April 2013 Opening - Stockport and South Manchester CAMRA · April 2013 OPENING TIMES 3 Pub of the Month The Sun in September, Burnage The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of

April 2013 OPENING TIMES 1

OpeningTIMES THE FREE LOCAL CAMRA MAGAZINE

April 2013

COVERING THE CITIES OF MANCHESTER & SALFORD, STOCKPORT, TAMESIDE, TRAFFORD, N.E. CHESHIRE & MACCLESFIELD

Full Details On Page 15

2 OPENING TIMES April 2013

The RailwayAvenue Street, Portwood, Stockport

15 handpumps serving beers fromPennine Outstanding and

Moorhouses plus Pictish Brewer’sGold at all times

Changing guest mild and threeadditional guest beers at weekend

Changing guest cider

Large range of foreign bottled beers

Open 12-11 Monday to Saturday;12-10.30 Sundays


Pub of the MonthThe Sun in September, Burnage

The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Monthaward for April 2013 has been won by the Sun in September,Burnage Lane, Burnage.

With a passing resemblance to an Alpine villa, the Sun in Septemberseems somewhat incongruous in Burnage. Perhaps more at home inSwitzerland or Austria, the impressive grounds to the front with maturetrees and well-tended lawns lead you to the entrance. The reasons forthis are contained in the history of the building. It was built in 1847 as afamily home by Elizabeth Watts, the local landowner’s daughter,modelled on the chalets she saw during her honeymoon in the Alps.

Time has moved on and it is now of course a Sam Smith's pub. Manyolder readers will remember when it was strangely given an Indian Rajtheme, but thankfully following a more recent refurbishment, much ofthe original house is now open to be seen and the pub is definitely all thebetter for it. A large amount of the credit for this is down to the currentlicensees, Carole and Alan Taylor, who have nurtured the pub with careand attention for 20 years. In these days of pub closures plus the rapidturnover of licensees in the trade it is great to be able to acknowledge andreward their amazing fortitude and zeal which has continued to ensurethat the Sun in September is a highly successful and respected close knitcommunity pub.

Whatever time you go in the place buzzes with conversation and in theevenings it can get really busy. It is simply a really great pub and the levelof custom reflects this. Equally good is the one cask ale, Old BreweryBitter, Sam Smith's only cask beer, which is always on fine form and ofcourse being Sam Smith's at a very affordable price!

So why not join the local CAMRA branch to celebrate the award whichwill be presented to Carole, Alan and their staff on Thursday, 25th Aprilwhen, I am sure, a great night will be enjoyed by all. Take thisopportunity to find out why their large band of loyal regulars so rate thispub and if you get a chance have a chat to Carole about the pub history,she has a fascinating tale to tell.

The Pub of the Month award is sponsored by Stephensons, alocal family firm that has been supplying the local pub andcatering trade for over 140 years. Check out their advert onthis page.


Comment & What’s OnIndex, Notes and Local CAMRA Branch Events

Mild MagicOnce again we are launching our Mild Magic scheme, this year with 102pubs taking part. We think this makes it the biggest single promotion ofmild ale in the country – a fact which speaks volumes for the greatersurvival of cask mild in this part of the country then elsewhere.

Please do take part and support both the participating pubs and alsothose brewers who have stuck with cask mild when others haveabandoned it. Some brewers produce it all year round, while some justproduce it occasionally, often for CAMRA’s “Mild Month” of May.However be they regular or seasonal brews, all are worth seeking outand trying.

Opening Times - InformationOpening Times is produced by the Stockport & South ManchesterBranch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. Additional material issupplied by the High Peak & NE Cheshire, Trafford & Hulme, NorthManchester and Macclesfield & E Cheshire Branches. The viewsexpressed are not necessarily those of CAMRA either locally ornationally. 7,350 copies a month are printed by Phil Powell Printing ofFailsworth. All articles copyright CAMRA unless otherwise stated.

News, articles and letters are welcome to the editorial address:45, Bulkeley St, Edgeley, Stockport, SK3 9HDE-mail – [email protected]. Phone 0161 477 1973Advertising rates on request.

Trading Standards – for complaints about short measure pints etccontact Consumer Direct (North West). Consumer Direct works with allthe Trading Standards services in the North West and is supported bythe Office of Fair Trading. You can email Consumer Direct using asecure email system on their website (www.consumerdirect.gov.uk)which also provides advice, fact sheets and model letters on a range ofconsumer rights. Their telephone no. is 0845 404 05 06

Subscriptions – available at £11.00 for 12 issues (make chequespayable to Opening Times). Apply to David Sharpe, 1 Chiltern Drive,Woodsmoor, Stockport, SK2 7BE. Tel 0161 483 3708

Copy Date for the May issue is Friday 5 April

Contributors to this issue: John Clarke, Alan Gent, Dave Hanson,Peter Butler, Pete Farrand, Neil Worthington, Paul Felton, RobinWignall, Peter Edwardson, Frank Wood, Phil Booton, CarolineO’Donnell, John O’Donnell, Geoff Williamson, Jim Flynn, StuartBallantyne.

Distribution Manager – Janet Flynn

Front Cover – The Baum. Inset Simon and Heidi with theiraward.

Opening Times 343 - ContentsPub of the Month: Sun in September ............................................ Page 3Curmudgeon................................................................................... Page 7Trafford & Hulme News ................................................................ Page 9High Peak Pub Scene .................................................................... Page 11Beer Festival Entertainment ........................................................ Page 13Stagger: A Walk on the Mild Side ................................................ Page 14Mild Magic ................................................................................... Page 15Pub News ...................................................................................... Page 17Mild Magic in Whaley Bridge ...................................................... Page 18Cider Pubs of the Year ................................................................. Page 21Macclesfield CAMRA Pub of the Year ......................................... Page 23Alban Pearce ................................................................................ Page 23Fallowfield News ......................................................................... Page 23Bruges News ................................................................................ Page 24Brewery News .............................................................................. Page 25

Your Local CAMRA BranchesStockport & South Manchester (SSM) www.ssmcamra.org.ukContact: Mark McConachie 0161 429 9356; [email protected]

North Manchester (NM) www.northmanchestercamra.org.ukContact: Phil Booton 0161 957 7148 (daytimes); [email protected]

High Peak & NE Cheshire (HPNC) www.hpneccamra.org.ukContact: Geoff Wiliamson 01663 765634; [email protected]

Macclesfield & East Cheshire (MEC) www.eastcheshirecamra.org.ukContact: Tony Icke 01625861833; [email protected]

Trafford & Hulme (T&H) www.thcamra.org.ukContact: [email protected]

Your Local CAMRA Events Events open to all

Thursday 4th – Branch Meeting: Old Market Tavern or Orange Tree,Altrincham. Starts 8pm. (T&H)

Friday 5th & 6th – New Mills Beer Festival: Chalkers Snooker Club,New Mills, Newtown. (HPNC) Open to all, welcome along.

Saturday 6th – Informal social at New Mills Beer Festival. From 12noon. (SSM) Open to all, welcome along.

Saturday 6th – Branch Trip to Bolton Beer Festival. (T&H)Beer Festival open to all.

Monday 8th – Branch Meeting: Wharf Tavern, Caroline Street,Stalybridge. Starts 8.30pm. (HPNC)

Wednesday 10th – Social: Park Hotel, Monton Road, Eccles. From8pm. (NM) Open to all, welcome along.

