking and drinkers going. For this objective, they derive well over half their income from the government. In 2007/08, their total income was £903,000. £515,000, or 57%, of this came directly from the government, with a mere £4,991, about half of one percent, coming from public donations.

If they had to resort to rattling collection boxes in the street in favour of banning happy hours, closing pubs and jacking up alcohol taxes, I wonder how much response they would get. Yet 12 - 3 Mon - Sat the government are happy to spend taxpayers’ money in funding bodies like this whose primary aim is restricting things people enjoy.

Curmudgeon Online: www.pubcurmudgeon.org.uk Curmudgeon Blog: pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com April 2009 OPENING TIMES 9 The Cheshire Ring Manchester Road, Hyde

E HAVE plenty of good news in Macclesfield, writes Mike Wawiorko. After some months being closed, the WBate Hall in the heart of the shopping area on Chestergate has reopened offering two Marstons ales plus a guest. On Park Lane, close to town, the former Ivy House is thriving as the Last Orders with a couple of ever changing real ales at reasonable prices. On my visits the Locale Macclesfield’s Storm has been in cracking form. In the outskirts, two former deserts have been offering cask for the first time in a good while. At Broken Cross, the Pack Horse is serving one ale from the Punch Finest list. Landlord Beartown Beers and Changing Paul explained he has installed new lines and we found Guest Ales on handpump Shepherd Neame Canterbury Jack in good condition. We’ve also found Titanic, Mordue and an excellent Newman’s Red Thursday is Curry Day from 2pm Castle Cream. The branch is due to visit the Pack Horse along with the Bulls Head (Boddingtons plus two guests) and Cock a pint and home-made curry for just £5 at Henbury (Robinsons) in a wander during March. On the Moss, the Golden Lion has been putting a toe in the market Live Music with Bombardier first Thursday of the Month The Crown on Bond Street has been under new management for a few months and is offering three casks ales, Sons of the Desert, Tent 262 with cracking good Bass, regular Tetley mild and a guest. The last Thursday of the month landlord is very enthusiastic about his ales and the Crown is well worth a visit. A traditional back street local, the Crompton Coming soon - the Cheesy Ring Club! Road Tavern, has completed its internal renovation and is Open Monday - Tuesday 4pm - late thriving with a couple of real ales. The tavern has been thoroughly redecorated and reupholstered, but keeps its Wednesday - Friday 1pm - late traditional feel with four separate inside areas. Saturday - Sunday 12pm - late During winter a traditional local the Dolphin up Windmill Street has been serving Robinsons Old Tom in perfect CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it! condition. There’s also Unicorn, Hatters and the seasonal Robinsons brew. The Dolphin is a stalwart in the Macclesfield bar skittles league. Another Robinsons house, the Flower Pot at Congleton Road crossroads near the Learning Zone, has added a seasonal brew to the always excellent Unicorn. This a popular pub with all ages, from students through to mature The Deansgate diners, and children welcome to eat early evening. Main meals cost £8-9 and the children’s menu has real food, not just the usual junk. As well as the lounge area, there’s a games room with darts and pool and a large garden. The Railway View seems to be a convert to real cider with one on the bar at the time of recent visits. Things seem to be back to normal at the Cock & Pheasant in Bollington following the financial problems of the Orchid Pub Company. Storm beers are now permanently back on the bar. Wilmslow Update ECENT visits to the Rifleman’s have seen an abundance of customers. The quiz nights are back on RThursdays and Sundays, while music nights are also on the agenda. Food is being introduced again, too. And as for the real ale, they currently have six cask ales – Boddington’s. Theakston’s, Ruddle’s County, Deuchars IPA, Black Sheep 321 Deansgate, Manchester and Old Speckled Hen. Well worth checking out. There was general dismay when the Unicorn on Adlington 4 cask beers including guest ales Road closed without warning just before Christmas – one of the Home cooked food every day 12 noon - 8pm Orchid Group casualties. The pub reopened again in mid- January having reverted back to its previous owners, Spirit Roof Bar Function Room Group. The pub is now operating much as before except in one and Terrace for Hire respect – no local beers. The pub used to be a haven in Wilmslow of Cheshire brewed ale, from Storm and Northern Open 12 - 11 Sunday to Thursday Brewers. Sadly from now on we’ll only see beers from Spirit’s standard list which includes none brewed closer than Liverpool. 12 - 2am Friday & Saturday Those available on a recent visit were Black Sheep, Wells Telephone 0161 839 5215 Bombardier and Taylor’s Landlord. 10 OPENING TIMES April 2009