Thursday 11th – Great Bridgewater Street Social: Rain Bar 8pm; CityRoad Inn 8.45pm; Britons Protection 9.30pm; Peveril of the Peak 10pm;finish at the Bishopsgate. (T&H) Open to all, welcome along.

Thursday 11th – Branch Meeting and AGM: Blossoms, Buxton Road,Heaviley. Starts 8.15pm. (SSM)

Friday 12th – Mild Magic in Didsbury: 7.30pm Gateway, EastDidsbury; Milson Rhodes 8.30pm. (SSM) Open to all, welcome along.

Tuesday 16th – Spring Pub of the Season Award: Old Packet House,Navigation Road, Altrincham. From 8pm. (T&H) Open to all, welcomealong.

Wednesday 17th – Salford Crawl: 7.30pm Black Lion, Chapel Street;8.30pm Mark Addy; 9.30pm Egerton Arms. (NM) Open to all, welcomealong.

Friday 19th – North Stockport & Portwood Stagger: 7.30pm Park Inn,Newbridge Lane; 8.30pm Railway, Avenue Street. (SSM) Open to all,welcome along.

Tuesday 23rd – St George’s Day Trip to Poynton. Details from branchcontact. (MEC)

Tuesday 23rd – Meet the Brewer: Brightside Brewery at Oddest,Wilbraham Road, Chorlton. (T&H) Open to all, welcome along.

Wednesday 24th – Branch Meeting: Bridgewater Hotel, Barton Road,Worsley. Starts 7.30pm. (NM)

Thursday 25th – Pub of the Month presentation to Sun in September,Burnage. From 8pm. (SSM) Open to all, welcome along.

Thursday 25th – “Studentville” Social: Ducie Arms 8pm; Old Abbey9pm; Courtyard 10pm; finish Odder. (T&H) Open to all, welcome along.

Thursday 2nd May – Branch Meeting: Moorfield, Marsland Road,Sale. Starts 8pm. (T&H)



Rising Sun


Pricing Drinkers Back into the Pub?Some people in the drinks trade such as Greene King boss Rooney Anandseem to have got the idea that minimum alcohol pricing would be a wayof redressing the balance between on- and off-trade consumption andencouraging people back into pubs. However, Tim Martin ofWetherspoon’s was closer to the mark when he described minimumpricing as “utter bollocks, basically.”

In practice it’s hard to see how it would generate a single extra customerfor pubs. For a start, it’s fairly obvious that if you increase the price of A,but leave B the same, it doesn’t make B any cheaper, or give people anymore money to spend on it. Perhaps it might lead the odd person to goback to B because A is no longer such an irresistible bargain, but on theother hand it will increase costs overall and potentially lead people to cutback on B. It certainly won’t put any more money in anyone’s pocketapart from brewers and retailers.

In a survey carried out by YouGov, 39% of respondents said that mini-mum pricing would lead to them drinking less in pubs and bars, whilefewer than 1% said they would drink more. Another poll by ComResshowed below 20% support for the plan amongst the population as awhole, so it can’t exactly be said to command broad popular support.

Much of the rhetoric surrounding minimum pricing concerns problemdrinkers downing dirt-cheap white cider, super lagers, budget vodka andthe like. While it would undoubtedly raise the price of their favouredtipple, is it really going to persuade them to start using pubs instead?And would the pubs want them anyway? On the other hand, beforediscounting, the price of most mainstream branded alcoholic drinks isalready 45p or more a unit, so it will make no difference whatsoever.Obviously it would affect the price of some products that are beingdiscounted, but even so they would still be markedly cheaper than theequivalent in pubs. No doubt it would to a small extent cut overallconsumption, but people aren’t suddenly going to stop “pre-loading”because the price of a bottle of cheap vodka has gone up from £10 to £12.

The reasons for the long-term decline of the on-trade relative to theoff-trade lie in a variety of social changes over the years that go wellbeyond price alone. If you want a drink, it isn’t a simple either/or choiceas to whether to have it at home or in the pub – you need an actualoccasion to prompt you to visit the pub. Even if beer was a pound a pint,pubs wouldn’t be doing anything like the trade they were thirty years ago,especially at lunchtimes.

It is also suggested that this change in the marketplace is something thathas been brought about as part of a deliberate policy by the majorsupermarkets. However, in reality, while they may be able to tweakcustomer preferences to a limited extent, supermarkets can only sellwhat people want to buy. They are, by and large, responding to consumerdemand, not creating it out of thin air. If they really could manipulate themarket to the extent that is claimed, then they would have discovered theHoly Grail of business.

Minimum pricing would also set a precedent for government regulationof drink prices that it would be naïve to assume would never be extendedin some way to pubs. It is short-sighted in the extreme for one section ofthe drinks trade to seek a temporary advantage from what is essentiallyan anti-drink measure. In the words of Winston Churchill, “an appeaseris one who feeds the crocodile hoping it will eat him last.” Anyone withan interest in alcoholic drinks as producer, retailer or consumer whofeels any sneaking sympathy with minimum pricing should reflect longand hard on that proposition.

Curmudgeon Online: curmudgeoncolumns.blogspot.com

Curmudgeon



Trafford & HulmePub of the SeasonThe Old Packet House, Broadheath

Trafford & Hulme branch have voted the Old Packet House, NavigationRoad, Broadheath as their Pub Of The Season for Spring 2013. Built inthe 1770s the Old Packet House was the second stopping place on thejourney, by boat or barge, from Manchester to Runcorn along theBridgewater Canal, providing shelter for passengers and storagefacilities for packages for dispatch or collection. It is now run, since June2004, by the father and daughter team of Terry and Claire Hardman.The pub is now a cheery and welcoming local serving two cask ales, LittleBollington from Dunham Massey and Golden Best from Timothy Taylor.

It’s very much a locals’ pub. Terry, Claire andtheir staff work hard to support the localcommunity with charity events, karaokeevery Friday, live music on occasionalSaturdays and Quiz Nights on Mondaywhere you might even meet QuizmasterBasil (pictured right). When not performingthis role he is happy to be the pub dog andaccept any amount of fussing.

Food is served daily from noon until 3pmand for those wishing to stay over there arefour en-suite bedrooms at reasonable ratesfor B&B. Once again, the Old Packet Househas joined Mild Magic so please come along and honour Terry & Clairewith your presence when they receive their award on Tuesday 16th Aprilfrom 8pm and collect your Mild Magic sticker whilst you are there.

Chorlton Beer Festival 2013The dates for the 9thChorlton Beer & CiderFestival have beenconfirmed as Friday 5thand Saturday 6th of July2013. Once again,Trafford & HulmeCAMRA will pack St.Clement’s Church onEdge Lane with over 80beers and 50 ciders. Thefestival will also behosting the North Westround of the Champion Speciality Beer Of Britain competition for thesecond year running. More details can be found atwww.thcamra.org.uk/chorlton. You can also follow the festival onTwitter @chorlbeerfest and on facebook atwww.facebook.com/ChorltonBeerFestival.

Flixton & Urmston Part 2George Elmslie continues his reportLast month, Trafford and Hulme branch took a trip fromFlixton to Urmston via Flixton Road. To complete the set, afew weeks later we set out to repeat the journey, but this timetaking in the northern part of the area.