OT Birthday Beer April

To mark the 25th Birthday Year of Opening Times we are FINALLY managed to call into the Red Bull on Hillgate and commissioning a series of commemorative beers from local have a word with the new team. When the newly refurbished breweries, one per month (although one or two “extras” are also Ipub opened it was under temporary management but it has likely). Each month we will be featuring the brewery producing now been let on a tenancy, which should ensure continuity and the beer and also tell you a bit about the beer itself. The fourth stability. in the series comes from the Bollington Brewery. Check out the The team comprises Alex and brewery’s website at www.bollingtonbrewing.co.uk Karen Wilson plus their business partner Mike Charlton. Alex is an old About the Brewery hand in the licensed trade but this is his first dedicated cask ale house – in OLLINGTON Brewery is the youngest brewery in the the past he has been involved with BOpening Times area, having started to brew in July 2008. well known venues such as Owner and head brewer is Lee Wainwright, landlord of the Brasingamens in Alderley Edge nearby (just 150 feet away!) Vale Inn on Adlington Road. where cask beers weren’t part of the Having established the Vale as a multi-beer freehouse, brewing offer. his own beers seemed to They are keen to make a success be a logical step for Lee, of the pub and my advice was to do whose brewery has the basic things well – well kept ales, returned brewing to the top quality food, a smart and safe Cheshire town 80 years environment, and the rest would after the closure of the old follow. I think I was preaching to the converted as this seems to Heaver Brothers Brewery. be just what they are doing. Trade is on a pleasing upward It was by chance that trajectory and given the quality of the operation to date I’m not Lee met a former brewery surprised. owner at the Stowmarket The four cask ales are Hatters, Unicorn, Double Hop and the beer festival and managed seasonal – quality has been high when I have been in. to get hold of an appropriate kit. The water in Bollington tends There are a variety of promotions too – Wednesday night to be quite good for brewing and the yeast is originally from sees a pub quiz with a free curry for all entrants, there is live Edinburgh and is of high quality. music from the Bourbon Street Preachers on Saturday nights The brewing kit itself is currently a four-barrel plant, and a Sunday Lunch Club (with live swing and blues from 4pm). producing 16 casks if brewing takes place weekly – and there There’s also an “Early Doors Club” between 5pm and 7pm is capacity to increase to 60 casks each week. Mondays to Fridays with a pie and pint plus complimentary The first beer, appropriately called First Brew (4.2% ABV) is nibbles. The pub also produces a cheekily named newsletter, still in production as Bollington Best. This is an excellent hoppy The Bull Sheet and there’s an informative website at beer with a clean, crisp palate and a refreshing bitter aftertaste. www.redbullstockport.co.uk. It has however been joined by an impressively varied range of other beers, including: More News from Around the Town Bollington Nights (3.9%) - This is a smooth traditional dark ale The gentle refurbishment at the Swan With Two Necks with a light flavour and aroma, but a definite bitterness. (Princes Street) continues. Latest White Nancy (4.1%) - a very pale bitter with a good hoppiness developments include the and light body. White Nancy is the famous folly on Kerridge installation of new wooden hand Ridge overlooking Bollington. pump handles and, more Wheat Nancy (4.3%) - Golden, crisp bitter with a good balance significantly, fitting new wooden of wheat to give some body and extra flavour panelling in the front room. This is Oat Mill Stout (5%) - An Oatmeal Stout with a twist. A hoppy a very classy job and finishes the bitter taste keeps the sweetness in check and allows for a great room off a treat, making for a very dark beer. cosy and welcoming feel. There’s a new chef, too (in typical Opening Times fashion, the former About the Beer chef left just after we published our glowing food review) who is UR Opening Times special is a producing some really high quality food. O4.3% ABV beer described by Elsewhere the cask ale range has changed at the Bowling the brewery as “a fresh spring time Green on Charles Street. There are now two cask beers, bitter, conjures up images of fresh Theakstons Best Bitter and XB but they are only available at flowers, new growth, early morning weekends. bird song and warm days to come”. I rarely get down Newbridge Lane which is a shame as there It is a dark copper beer made with are two excellent pubs down there. The Park has been selling Maris Otter, Crystal and Pale Holts Bitter on hand pump for years. Nearby the Midway Chocolate malts. There is an initial continues to impress. It majors on food these days but the beer sweet flavour and aroma followed drinker isn’t overlooked. The beer range is now Jennings by a refreshing dry and slightly fruity Cumberland Ale plus a changing guest such as Adnams aftertaste provided by the Broadside. Worth a visit. Sovereign and Fuggles hops used Finally in Hazel Grove, the Robin Hood is keg. The Rising in the brew. A rounded and Sun is also keg, although the managers there are only enjoyable beer. temporary so the next people may put cask back on. The Bulls Head is doing Courage Best, Greene King IPA, and Black Sheep bitter. They hope to get Hornbeam Bulls Head back on in future. April 2009 OPENING TIMES 11 Festival entertainment A run down of the bands appearing at this year’s Beer Festival

As usual apart from the great range of beer, cider and perry, YesSir! there will also be some great bands for you to enjoy in our Yes Sir was first separate music room. We’ve asked Festival Entertainment around in the Manager Stuart Ballantyne to give us a taste of what’s on late 1970’s offer this year…. emerging out of Victor Brox’s Thursday Night – The Curragh Sons Blues Train. The festival opens with the return of one of the most popular They played Irish folk bands in the country, the Curragh Sons. Hardly ‘new together on and kids on the block’, the Curragh Sons have been running in one off with some form or another for thirty years, and have played their exciting great success brand of Irish and until retiring from original material the scene in 1986. The band was reformed in 2006 with a new across the U.K. two piece horn section and a new lead guitarist creating one of Ireland and the most dynamic and entertaining line ups in the business. beyond. The Fans of blues music will not be disappointed as the band band’s lead singer covers many of the classics blues anthems. As a seven piece and bodhran band they certainly look the part dressed in their black suits and player is Sean ties and they certainly know how to get the joint really rocking. Wood who has been the mainstay The Casual Ties of the band from The Casual Ties modestly describe themselves as ‘probably the the start and has played with all the big folk names out of best rock band in the world ever to come from the bit of Edgeley Ireland, including The Pogues, The Wolfetones, and many just across the road from Alexandra Park’. This description is far more. They reckon the current line-up is the best yet – and we too modest as the band have been regular winners of the have to agree. coveted Vasco de Gama prize for opening up new musical tour routes the length and breadth of the UK, Ireland and Germany. Friday Night – The Soul Bandits Undoubtedly the Casual Ties are one of the most experienced The Soul Bandits were formed in professional rock bands in the North West and can be relied 1987 and have been playing on and upon to pump out your favourite classic tracks at a feversome off together ever since. They are one pace. The band has a wicked sense of humour, never taking of the North-West’s most popular themselves too seriously. Don’t miss the Casual Ties – they are bands, specialising in Stax, Atlantic one of the best rock bands in the business and Motown songs. These songs include many classics from artists The Blues Blasters such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, The Blues Blasters are somewhat of an institution in Stockport Sam and Dave, and James Brown. playing sensational bar-room blues with a level of finesse quite The Soul Bandits’ music is above unlike any other band. all fun, lively, dancing music played Back once again at with a tight rhythm section supported Stockport Beer and Cider by drums, lead guitar and bass guitar Festival by popular which are topped off with lead singer demand, they will pump out Graham’s punchy vocals and some of the best Chicago harmonica. They play a heady mix of classic soul songs that will blues you have ever heard. make you want to get up, dance and party. The band boasts that between them they have Saturday: A Festival of Manchester’s Finest 150 years of gigging This year’s Saturday entertainment is an all-day showcase of experience and this shows in their performances. What you get some of the best local bands and musicians. is a polished performance of superb musicianship featuring one of the tightest rhythm sections in the business but played in a Pete Goode relaxed, effortless way. At the same time the band exudes fun and it is obvious that the band are probably enjoying the gig just Kicking off the Saturday lunchtime music session this year we as much as you are. have Pete Goode, a long standing local folk artist that plays regularly in the Stockport pub scene. Pete has played all over The Words the UK, in the 80’s as part of the popular fold duo Abalon and latterly as a solo artist. Make sure that you don’t miss this The Words are causing a stir on the Manchester scene with a opening set as it will bode you well for the rest of the combination of clever lyrics, incredible music and a desire to entertainment over the day. perform and improve. Creating music which gets you humming along after your first listen and leaving you with a sense of Ye Olde Vic Band contentment you had previously never thought possible. Drawing on influences ranging from Oasis and the Kings of Next up on Saturday lunchtime is the Ye Olde Vic Band whose Leon to The Beatles and Elvis & combining the spirit of Indie name is taken from a similarly named pub not a million miles with the passion a Rock band should have you mixing in the away from the beer festival where the band is based. They melodic sounds of Motown, The Words have managed to create promote themselves as playing traditional English style music a style of music which excites and entertains but also hits hard which is ‘the most danceable music in the world’. in all the right places. 12 OPENING TIMES April 2009