On a bright sunny Saturday morning we alighted from the 256 busopposite the Railway Tavern on Irlam Road, a two-storey buildingwith a patio area set up for alfresco drinking out front. Inside was a realtreat for the traditionalist: open fires in each room, no telly, and darts,dominoes and cards the popular choice for games. We were in SamSmiths land here: a pint for under two pounds and a choice of OldBrewery Bitter or, well that’s it actually, but a decent pint none the less.A classic feature of the entrance hall was a serving hatch presumably foroff sales, a practice not as common now as in bygone days. The wallswere adorned with old pictures of the Ship Canal and the rail networkwhich serviced it, hence the name.

The beauty of this surveywas the regular busespassing all our featuredtargets, so on to anotherbus (15) and a few stopsaway we got off near theFox and Hounds, alarge pub set in its owngrounds with a beergarden off to one side,not many customers atthat time but a full menuon offer. Deuchars IPA was the cask offering and all agreed it passedmuster.

Another short hop onthe bus (15 or 245) tookus to the Bent Brook,part of Greene King'sHungry Horse chain.However, we weredisappointed as therewas no real ale to be had- there was a handpumpand we were informedthere was ale in thecellar but to link up the two required access to the cellar, the key of whichwas with the manager who was not on the premises. Rather than awaither return, we moved on.

Doubling back on ourselves our next stop was at the Nags Head, wherewe confirmed previous reports that there was no real ale. Back on the busnow and to the promised land of the Trafford Centre. First up was theMardi Gras, a JD Wetherspoon pub slap bang in the middle of thisconsumer frenzy on the edge of the Orient Food Court. Split over twolevels, the pub was very busy on a Saturday as you would expect. GreeneKing Abbot and Ruddles were joined by a guest ale - on this occasionRoadrunner from Mobberley Fine Ales. Not the best selection but theykept us going through the duds on our quest for a drop of the real stuff.

Off we set across the pedestrian-unfriendly service roads surroundingthe shopping behemoth to the Swinging Bridge, a Table Table chainpub-restaurant with adjacent Premier Inn. The bar has a handpump andmay serve real ale occasionally but just as we had found on a previoustrip, just not today! Our reward for these endeavours was the final stopon the official survey, the splendidly named Castle in the Air, theWetherspoons at the base of the Chill Factore indoor ski centre. It’s alarge space, even by the standards of the brand, with a glass wall alongone side. Plenty of ale here to sample among which were theInveralmond Ossian and Coach House Cheshire Gold.

Without doubt a good survey, that showed up the good and the bad; it isjust a shame that we weren’t joined by more members from the area.


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Railway A6Stockport’s

Award WinningCommunity Pub

Good Beer & Good CheerWe’re in the Good Beer Guide 2013

Hand Pulled AlesHolts Bitter plus 4 changing guest ales

Live MusicModern/Mainstream Jazz every Sunday

Open Mic every FridayRock & Roll - 1st Saturday of Month

Pub Games6 darts/crib teams and 2 pool teams

74-76 Wellington Rd North, Stockport SK4 1HFTel: 0161 477 3680

Buses 192 & 22 pass by the door


High Peak Pub SceneFrank Wood & Robin Wignall with News and Views

High Peak Pub NewsWith Frank WoodLocal member Simon Miller has been checkingout the pubs now accessible by tram followingthe opening of the Droylsden line. Pubs to lookin are as follows:Clayton Hall stop:The Grove, 652 Ashton New Road, Clayton.Located 200 yards back from the stop. JosephHolt's beers.Edge Lane stop:Halfway House, 435 Manchester Road,Droylsden. Joseph Holt's again, opposite thetram stop.The Buxton, 339 Manchester Road, Droylsden.Free House selling two cask beers (one beingBlack Sheep).Cemetery Road stop:Jolly Carter, 231 Manchester Road, Droylsden.50 yards from tram stop walking back. Oneguest beer (opens at 4pm weekdays).Droylsden stop:Fitzroy Club, Durham Street, Droylsden. 500yards from stop, on Fairfield Road. Two guestbeers (Thwaites Wainwright has been one oflate).Beehive, 145 Market Place, Droylsden. Beenselling real ale for some two years. Normally alocal beer is on offer. It is also the only caskpub selling food on weekdays.Kings Head, 169 Market Street, Droylsden.Joseph Holt's pub in CAMRA Good Beer Guide2013. Just across road from Beehive.Bush, 120 Moorside Street, Droylsden.Thwaites pub selling three cask beers. Some 15minutes’ walk from the tram stop, headingtowards Daisy Nook.

Other NewsThree notable pubs went under the hammerlast month in the Tameside area. These were:the Pack Horse at Ashworth Lane, Mottram;the Sportsman on Mottram Road,Stalybridge; and the Cotton Tree onMarkham Road, Newton, Hyde.

The latest beer from Worth Brewery (based atPoynton British Legion) is Bombay Mix at4.2%. We hear that Paul Hession’s son is nowbrewing the beers due to Paul’s recent illness(from which we wish him a full recovery).Elsewhere in Poynton, the Bulls Head is nowfree from tie which adds to the local cask alechoice (already given a lift by the opening ofWetherspoons’ Kingfisher).

At the Globe, Glossop, grandson Toby is nowbrewing some of the beers and their recentGinger Beer has been proving popular. Thetown’s long delayed Wetherspoons (to be calledthe Smithy Fold ) is now due to open on May21 (according to the company website).

The Boundary at Guide Bridge (picturedbelow) is selling Hornbeam beers fairlyregularly and in Mossley, the Best of Brassnow has cask, with two changing beersavailable.

In Old Glossop, the popular Thornbridge HallJaipur at 5.9%, a rarity for the area, nowoccupies its own regular handpump at theQueens, whilst Glossop Labour Clubcontinues to have a Buxton Brewery beer onsale to supplement the Moorhouses Premier.In Hayfield, the Royal has three guest beers asa rule and on my visit on 6th March all threewere Hornbeam beers. The Royal Oak onHigh Street, New Mills has Robinsons Unicorn,1892 and the seasonal which in early Marchwas Frederic’s and was in good form but thenearby Peveril of the Peak only has aselection of bottled beers.

Peak PracticeWith Robin WignallThe headline news is of course made by thewinter beer and cider festival at the Old Halland Paper Mill at Whitehough, Chinleyduring the last weekend in February. So afortnight after the Old Hall received its 2012Mild Magic Award for selling the most popularmild in pubs on the trail outside StockportBorough, crowds gathered for the seasonalbeer and cider festival. At least 70 beers wereon the beer list, with more that did not makethe list. As usual there was a selection fromaround the country with an emphasis on local-ish products. Beers were found in the main bar,in the small room on the right of the mainentrance, and across the road in the Paper Mill.

There was of course a good range of porters,stouts and other dark seasonal beers and forcontrast the pale hoppy brews, as well as beersin between. Even with two afternoon visits, youcan really only scratch the surface at a festivallike this. However of the dark beers, thosewhich stood out for me were RedWillowSmokeless, Titanic Last Porter Call andCorvedale St. George’s Stout, from Shropshire.The pale hoppy palate cleansers to be notedincluded Richard Hough’s Blue Bee Red White

and Blue, Quartz Extra Blonde andShugborough Farmers Half, both fromStaffordshire.