NEW OXFORD

A warm welcome awaits you at the 2008 CAMRA Pub of the Year ell, it seems to be beer festival time in the pubs of south Manchester. Too late for the last issue I Wlearned of a beer festival being held at Dulcimer, Bazens’ Flatbac 4.2% Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, at the end of last month. It will have been and gone by the time you read this but I was plus 10 Guest Ales planning to go down and get a couple of pictures. Manager Will Pitcher certainly seems enthusiastic enough 7 Belgian & 4 German beers on with 30 guest beers planned alongside five ciders or perries. I think Dulcimer could well be “one to watch”. draught at all times The Bulls Head on London Road (opposite Piccadilly Station) is planning a mini beer festival for the 6 to 15 April. There will be eight additional beers spread across the New food menu available handpumps – plans include Hook Norton Old Hooky, four Ringwood beers and Wychwood Hobgoblin. Mon - Sat 12 - 8pm The Friendship on Wilmslow Road in Fallowfield is planning a “Red Rose Beer Festival” for 23 to 26 April Sunday lunch and light bites featuring local beers plus Hydes St 12 - 6.30pm Georges Bitter (4.3%). Thurs night - curry night However the big one is that planned for Kro2 on Oxford Road over the Easter weekend. This will be featuring an incredible 60-plus different beers from a raft of local breweries and as if that wasn’t enough there will be 20 ciders and perries, sourced from John Reek of Merrylegs Cider (he’s the man who supplies much of our cider and perry at Stockport Beer Festival so you know it’ll be good stuff). This promises to be a real blast and is one not to miss. Opening and Closing ew Year, new broom they say. That was certainly true for two long-shut Ardwick pubs. The Union has re- Nopened as the "Spicy Grill", a cafe-cum-restaurant, whilst the Park will become a martial arts New world bottled beer menu centre / gym. The latter will require considerable work as the place had been Tues night - quiz night dreadfully vandalised (I was shown around by the new owner). Both of these were GBG 2009 former Burtonwood houses. The Kings Head is firmly shuttered still. It is owned by Network Rail. Meanwhile the closed Barleycorn in West Didsbury has www.thenewoxford.co.uk apparently been bought by Jim Ramsbottom, owner of Dukes 92 at Castlefield. I am told a quick refurbishment is planned prior to reopening. No news yet as to whether or not cask ale 11 Bexley Square, Salford (just off Chapel St), will feature. Salford News and Reviews Tel 0161 832 7082 I can report that the former Revise in Chorlton has re-opened as "Electrik" (with a slightly dodgy tag line of CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it! PublicSocialCafeHouseBar"). But I am pleased to report it is definitely cask with three hand pumps. On my visit two had April 2009 OPENING TIMES 13 clips but only one on - Thwaites Original. The turned round one looked like it could have been Wainwright. The Original was definitely in excellent form. It is certainly a Thwaites www.thelass.co.uk supplied outlet, with Warsteiner Lager and Stowford Press cider amongst others on the keg fonts. Two Thwaites supplied / dominated pubs next to each other does make me wonder if Electrik is a new venture from the owners of Dulcimer? I can't deny that the smell of new paint was off-putting and also looks like there is more work to do on the décor - the walls are crying out for some artwork. The main thing that they could certainly do with (and deserve) is some more custom - when we left at 10pm just one customer remained. The rest of the bars on the same strip had plenty of custom. In my opinion, The Bar remains one of the stars of the Chorlton houses. On my last visit Marble Ginger & Manchester were joined by Phoenix Arizona, Pictish Brewers Gold & Abbeydale Devastation. The Manchester, Gold & Devastation were all very, very good.

I though I would try out the Parrswood Hotel (School Lane, Parrswood Road junction) since it has started selling real ale again. When I called there was Wells Bombardier on hand pump – in good condition if a bit over chilled for my taste, glasses topped up without asking, very reasonable £1.95 per pint. The pub is vast and even when half full it has a strange sort of non-atmosphere, but let us celebrate a pub returning Probably the best pies in Manchester to real ale. It also advertises a guest ale which was not on Homemade food served every day when I called. The pump clip, correctly turned round, said something like Hair Brained, I think. Up to 9 cask ales at any one time Free Comedy on first Saturday of month The Last Real Pub in Chorlton? Computer Club last Tuesday of the Month Open Mic every Monday Les Jones writes… CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 We’re in it!

There is a story, repeated in pubs and bars of Chorlton cum Hardy, that when legendary Californian Rock Band The Beach Boys played the Apollo last year they dropped in at Excellent Selections of Cask The Beech in Chorlton for a couple of pints. Although this might appear unlikely The Bee Gees lived here, Quentin Ales in Chorlton-on-Medlock Crisp died here and Badly Drawn Boy Damon Gough still lives here. I guess I have been going to the Beech on grafton Street Beech Road, Chorlton · St Austell Tribute and Brains Rev James at least once a week plus guest beers for around two years and on and off for · March guests include Exmoor Hound Dog, around 30 years. I Double Maxim and Evan Evans Warrior have always found the · Partly covered 50 seater company, the staff outside seating area and the range and quality of beers to be available for hire excellent. My favourite is Taylor’s Landlord, although their Best Bitter runs very close. I have also enjoyed a number of beers from Ideally located for the Dunham Massey Brewery. Academy, Curry Mile and City Centre The Beech is the last of its kind certainly in Chorlton. A pub Try Our Special Sausage & Burger menus that is small, friendly and comfortable, with the accent on 12 - 2 and 5 - 8 Monday - Friday providing good beer. Just before Christmas the Beech was completely Speciality beers from redecorated with new floors and upholstery. It has been Belgium, Germany & USA carried out with sensitivity and it looks great. Visit our sister pub I would ask anybody who ever visited the Beech to go again and enjoy excellent beer in an exceptional pub. The Ducie Arms, Devas Street Did the Beach Boys drink at the Beech? Well maybe, Both Pubs Available For Hire maybe not, but I would swear I heard the ghostly echoes of Phone Yvonne or Kev on 0161 273 1057 harmony singing as I walked up Beech Road the other Wednesday! 14 OPENING TIMES April 2009

Stockport Beer Festival - Corporate Visits

Would you like to reward your staff, provide an incentive within your team, or simply have a good time?

Like many supporters in the past you may be aware that all these can be met by taking a corporate package at the Festival.

We can tailor a package to suit your requirements; whether it’s the beer and food option or simply beer vouchers, it’s your decision.

As usual you can also pre-purchase festival glasses at £2 each AND this year, we will be launching the brand new Stockport Pub Guide at the Festival. This is a full colour glossy guide which will be on sale at the Festival at £4.95, but if you pre-order, you can buy copies at just £4.50 each. The guide lists EVERY pub in the Stockport and South Manchester CAMRA area, so it’s a MUST if you are a beer drinker!.

To discuss any of these options, email Alan Gent on [email protected] or ring Alan on 07798 571 354 April 2009 OPENING TIMES 15

Following the success of last year’s “Wild for Mild” we are once again running our popular Mild Challenge, this year dubbed “Mild Magic”. We have Bramhall: Ladybrook Hotel; Bridgemont: Dog & Partridge; stretched our wings even Broadbottom: Cheshire Cheese; Buxworth: Navigation; further this time to bring you a Cheadle: Crown, Old Star, Red Lion; Cheadle Hulme: Cheadle record 90 pubs promoting mild Hulme, Church Inn: Chorlton: Famous Trevor Arms, Pi; over Manchester, Salford, Clayton: Grove; Compstall: Northumberland Arms; Denton: Tameside, Derbyshire and Chapel House, Masons Arms; Didsbury: Fletcher Moss; Disley: Trafford. White Lion; Droylsden: Halfway House; Edgeley: Grapes; We have a brand new Fallowfield: Friendship, Grand sponsor, too. Many thanks to Central; Furness Vale: Crossings; Stephensons Catering Supplies Gatley: High Grove, Prince of Wales; of 161 Buxton Road, Stockport. Glossop: Norfolk; Gorton: Plough, They have been supplying the Waggon & Horses; Great Moor: catering trade since 1868 – Crown, Travellers Call; Hadfield: check out their website at Chieftain; Hazel Grove West: www.stephensons.com. Grapes, Three Tunnes; Heald The previous Challenges Green: Griffin; Heaton Mersey: have been a great success and Griffin, Crown; Heaton Moor: Crown; if you haven’t taken part before, Heaton Norris: Silver Jubilee, try and have a go this time. It’s Navigation, Nursery; Heaviley fun and it’s easy. It’s also a Blossoms; Hyde: Queens, Cheshire chance to visit some new pubs, Ring, Sportsman; Longsight: New try new beers and, of course, to win some great prizes. Victoria; Manchester City Centre: The Challenge runs from Saturday 18 April to Sunday 17 May Marble Arch, Ape & Apple, Smithfield inclusive and offers everyone taking part the chance to win Hotel, Old Monkey, Waterhouse, something. All completed entries will receive either a free entry Crown & Anchor, Bulls Head (London ticket for the 2009 Stockport Beer & Cider Festival or, if you’re a Road), Paramount; Marple: Hatters, member of CAMRA, a voucher for two free pints of mild at the Navigation; Marple (Rose Hill): Festival. Railway; Mellor: Royal Oak; Moss We are also again featuring the Mild Magic Extra – visit a Nook: Tatton Arms; New Mills: participating pub in 16 different areas, using the headings shown Masons Arms; Portwood: Railway; on the card, and you will win a special “Mild Magic” t-shirt Reddish: 3 Rivers Club, Thatched Enter the Mild Magic Super by getting stamps from 32 Tavern; Romiley: Friendship; Rusholme: Ford Madox Brown; different pubs in 32 different areas you get a free “Mild Magic” Sale: Volunteer; Salford: Crescent, New Oxford; Shaw Heath: polo shirt , and you will be entered into a prize draw to be Armoury, Florist; Stalybridge: Station Buffet Bar; Stockport “Brewer for the Day” at Manchester’s Marble Brewery Town Centre: Arden Arms, Waterloo, Bakers Vaults, Calverts To complete Mild Magic Ultra, send in cards containing a Court, Red Bull, Sun & Castle, Crown, Pineapple, Swan With stamp from every participating pub, you will also receive a free, Two Necks, White Lion; Timperley: Timperley Taverners Club; special-edition, embroidered Polo shirt, and again go into the Whaley Bridge: Board Inn, Goyt Inn, Shepherds Arms, Cock “Brewer for the Day” draw. Otherwise, only one entry per person Inn; Withington: Victoria; Woodford: Davenport Arms. See please also article on page 16. This year we are also especially grateful to Hydes for enabling us to offer an extra-special prize: every completed entry will go into a draw and the first 10 pulled out will win a visit to the brewery to see how their milds and other beers are brewed WHILE the National Brewers seem to have virtually turned This year we are again asking all participants to vote for their their backs on cask mild, our local companies still produce favourite pint of mild and the pub in which it was served – the the real thing. Robinson’s in fact still produce two milds and winning pub will be presented with a ‘Mild Champion’ award in Hydes three! Here we give a run-down on some of the milds recognition of their efforts. you can expect to find on this year’s Challenge. In addition a number of pubs will be offering a variety of guest milds during the Challenge.