Ciders and perries were more numerous thanthe list suggested and were on sale at the backof the main building and over in the Paper Mill.A quick try at both Cornish OrchardsFarmhouse Cider and Perry gave a pleasantsample. Of course as the Old Hall settles downpost festival, two ciders on hand pump will bea continuing feature in the main bar. The nextbeer and cider festival at the Old Hall will beduring the weekend of 20/21/22 September.There’s something to look forward to.

A February dining visit to the Church atChelmorton, a Good Beer Guide listed pub atthe top of the main street in a village south ofBuxton, made a worthwhile visit. AdnamsSouthwold Bitter is a regular here, though it isnot more widely available in the Peak. Itcertainly made for good beer to accompany agood lunchtime meal.

The White Hart in Whaley Bridge (picturedabove) does a good line in sensibly priced food,good food giving good old fashioned value.Food is available 12.30-2.30 and 4.30-7.30Monday to Friday and 12.30-5.00 on Saturday.Beers to accompany food are from the list madeavailable by Punch, and include the interestingbeers on the Finest Cask List. By the time thatyou read this a new bi-monthly list will be inoperation.

The Printers at Birch Vale is a good source forwell kept beer from Storm Brewery. A range ofthese Macclesfield beers is often available. Arecent well received guest was a 6.4% Big Bob’sPale Ale from Hornbeam. Who is Big Bob? Stillwith Storm, their beers are often available inthe Drum and Monkey in Whaley Bridge,with Downpour as a recent example.

There are some pale hoppy beers brewed in theMarston’s empire, for Banks’s Sunbeam andJennings’ Cockerhoop were March delights inthe Shepherds in Whaley Bridge.

On a sad note, I understand that the Crown &Mitre at New Smithy near Chinley is up forauction. The Robinson’s estate could bereduced again.



Beer Festival Entertainment Stuart Ballantyne previews what’s on this year

Thursday Night – The Casino AllstarsOn Thursday the festivalopens with the CasinoAllstars: the UK’s topNorthern Soul band. TheAllstars are a seven pieceband which creates asound that appeals to allwho love to hear anddance to good music.Three of the originalmembers, Paul Kidd,Brian Walker and Big Al,came up with the idea ofputting together the original band playing true Northern Soul coversfrom as far back as the Twisted Wheel and Wigan Casino which in theirday were the biggest clubs in the country. With a mixture of male andfemale lead vocals along with harmonies rarely heard in bands today andbacked by a band of talented musicians, the Allstars do not disappoint.The band comes complete with some of the coolest suits and retroclothing in the business. The Allstars recently returned to the TwistedWheel as the first live band to play there for over 35 years. The music isuplifting and comes straight from the heart so it can only be trulyperformed with affection and commitment which is exactly what you getwhen watching The Casino Allstars. The Allstars put their heart and soulinto all the songs that they perform. The buzz that this creates in the hallis truly infectious and it is a wonder to behold. The Casino Allstars comehighly recommended to open the beer festival so come along and listento them play! And er…. don’t forget your dancing shoes!

Friday Lunch – Walthew House Steel BandOn Friday lunchtimethe beer festivalfeatures the WalthewHouse Steel Band,from this year’s beerfestival charity. Themajority of the bandis actually visuallyimpaired and so itmust be very difficultfor the musicians toperform to theirdiscerning audience. The band formed in 2009, as a result of the supportof the North West Steel Band Association who generously donated theinstruments. Since this time the group have gone on from strength tostrength. Group leader Janice Turley told the beer festival ‘themusicality of even the simplest pieces delights us and as the complexityof our repertoire grows we have started to include pieces from ourfavourite musicians. Arranging has become fun yet challenging’. With astrong ethos of ‘fun’ and a ‘real quality sound’ the Walthew House SteelBand is something unique, and by supporting one of Stockport’s oldestcharities you will be enabling the band’s passion for music to continue.

Friday Night – Atlanta SoulOn Friday night the festival will provide music lovers with a real treat!Manchester’s own Atlanta Soul band: one of the hottest soul/funk outfitsin the country with an eight-piece line-up. Atlanta Soul play classic hitsmade famous by artists such as James Brown, Van Morrison, MarvinGaye, Curtis Mayfield, and many other soul and R’n’B legends. AtlantaSoul have performed at numerous venues from Band on the Wall to theQueen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham. They have also appeared at theHeineken Music Festival in Roundhay Park, Leeds, where they played in

front of 70,000 people to great acclaim. The band has appearedalongside some of the musicindustry’s greats such as Mikeand the Mechanics, Big Country,Squeeze, Desmond Dekker,Siouxsie and the Banshees,Aswad, and many others. AtlantaSoul delivers exciting, vibrantsets with a passion, greatmusicianship and deepAmerican Georgian soul. Misstheir appearance and you willsurely regret it!

Saturday Lunch - Brasswürst Bavarian Beer BandOn Saturday lunchtime thefestival features, for the veryfirst time, a traditionalBavarian brass band.Bringing a combination ofLederhosen, traditionalOompah tunes and a freshsound to familiar pop classics,the Brasswürst Bavarian BeerBand has emerged as one ofManchester’s most excitingalternative bands. As withmost great ideas, the band was formed following discussions over a fewpints of traditional beer. The band comprises a clarinettist and four brassplaying friends, all of whom have an interest in traditional Bavarianmusic and drinking traditional beer! Individually, they are allprofessional musicians, having played with orchestras such as the Halléand the BBC Philharmonic. They have also toured with the chart-toppingTing Tings. They now regularly perform to packed audiences all acrossthe country. Dancing will be encouraged as will singing and drinkingalong to the music so bring your stein, fill it with beer and enjoy the realtaste of Bavaria! Prost!

Saturday Night – Dana DixonOn Saturday night the festival providesvisitors with the real treat of anauthentic Texan, Chicago and westcoast of America blues band. DanaDixon is regarded as one of the bestfemale blues harmonica players in theworld; her gravelly voice has beenlikened by some to the blues’ greatartists - Koko Taylor, Big MamaThornton, Maggie Bell and Janis Joplinto name but a few. Dana has a raw voicebut it is a voice that she controls to nearperfection. The blues press have placedmuch emphasis on Dana’s powerfulvocals and harmonica skills, gainingher fantastic reviews from British and overseas press for both the band’srecorded work and their excellent live performances. In 2001 the bandwas chosen to represent Britain at the International Blues Challenge heldin Memphis USA which led to them being invited to play on stage at BBKing’s club on Beale Street in Memphis. The band has played atpractically every major blues festival in Britain and Ireland, and hasperformed in blues venues up and down the UK, Europe and the USAincluding sell out shows for four consecutive years at the EdinburghFringe Festival. A Saturday night visit to Stockport Beer & Cider festivalis a must. In the meantime check out the band’s critically acclaimedalbums "Boogie Woman" and “Old, New, Borrowed and Blue”.


This year’s Mild Stagger took place onthe evening of one of our national Celticpatron saints; yes it was St. David’sday. Will the brewing industry haverisen to the occasion and produced aplethora of daffodil yellow beers (oreven dragon red) we pondered. Alasand alack, unlike March 17th, there wasnot one mention of the Welsh hero so wehad to console ourselves with the mildson offer.