3 Rivers Delta Dark (4.8% ABV) – tasty dark mild brewed for May. Beartown Ambeardextrous(3.5%) – dark, rich and full flavoured. Beartown Black Bear(5%) – strong mild with roast and malt flavours and a mellow finish. Cains Dark Mild(3.2%) – Too good to miss out on? Definitely! So, what do you have to do? smooth, dry and roasty. Coach House Gunpowder Mild(3.8%) It’s easy… – full bodied and roasty with a malty aroma and full finish. Holt Mild(3.2%) – very dark with complex taste. Hydes First, get a card. All participating pubs have a stock or you Light/1863(3.7%) – refreshing and fruity with a dry finish. Hydes can get one from the Mild Challenge address: 173 Mild(3.5%) – dark and dry. Hydes Owd Oak (3.5%) – very dark Shearwater Road, Offerton, Stockport, SK2 5XA mild with rich taste. Jennings Dark Mild (3.1%) – dark, malty and roasty. Marble (6%) – new strong mild being brewed for When you buy a pint or a half of cask mild in one of the pubs May. Moorhouse’s Black Cat(3.4%) – dark and fruity with taking part, ask the bar staff to stamp your card. Remember, lingering taste. Oakwell Old Tom (3.4%) – dark and smooth though, you can only get one stamp from each pub. Robinson’s Hatters (3.2%) – refreshingly dry and malty. Dark Hatters (3.2%) – dark and fruity. Tetley Dark Mild (3.2%) – good When you’ve filled the card (you’ll need 16 different stamps session mild with fruity taste. Titanic (3.5%) – fruity and dry with from 16 different pubs) send it to the Mild Challenge address a long bitter finish on the card and, after our closing date, we will send off your prizes. 16 OPENING TIMES April 2009 Mild Magic in Whaley Bridge EVEN pubs in the Whaley Bridge area have registered for Mild Magic, the Mild Challenge, in 2009. They will provide Sparticipants with a good trip out. These southernmost pubs on the Challenge are well worth a visit in their own right, with a range of good beers and welcoming hospitality. To avoid wasted journeys some information about opening / closing hours may be helpful. Family Brewers News No new beers from all of our family brewers this month. Dog & Partridge, Bridgemont. Opens at 11.00 but has a 15.00 However May will see new beers from both Robinson’s, –17.00 close Mon-Thurs. though this can be flexible in favour of Hydes and Holts. being open. Open all day Fri. Sat. Sun. Goyt Inn, Whaley Bridge. 16.00 till late Mon.-Fri. 14.00 till late Robinsons – the beer for May and June will be Nosey Parker Sat. and Sun. (3.8%). The brewery tasting notes Shepherds, Whaley Br. 15.00 till late Mon-Fri. 12.00 Sat. and describe this as a “traditional Harvest 14.00 Sun. till late. gold bitter with aromas of spicy hop Cock Inn, Whaley Br. open all day from about 11.00 till late. and honey. An interesting and com- Board Inn, Horwich End. Closed until 16.00 Mon-Fri. Open all plex beer with a malt and honey sweet day at week end. palate matched by fruity overtones Crossings, Furness Vale. 16.00 till late Mon.-Thurs. Fri., Sat. and complemented by a dry roasted and Sun. 12.00 till late. or nutty finish” Navigation Buxworth. Open from late morning till late, daily. Hydes – here the beer for May and June will be Sacre Bleu (4.4%). This These times could of course vary. will be an amber ale with a spicy, zesty aroma. It will be a malty beer with a good citrus hop The Navigation (Buxworth ) and the Goyt make a welcome return balance coming from Fuggles, Challenger and Styrian Gold- to the Mild Challenge. The others have become regulars. Some ings hops. of the pubs will be new pubs for some people. All the pubs will Holts – the new beer for April is Fifth Sense (5%). The look forward to seeing new faces, and returning ones. brewery tasting notes describe this as a light refreshing Getting there. Bus 199 from Stockport stops at Furness Vale, premium ale with an intense flavour originating from the Bridgemont, Whaley Bridge Station, outside the Cock and then Styrian hop which gives a very distinct citrus aftertaste. “Light the Board. Half hourly service during the day, hourly in the on the palate but rich in flavour this hoppy ale is a perfect evening and on Sunday. Trans Peak stops at Furness Vale, accompaniment to most spicy food dishes”. every 3 hours until soon after tea. The 61 links Whaley Bridge with Glossop, Hayfield, New Mills and Buxton, hourly during the Micro Brewery News daytime, every day. The 189/190 links Whaley with Buxworth, Lots of news from our local micro brewers. As ever apologies hourly until teatime, Mon.-Sat. Buxworth is a 15-20 minute walk to those we were unable to contact this time. from Whaley Bridge along the canal towpath or over Bings Road/Silk Hill. Boggart Hole Clough – the big Local Pubs Week news here is that Boggart Brewery – Events Diary has acquired its first tied outlet. It’s not your usual pub, though, as Boggart has bought the Paradise th Brewery Bar in the Arndale Market. Friday 17 April – Stock- After some work on the bar-cum- port South and Hillgate market stall, it was scheduled to Stagger. An opportunity for reopen as the Micro Bar sometime a taster of the pubs on the at the beginning of April – it should south side of town. You can be trading by the time you read this. join us at 7.30pm at the Nel- Plans for the drink offering are quite son, Wellington Road South extensive with four cask beers (two from Boggart and two or at 8.30pm at Little Jack unusual and ever changing guests), traditional cider, genuine Horners on Lord Street. lager and a range of bottled beers. More on this next time. th On the beer front, the Rum Porter (4.6%) has now joined the Monday 20 – A Multiple Mild Social starting at 7.30pm in range as a regular beer. There will also be some new beers the Pineapple, Heaton Lane. Try some of the best pubs in for April although recent efforts have been concentrated on Stockport where cask mild is served. getting the new bar ready for opening.