We started in the ever-popular Railway,Avenue Street, Portwood, where we weresurprised to find not one, but two milds onoffer. Most of the party started with a pint ofPhoenix Monkeytown Mild, a very darktraditional mild which was enjoyed by thegroup. Sarah Hughes Ruby Mild, again dark(and at 6%, nearer to mild’s 19th centurystrength) was tried by one brave soul, and waswisely only ordered as a half. The array ofhandpumps on offer beckoned, but as this wasa mild stagger we were honour-bound to leave.

Back along Great Portwood Street and leftunder Asda brought us to our next port of call,the Arden Arms. The interior of the Arden isa time capsule of a real old fashioned local, lotsof wood panelling, friendly staff and chattinglocals. Being a Robinson’s house, the only mildon offer was their 1892 (or Hatters as it wasknown or Best Mild to the diehards!). This wasthe first of the lighter milds we tried and wasviewed with scepticism by one of ourmultitude, but rated as pretty good overall. Aswe arrived at 8pm, food was no longer beingserved so we easily found seating on the built-in wooden benches in the Millgate Room (ifyou visit during the day, this room is reservedfor diners). Having downed our dose of oldeworlde nostalgia we departed for the 8:30pmmeeting point.

As we entered the Tiviot, around the corner onTiviot Dale, our numbers were swollen by one.When entering, don’t rush to get to the beersand take a look at the mosaic floor tilesannouncing Tiviot Hotel. Another little-changed pub, it preserves its original multi-roomed interior, with tap room to the left,lounge to the right and dining room to the rear.

Another Robinson’s house, beers availablewere 1892, Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde. We allrepaired to the front lounge and savoured ourdrinks, whereupon a debate ensued over thedifferences of the 1892 here as compared to theArden, the result being a score draw. The pubwas reasonably busy for an evening in thenotoriously quiet Stockport town centre.

We left the Tiviot and made a bee-line for ournext objective, the Swan with Two Necks onPrinces Street. Because of a lack of passingtrade in the evenings (the Swan does excellentdinnertime meals trade) we wondered whetherit would be open. As we approached, outsideseating was noted with relief – we were goingto get in. The Swan keeps both of Robinson’smilds, 1892 and 1892 Dark, a caramel-rich,dark ale, so we anticipated a real treat. The rugwas pulled out from under our feet when thebar staff announced that both were past theirbest and not on sale! Disappointing for us, butgood to see that Trigger, the landlord, is notprepared to sell ale which is not up to standard.Never mind, out came the back-up plan, andoff we went to the George.

The George, on the corner of Wellington Roadand Heaton Lane, has had its ups and downsand ups again over the years. I will reveal myantiquity by saying I remember when theGeorge was a rare non-Merseyside outlet forLiverpool’s Higson’s Brewery. After manyyears under the wing of a pub company theyclosed it, for good we assumed. Like a phoenixit re-opened and now offers not one but fourales from the Taylor’s stable (go on, admit it,you didn’t know they did more than Landlord).We struck lucky and they had on offer bothGolden Best, a very light golden ale, and DarkMild. Everyone ordered a half of both so wecould settle down for a good comparison. Alas,they were served so cold that little taste couldinitially be discerned but once they warmedthey were perfectly acceptable.

Then it was around the corner onto HeatonLane and into the Pineapple for yet anotherpint of Robinson’s 1892. Though notsurrounded by any housing and in the heart ofthe town centre, the Pineapple still attracts agood evening crowd and has the feel of a truelocal. The eclectic decorations, consisting of

plates brought back from around the world byits customers, are a definite talking point.Along with the 1892, Unicorn and CumbriaWay were also offered. Shamefully one of ourparty tried the latter as 1892 was not to theirliking; never mind, that is the fascination ofreal ale and one man’s mild is another man’spoison (to butcher a well known saying!).

We navigated across the road and entered(just) the ever popular (and crowded) Crownfurther along Heaton Lane just under theviaduct (or more correctly viaducts, as I aminformed it is two viaducts built side by side).The Crown keeps a mild on at all times, with astout and even a porter being nearly alwaysavailable, too. Today’s offering was CopperDragon’s Black Gold, a deliciously moreishdark mild and a classic of the style. What hasnot been said about the Crown? Not much, so Iwill say no more than if you haven’t visited, youhave not lived. Our party diffused to all cornersof the pub to absorb the convivial atmosphere,whereupon I met two old mates and got intoconversation (see I said you would get amention). When we were ready to depart aquick round-up and we were on our way.

It was up the hill of Wellington Road North,passing the Midland which only sells caskbitter, not mild, and on to the Magnet. Mildsare often available here, but not on apermanent basis, so we entered withtrepidation. Unfortunately, although severaldark beers were on sale, none was a mild. TheRailway across the road also sells mild on anoccasional basis, but again, not tonight.Continuing north we called into the Hope, inthe hope of finding a mild. Again, we wereunfortunately without luck but Martin Wood islooking to add a mild to his in-house FoolHardy Brewery’s portfolio. As time wasrunning out we stayed in the Hope and strayedfrom our mission by drinking the darkest beeravailable.

This perambulation around a selection of pubsrevealed a mixed bag of milds. Robinson’shouses proved to be reliable outlets, but of themulti-ale houses only two dedicate one of theireight-plus pumps permanently to a mild. Whynot introduce yourself to the delights of mild bytaking part in Mild Magic?

StaggerA Walk on the Mild Side with David Hanson


According to the media mild is adying beer style. We beg to differ.After excellent enthusiasm from thepubs (and club) across the OpeningTimes area we have an amazing 102on this year's challenge. In fact, to(mis) quote Coleridge, here in theNorth West it is "Mild, mildeverywhere and plenty of it to drink"!

So what are we asking you to do?First enter a participating pub (seebelow right) and pick up a card.Second, buy a cask mild (pint or half)and ask the bar staff to put a stickeron your card. Third, drink the mildand enjoy its taste. Fourth, enter adifferent participating pub; check below as this may influence yourchoice of pub. Repeat from step two (no need for a new card) until youhave filled the card. NB Check the times of pub opening hours, especiallyif you are making a special journey.

What is the deal? If you fill a card with stickers from 12 different pubsyou will have completed Mild Magic which entitles you to free entry to,or (for CAMRA members) a pint of mild, at the Stockport Beer & CiderFestival 2013. Being slightly more adventurous and visiting pubs in 12areas is Mild Magic Extra and gains you a Mild Magic t-shirt as well asthe entry ticket/pint of mild.

Mild Magic Super is a little more challenging - get stickers from 24pubs, each in a different area, and you receive an eye-catching ‘MildMagic’ polo shirt plus an extra Festival entry ticket/pint. Now the stakesare rising. Mild Magic Ultra requires stickers from 48 pubs from aminimum of 36 different areas. For this you will receive a special editionMild Magician sweatshirt, four Festival entry tickets/pints and beincluded in a draw to be “Brewer for the Day” at Stockport's ownQuantum Brewery.

Still up for a challenge? Why not weave some magic and become a MildMaster Magician. Obtain a sticker from every participating pub andyou receive the enhanced Mild Master Package of a special edition MildMaster Magician Fleece, six Festival entry tickets/pints and entry intothe ‘Brewer for the Day’ draw.

Each garment will be embroidered with the fabulous new logo designedby Joseph Bailey, a graphics and interactive media student at Newcastle-Under-Lyme College. Thanks Joe, and we hope you enjoy your prize of aVIP package for two at the Festival.

How long do I have to complete all this? Mild Magic runs from Friday12th April to Sunday 19th May inclusive. To get you off to a flying startwhy not join us on Friday 12th April for a 42 bus route stagger, startingin the Gateway, East Didsbury, at 7:30pm or catch up at the MilsonRhodes in Didsbury at 8:30pm. We will be travelling down the 42 busroute into Manchester calling at all Mild Magic pubs en route.

What do I do when I have finished Mild Magic? Simply send yourcard(s) to the organiser (details on card) no later than 25th May and yourtickets (entry or beer) will be sent out by return post. In mid June youwill be invited along to a presentation day where your beautifullyembroidered shirts will be distributed.

To add even more interest, everyone participating is invited to vote fortwo pubs in which they were served the best mild, one in the StockportMBC area and the other outside Stockport. The two winning pubs willthen be presented with a ‘Mild Champion’ award and participants areinvited to attend these award evenings.

We are also especially grateful to Hydes for enabling us to offer anextra-special prize: every completed entry will go into a draw and thefirst 12 pulled out will win a visit to their new brewery situated nearMedia City in Salford.

Such is the success (and fame?) of Mild Magic that Moorhouse’s ofBurnley have agreed to be our sponsor. Our grateful thanks to them!Moorhouses brew some excellent beer, especially the multi-awardwinning Black Cat, and distribute it throughout the North West and, viadistributors, to much of Britain. Find out more about them atwww.moorhouses.co.uk.

If you haven’t taken part before, you must have a go this time; it’s greatfun and it’s so easy - you only need to visit 12 pubs over a five weekperiod. It’s an excellent chance to visit some new pubs, try new beers andwin some great prizes while voting with your feet in favour of Britain’sproud brewing heritage. Please give our campaign to preserve caskconditioned Mild in this area your support!

The Mild Magic PubsADSWOOD Cross Keys; ALL SAINTS Sandbar; ALTRINCHAMCostello's Bar; BROADHEATH Old Packet House; CASTLEFIELDWharf; CHEADLE Cheshire Line, Crown, Red Lion; CHEADLEHULME Cheadle Hulme, Church Inn, Kings Hall; CHORLTONOddest, Sedge Lynn; CHORLTON GREEN Horse & Jockey, Beech;COMPSTALL Northumberland Arms; DIDSBURY Fletcher Moss,Milson Rhodes, Railway; DISLEY White Lion; EDGELEY OldeWoolpack; FALLOWFIELD Friendship Inn; FURNESS VALECrossings, Soldier Dick; GATLEY Horse & Farrier; GORTON ValeCottage, Waggon and Horses; GREAT MOOR Travellers Call;HAUGHTON GREEN Chapel House; HAZEL GROVE Grapes, ThreeTunnes, Wilfred Wood; HEALD GREEN Griffin; HEATON CHAPELHinds Head; HEATON MERSEY Crown, Griffin; HEATON MOORCrown; HEATON NORRIS Hope, Magnet, Navigation, Nursery Inn,Railway; HEAVILEY Blossoms; HIGH LANE Royal Oak; HYDEQueens, Sportsman, Cheshire Ring, Cotton Bale; LEVENSHULMESidings; MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE Ape and Apple, Bulls Head,City Arms, Crown & Anchor, Grey Horse, Marble Arch, Micro Bar, MoonUnder Water, Old Monkey, Paramount, Rain Bar, Rising Sun,Waterhouse; MARPLE Navigation, Railway, Ring O' Bells; MARPLEBRIDGE Hare & Hounds, Royal Scot, Windsor Castle; NEW MILLSMasons Arms; NEW MILLS NEWTOWN Chalkers Snooker Club;OFFERTON Finger Post; OLD TRAFFORD Bishop Blaize;OTTERSPOOL Hare & Hounds; PARRS WOOD Gateway;PORTWOOD Railway; POYNTON Kingfisher; RUSHOLME FordMadox Brown; SALE JP Joule, Plough Hotel, Volunteer; SALFORDNew Oxford, Salford Arms; SHAW HEATH Armoury;STALYBRIDGE Society Rooms, Station Buffet Bar; STOCKPORTTOWN CENTRE Arden Arms, Bakers Vaults, Calverts Court, Crown,George, Pineapple, Railway, Red Bull, Swan with Two Necks, Tiviot,Waterloo; STRINES Royal Oak; TIMPERLEY Quarry Bank;WHALEY BRIDGE Shepherds Arms; WHITEHOUGH Old Hall;WITHINGTON Victoria; WOODFORD Davenport Arms.

Note - many of these area will be subdivided on the card to make iteasier for you to complete Mild Magic Extra, Super, Ultra and MasterMagician.

Mild Magic 2013Visit Pubs, Drink Beer, Win Prizes


All of our beers can be sampled at: -The Griffin, 84-86, Hud Rake, Haslingden, Lancashire BB4 5AF (Brewery Tap) - 01706 21 40 21

The Sportsman, 57, Mottram Road, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 2NN – 0161 368 5000www.rossendalebrewery.co.uk

Sunshine5.3%

A hoppy andbitter golden beer

with a citruscharacter. The

lingering finish isdry and spicy

Floral Dance3.8%

A pale and fruitysession beer,

with body that ismore than a

match for manystronger beers!

Hameldon Bitter3.8%

An unusuallydark traditional

bitter, with a dryand assertivecharacter that

develops in thefinish.

Glen Top Bitter4.0%

A citrusy, fullbodied pale

beer.Intentionally notover hopped withquite a dry after

taste.

Rossendale Ale4.2%

A malty aromaleads to a

complex, maltdominated

flavour,supported by a

dry,increasinglybitter finish.

Halo Pale4.5%

A citrusy, paleale brewed withCascade aromahops, finishingwith a slightly

bitter aftertaste.

Pitch Porter 5%A full bodied

rich beer with aslightly sweet,

malty start,counter-balanced

with sharpbitterness andobvious roast

barley dominance.

Please do not hesitate tocontact us for further

info!

All of our beers aresuitable for

Vegetarians & Vegans.

Pennine Ale (Rossendale) Ltd., 84-86, Hud Rake, Haslingden, Lanc’s BB4 5AF

Contacts - Office: 0333 210 4021; Geoff: 07816 912 794; Robin: 07709 874 783w w w . r o s s e n d a l e b r e w e r y . c o . u k


Heald Green

OT went to Heald Green to see how work wasprogressing on the new Greene King pub to bebuilt just off Styal Road in Moss Nook. Well, thesite is fenced off, but nothing as yet ishappening. Having established that, it was off tothe seldom visited Beech Tree at Outwood(pictured above). This has been advertising thatit now sold cask ale, and indeed it did; a tastydrop of Sharp’s Doom Bar was had for £2.60.Although the lounge had a handpump for OldSpeckled Hen, this didn’t seem to be on. TheBeech Tree is a comfortably appointed estatepub. There’s a separate vault to the left with alarge drop-down TV screen, darts area and pooltable. A large open fire completes the setting,with wall decor related to football and boxing.The right hand part is a nicely fitted-out loungewith a small snug area off it and a small stagearea too. Filled barm-cakes provide affordablesustenance.