rd Thursday 23 – Our Pub of the Month presentation to the Bank Top Brewery – a new session beer has been Alexandra, Northgate Road, Edgeley. A little out of the town introduced to replace the now discontinued Bikes & Trikes. centre. If you’ve not been before this provides the perfect This is Barley To Beer (3.6%) a pale, easy drinking beer excuse to visit this Edwardian gem which is on CAMRA’s brewed using Marynka hops. “Good for a sunny afternoon” National Inventory of historic pub interiors. From 8pm on- says the brewery. It was in fact on sale at last month’s wards. Oldham Beer Festival and OT can confirm that it is a very tasty beer with a good hoppiness coming through in the finish. th Saturday 25 – Presentation of our Local Pub of the Year Howard Town Brewery – a new beer to look out for is SDB Award to the Arden Arms on Millgate. This is a pub where or Strong Dark Beer (5.5%). It is similar to the company’s many good things come together – historic interior, good food Dark Peak but has been formulated as a chocolate stout. and great beer. From 8pm Also out are Dragon’s Nest (4.7%), a dark amber beer similar April 2009 OPENING TIMES 17 in style to the brewery’s original Howard Town Bitter, and Hope (4.1%). This latter has been reformulated from its last appearance with a new hop grist. This will make it a “tick” for those who indulge in that sort of thing.

Hornbeam Brewery – Kevin Rothwell continues to experiment with new beers and recipes. There’s always something interesting coming out of Hornbeam Brewery. Restaurante El Cuba Libre, at the This month look out for Polska Bitter (4.1%), a pale beer brewed using Polish hops, in particular the Lubelski and Sportsman, Hyde. Marynka varieties. In May the excellent Malt Mountain Mild will be out again. There will almost certainly be a couple of THE Sportsman on Mottram other beers out, too. Road in Hyde has long been a fixture on the local real ale scene. Phoenix – currently on test is White Tornado “au pression”, It has been a favourite for over a decade during which it won the which we think means it’s a cask beer chilled down and with coveted Regional Pub of the Year a touch of gas on top. This is being trialled at Sand Bar Award for two consecutive years. (Grosvenor Street, All Saints) as a possible beer for summer. The pub is owned by Geoff Cask White Tornado (4.3%) is now out again, two months Oliver and since Geoff’s purchase of the Porter Brewing Co (now early this year due to popular demand. Also out this month renamed Pennine Ales) it has been one of the brewery’s three are St George’s Flag (4.3%) and Resurrection (4.5%). tied houses. There have been some hiccups along the way, though. Not least was the necessity for Geoff to take back direct Pictish Brewery – Still producing management of the pub from his previous tenants, who seemed an exceptional range of single hop to be seriously running the pub down. beers. Pacific Gem (5.4%) was on However it has now be redecorated and refreshed, and many the bar at Oldham Beer Festival and former customers are now using the pub again. For many the was wonderfully citrussy. The main attraction is the range of cask beers on offer. The Pennine monthly special for April is one of the range is complemented by Plassey Bitter from North Wales (and best of the Pictish monthly beers (in a rare find for the area), changing guest beers and traditional our opinion). This is Maelstrom cider. (5%), described by the brewery as However wander upstairs and there is another treat in store. “a strong, pale golden coloured ale. Geoff’s Cuban wife, Cangui, and her sister Belen have converted the former function room into a restaurant specialising in Cuban Full malt flavours lead to an food, and notable Cuban tapas. intensely bitter finish and powerful This cosy, 40 seater restaurant boasts a cocktail bar and hop aroma”. projection TV screen showing Cuban images and DVD’s of Cuban musicians with the sound set as low background music. Marble Brewery – the commissioning of the new brewery These, together with other continues to make progress. Meanwhile new beers continue Cuban memorabilia to appear. Experiments with 1425 including full size Cuban (5.9%) continue with Version 3 out flags and pictures of Ché in late March. This was another Guevara, create a real hop spectacular brewed using Cuban atmosphere. Something as unusual as Cascade, Ruwaka and Chinook this just had to be sampled varieties. There may well be a and, accompanied by Version 4 out as well (and either v3 regular OT contributor Mark or v4 should be on the bar at McConachie, I decided to Stockport Beer & Cider Festival). give the menu a good workout. Thus we went for no less then Given the success of these beers seven tapas dishes plus some garlic bread – well with prices a 1425 is to be given a proper name rather than just being reasonable £1.95 to £3.95 we weren’t going to break the bank. badged after the brew number. Everything was seriously good and it is difficult to pick out Some interesting things are promised for later in the year. highlights. The roasted sweet potatoes with a spicy sauce The excellent imperial stout, Decadence (8.5%) will be topped with grated cheese were a pleasing combination of the rebrewed and also in the pipeline is a barley wine that will be sweet and savoury and along with the Yucca con Mojo Criollo (in cask matured for several months before bottling. Christmas effect light and crisp yucca chips) made for a great promises to be very festive this year! accompaniment to the meatier dishes.