A half-mile walk brings you to Holt’s Griffin.This was still doing plenty of trade in both foodand ale. The beer range is Holt Mild, Bitter, andIPA. Another short walk away was Hydes’Ryecroft Arms, in Cheadle Hulme. This wasquite busy with people watching football on TV.It retains the modern look that followed amakeover some years ago. A limited lunch menuis now available, whilst the beer range has beenpared down to Original Bitter, and the seasonalbeer Stowaway (this is in their “Nautical andNice” range).

Stockport Bits & PiecesFollowing new signage and some redecoration,the Park Inn on Newbridge Lane reopened on22 February in the names of Sue and Dean Bell,who in times gone by ran the Cheshire Cat inBrinnington. On handpumps were Bombardierand John Smiths Cask (rarely seen inStockport). Sue tells us she plans to have five

handpumps – four from the Enterprise Inns listand one for beers from a local micro brewery.She is also looking for an “old” photo of the pub.If anyone can assist please contact OT.

On a recent visit to the George in MerseySquare, a near full range of Taylor’s beers wereon sale with Golden Best, Dark Mild, Landlordand Boltmaker on handpump. Also on handpullwas Black Dragon Cider.

Around & AboutOver in West Didsbury, Folk Café Bar is doingwell with cask beer in the form of Brightside TheBeast, and another beer, usually Porter. Folkbegan life as a Polish deli. It then became fullylicensed in May 2009. For a long time it was abar and café that stuck with keg beer, happilythat changed in January 2013 when it convertedto cask beer. This is a very relaxed andcompetently-run bar in which one could easilyidle away many hours. With this and a variedmenu, consisting of modern British fare andGreek meze, this place could go far.

The Oast House, Spinningfields, has scoopedan award for Best New Site at the annual The

Publican Awards. Organised by the industrynewspaper The Publican's Morning Advertiser,the awards celebrate all aspects of the pubindustry with the winners going through arigorous judging process. The Oast Houseopened in September 2011, the first puboperated by the Living Ventures restaurantchain. Although originally intended to be atemporary addition to Spinningfields, thesuccess of the pub has recently led to thecompany applying for and being grantedplanning permission to make the Oast Housepermanent.

In Altrincham, Barrington's Bar and Hotelat the junction of Stamford New Road andStamford Street has had a reorganisation of itsbar. The back bar now offers a pool table whilethe long established single Holts Bitterhandpump has been moved to the front bar andis about to be joined by a second pump offeringa guest ale. The hotel offers 12 letting rooms.

The Faulkners Arms on Stamford New Roadhas joined the increasing number of pubs under

the stewardship of local licensee Chris Cocksand his wife Julia. After taking on the BullsHead in Sale less than two years ago,Chris went on to add the Temple Inn in Saleto his portfolio before rescuing Altrincham'sBricklayers Arms from closure last year. Ineach case the couple have employed a simpleformula of offering good service in awelcoming atmosphere with a regularprogramme of events to attract customers.Opening Times wishes them every successwith the Faulkners.

Opening Times understands that the longderelict former Waggon & Horses pub onCross Street, Sale is due to be demolishedand replaced by houses and flats. The pubwhich closed over 10 years ago still retainsmany of its fittings but has been left to rot foryears to the point where the building hasbecome damaged.

ChorltonJD Wetherspoon's Sedge Lynn onManchester Road has often beenovershadowed by other less modest localbars when it comes to their cask aleoffering. However since manager LeanneKempthorne tookover in 2012, theSedge is quietlyfighting back with asmany as six guestales joining fourregular beers(including Moor-houses Blonde Witchand Phoenix WobblyBob). The mostrecent addition totheir range is theirfirst house ale whichthey have com-missioned from oneof the best of therecent crop of newlocal micro-breweries, Brightside Brewery ofBury. Rather than go for a simple standardbitter or golden ale, the new beer named PotBlack is a rich dark mild at 4.2%, the high endof the mild strength range. Pot Black shouldbe available throughout Manchester MildMagic.

Opening Times reported a few months agothat the local Font chain was eyeing up avenue in the Chorlton area. By the time youread this, it is expected that Font Chorltonwill have opened in the former Iguana Bar atthe top end of Manchester Road. Its citycentre pub lives a double life selling cocktailsto students while offering a range of cask alesand three traditional ciders.

Continued on page 18…

Pub NewsCovering Stockport, Manchester and beyond


The Chorlton outlet will continue to offer cocktails but is expected tohave much more of a focus on beer.

Given the intense competition to entice cask-drinking customers in thearea, Opening Times was extremely surprised to hear grumblings fromcustomers at one of the longest established bars, the Marble BeerHouse, that they had been refused a taster of a beer before ordering.However after making a few enquiries, it was confirmed that this indeedwas the new policy of the award-winning bar. It is of course at themanagement’s discretion whether to offer tasters but CAMRA has longbelieved in "try before you buy" being key to encouraging new customersto cask ale and actively encourages tasters at its own festivals. For abrewery-owned bar to refuse to let new customers try the increasinglyvaried range of beers on offer from Marble while surrounded bycompetitors with no such qualms seems a risky business decision.

The addition of Font will mean Chorlton's Manchester Road canlegitimately claim to have equalled the long established Wilbraham Road"strip" of six quality cask ale selling bars from Dulcimer to Oddest.Font will join the existing The Beagle, Sedge Lynn, Marble Beer House,Pi and DeNada to makes the Manchester Road strip the equal of itsneighbour.

However, the WilbrahamRoad bars are not throwingin the towel yet. Early inMarch, there was a new nameon the strip when "The Nook"morphed into The Nookand Cranny. While thename may only be a slightvariation, the small bar nearChorlton's Metrolink stationhas been transformed inside.Gone are the last remnants ofthe old Moroccan theme, replaced with dark wood panelling on the wallsand a new layout. Two new booths on the right hand side give a refuge forthose that want a little privacy, while the remainder is more open planwith free standing tables and chairs. Part of the rationale behind this isthat the furniture is re-arranged twice a week to provide an area for livemusic with a wide range of artists already having graced the space and afull programme booked in. The downstairs room is now permanentlyopen offering more space on busy nights. On the beer front, the bar hasdone a deal with one of the newest breweries in the area to provide apermanent house beer. Privateer Brewery, based close to the MancunianWay in the city centre, will have RoeNook near permanently on the barwhile the second pump will offer a guest from other local micros. WhenOpening Times called, we sampled a Best Bitter from another relativenewcomer, Stockport's Ringway Brewery.

The Electrik Ale Experiment have launchedthe third beer in their range of house ales.Livewire, a 5.0% full bodied amber ale, joinsBright Spark Pale Ale and Blackout XO Stout.Like its stablemates, the brew comes fromBollington's Happy Valley Brewery - regularreaders of OT will recall the brewery report inlast month's issue reporting that the brewerywas working on an experimental new beer! DaveHughes from Happy Valley told Opening Timesthat the new beer was packed with New ZealandNelson Sauvin and American Summit hops andit certainly does have plenty of hop flavour aboutit but is smooth and surprisingly easy drinking for its strength. The threeexclusive Electrik Ale Experiment beers will rotate around Electrik's fivehandpumps amongst the permanent Wainwright and various guests.