The Albóndigas Picantes (Spicy meat balls in a rich, hot tomato Millstone – still running to stand still at Millstone. The last sauce) were terrific and like everything else on the menu clearly (we think) of the “pub name” series is now out. The “hecho en casa” (cooked and prepared on the premises). Also Wellington (the actual pub is in Sheffield and is a famous free noteworthy were the Camarones a la Habanera (king prawns house, formerly called the Cask & Cutler). It’s a 4% ABV beer with cream chilli sauce & mild Cuban spices) and the Carne con brewed using First Gold and Nelson Sauvin hops, so expect Papas (mild flavoured Cuban stew with diced beef & potatoes). lots of citrus grapefruit flavours. We were totally stuffed and had no room for dessert (the homemade cheesecake and the Pudin Cubana Con Salsa were 3 Rivers – this year’s Mild Magic challenge will be launched mightily tempting though). The bill was a snip at £23.10. at the 3 Rivers Club on 18th April at 3pm. The brewery’s The atmosphere is great, and the service is efficient and Delta Dark mild (4.8%) will be available at the launch and in friendly. What more could you ask? Highly recommended. I will the local free trade. Well worth seeking out. Suitably Irish be back. (5.6%) an excellent strong dry stout was also out last month. Head Brewer Mike Hitchen continues to experiment with Restaurante El Cuba Libre is open 6-10pm Wednesday to beers and is considering a plum beer. Saturday and 12-8 on Sundays. Book on 0161 368 5000. 18 OPENING TIMES April 2009

th Monday 6 April – Branch Meeting: Lantern Pike, Little Hayfield. Starts 8.30pm The Trafford & Hulme Branch covers the Borough of Trafford, Manchester West of the M56/Princess Parkway and a large part of the City Centre. Branch Contact – John Ison 0161 962 7976. Branch website: www.thcamra.org.uk th Here is our monthly round-up of what’s happening in the local Tuesday 7 April – Spring Pub of the Season presentation to CAMRA branches. Members of all branches are of course very the Knott, Deansgate. 8pm welcome to attend each others’ events. th The Stockport & South Manchester branch covers Stockport Thursday 16 – Altrincham Survey: 8pm King George, Moss Borough apart from Bredbury, Romiley, Woodley and Marple, Lane, 9pm Bridge, Moss Lane, 9.30pm Station, Stamford New plus that part of Manchester from the River Medlock in the Road. th north to the M56/Princess Parkway in the south-west. Branch Thursday 30 - Halebarns survey: 8pm Bulls Head, Wicker Contact – Pete Farrand 01625 425734 Lane, 9pm Corbens Carvery, Ashley Road. th th Thursday 9 April – Branch Meeting & AGM, Blossoms, Thursday 7 May – Branch Meeting: Railway, Ashley Rd, Hale. Buxton Rd, Heaviley. All members please try and attend Starts 8pm. this important meeting. th Apart from Macclesfield & Bollington, the Macclesfield & East Friday 17 – Stockport South & Hillgate Stagger: meet 7.30pm Cheshire Branch covers a wide area from Knutsford to Nelson, Wellington Rd Nth; 8.30 pm Little Jack Horner, Lord St. Congleton. Branch Contact – Tony Icke 01625861833 th th Saturday 18 – Mild Magic Launch: 3 Rivers Club, Greg St, Monday 20 – Campaigning meeting & Spring Pub of the Reddish. Starts 3pm. Season Award: Sutton Hall, Sutton. Starts 8pm th Monday 20 – Multiple Mild Social: starts 7.30pm, Pineapple, The North Manchester Branch covers The Northern Quarter Heaton Lane. and North East Manchester plus the City of Salford. Branch rd Thursday 23 – Pub of the Month presentation to the Contact – Alexandra, Northgate Rd., Edgeley. From 8pm. Dave Hallows 07983 944992. [email protected] th th Saturday 25 – Pub of the Year presentation to the Arden Wednesday 15 – Branch Meeting: New Oxford, Bexley Sq, Arms, Millgate, Stockport. From 8pm. Salford. Starts 8pm. nd The High Peak & North East Cheshire Branch covers Wednesday 22 - City Crawl. Crown & Kettle, Oldham St, 8pm, Bredbury, Romiley, Woodley, Marple, Tameside and Derbyshire Bar Fringe, 9pm, Smithfield, Swan St, 10pm th from Glossop to Buxton. Branch Contact – Mike Rose 07986 Wednesday 29 – Social: Ashton Arms, Clegg St, Oldham, 8pm 458517. [email protected] It takes all sorts to campaign for real ale

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Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account. April 2009 OPENING TIMES 19 April to October DIZZY BLONDE ABV 3.8%

Straw coloured Summer Ale with distinctive herbal or perfume like hop aroma. This light refreshing beer has a clean zesty hop dominated palate complemented by a crisp dry finish.