Nearby Dulcimer already has three house ales brewed by OutstandingBeers which rotate round its pumps along with ever changing guests. Asa long time stockist of Thwaites beers, Dulcimer has been perfectlyplaced to benefit fromthe output of the newmicrobrewery at theBlackburn brewer andhas recently been able tofeature most, if not all, ofthe one off beers beingproduced on the pilotplant. These haveincluded 13 Guns, a 5.5%hop monster that provedextremely popular at theNational Winter AlesFestival, and the 7.2% Fallen Nun that went one better to scoop the Beerof The Festival award.

The emergence of such great beers from Thwaites has perfectly coincidedwith a new direction from Dulcimer management who are increasinglyshowcasing the up and coming local microbrewers such as First ChopBrewing Arm and Blackedge of Horwich. Building on their increasingreputation for quality ales, after a couple of years' hiatus, Dulcimer isholding a beer festival over the early May Bank Holiday weekend.Amongst the breweries already lined up at the festival is Tiny Rebel, abrewery from South Wales who despite roots fitting to their name havealready built a national reputation for cutting-edge brewing.

In one final item of Chorlton news, it was only last month that OpeningTimes reported on the opening of Jackalope on Barlow Moor Road nearthe bus station. Ale sales are going so well at the new bar that just onemonth after opening they have already had to install a third hand pumpto keep up with demand.

Mild Magic in Whaley BridgeFour pubs in the Whaley Bridge area have registered for Mild Magic, theMild Challenge, in 2013. They will provide participants with a good tripout. These southernmost pubs on the trail are well worth a visit in theirown right, with a range of good beers and welcoming hospitality. Toavoid wasted journeys some information about opening / closing hoursmay be helpful.

Shepherds, Whaley Bridge, 15.00 till late Monday to Friday. 12.00Saturday and 14.00 Sunday till late.

Crossings, Furness Vale, 16.00 (but could be earlier) till late Mondayto Thursday; Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12.00 till late.

Soldier Dick, Furness Vale, 12.00 till late daily.

Old Hall, Whitehough, Chinley, 12.00 till late daily.

These times could of course vary.

The Soldier Dick is new to Mild Magic. Theothers have become regulars. Some of thepubs will be new pubs for some people. Allthe pubs will look forward to seeing newfaces, and returning ones.

Getting there - Bus 199 from Stockportstops at Furness Vale, and Whaley BridgeStation. Half hourly service during the day,hourly in the evening and on Sunday.Trans Peak stops at Furness Vale, everytwo hours until soon after tea. The 61 linksWhaley Bridge with Glossop, Hayfield,New Mills and Buxton, hourly during thedaytime, every day. The 190 links Whaleywith Chinley, roughly every two hoursuntil teatime, Monday to Saturday.

Getting there - Train Manchester — Buxton service, Northerntimetable leaflet 20. Hourly through the day all week, to Furness Valeand Whaley Bridge, half hourly in the evening rush hour. Trains toChinley, Northern timetable leaflet 23. Hourly on Saturday; less frequentin the week and on Sundays, but more trains in the rush hour.

Pub NewsContinued from page 17


321 Deansgate, Manchester4 cask beers including guest ales

Home cooked food every day 12 noon - 8pm

Open 12 - 11 Sunday to Thursday12 - 2am Friday & SaturdayTelephone 0161 839 5215

The Deansgate

Roof Barand Terrace

Function Roomfor Hire

The Crown Inn98 Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor

Tel: 0161 432 5548Over 5 cask ales from SIBA range

Selection of lagersQuiz every Thursday 9 pm

Entertainment last Saturday every monthRoast spuds 6 pm every Sunday

Great AtmosphereGreat People - Great Beer

All under one roof

The Cheadle Hulme47 Station Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 7AA

Tel: 0161 485 4706We have four Joseph Holt’s Beers and

three changing Guest Ales

Carvery and Full Menu2 - 4 - 1

ALL DAY EVERY DAYQuiz every Thursday night

Live Entertainment - last Saturday of month

Bar FringeSwan St, Manchester

0161 835 3815

FriendlyStaff

Five everchanging

cask beers andtraditional cider

In theGood Beer Guide

for untoldconsecutive years

Come alongSample

and Enjoy

We’re in



Cider Pubs of the YearBranch Contenders for the Regional Title

The local branches of CAMRA have nowall announced their Cider Pub of the Yearwinners. All will now go forward to thecompetition to see which will be crownedas Greater Manchester Cider Pub of theYear.

Stockport & South Manchester Branch has theRailway on Avenue Street, Portwood, a

previous winner. TheRailway was somethingof a pioneer fortraditional cider andperry in Stockport andstill sells an ever-changing guest cider orperry. The pub also hostsan annual cider and perryfestival.

The Trafford & HulmeCider Pub of the Year isthe Font on NewWakefield Street in Manchester, which has now won for two years on thetrot. This excellent City Centre bar (just by Oxford Road Station) onlystarted selling traditional cider in 2011 and now sells four guest cidersand perries.

High Peak Branch has chosen the White House on Water Street inStalybridge. This Hydes Brewery house complements its Hydes beerswith a well balanced and intelligently chosen range of guest beers.Traditional cider complements the cask ale range.

The entrant from North ManchesterCAMRA is Bar Fringe on Swan Street inthe Northern Quarter. The Fringe hasbeen a long-time supporter of traditionalcider and perry with at least one always onsale. Last year the bar marked CAMRA’sCider & Perry Month with a cider festival.

Rochdale, Oldham & Bury CAMRA haschosen the Trackside in Bury. Based atBolton Street Station, headquarters of thepreserved East Lancs Railway, theTrackside offers a wide range of cask alesfrom around the country and these arealways accompanied by a traditional cideror perry.

The Bank Top Brewery Tap is the choice of Bolton CAMRA. SinceBank Top brewery converted the former Carters Arms on Belmont Wayinto their first (and currently only) pub it hasn’t looked back. Bank Topbeer and guests are the mainstay but traditional cider still features andis popular with the customers here.

Wigan CAMRA havegone for the MasonsArms at Billinge as theirCider Pub of the Year.This free house has beenrun by the same familyfor over 200 years. Fivecask beers are sold andthese are accompaniedby two guest ciders.

Finally, South East Lancs CAMRA have chosen the Thomas Burke onLeigh Road in Leigh. The JD Wetherspoon pub follows many others inthe chain by offering traditional ciders alongside the customary range ofcask beers with a range of 10 handpumps dispensing a changing range.


The Waters Green96 Waters Green,

Macclesfield,Cheshire SK11 6LH

Tel 01625 422653

Ever Changing Guest Beers including:Fyne Ales, Town House, Buxton, Pictish,

Hawkshead, Oakhamand many more.

Your Hosts, Brian and Tracey

Bar Meals Served Mon to Sat LunchThis is not a free house

Best Bitter, Old Oak, Navvy, Double Dagger,Monkeytown Mild, Arizona, White Monk,

Pale Moonlight, Midsummer Madness, Bantam,White Monk, Black Shadow, March Hare,

May Fly, Sticky Wicket, Double Gold,Flash Flood, Black Bee, White Tornado,

Last Leaf, Massacre, Porter, Snowbound,Wobbly Bob, White Hurricane, Uncle Fester,Christmas Kiss, Humbug, Tyke, Thirsty Moon

PHOENIX BREWERYGREEN LANE, HEYWOOD, OL10 2EP TEL. 01706 627009

MORE CHOICEBETTER BEER

International Brewing Awards

1998 2002 2002 2004Wobbly Bob Navvy Wobbly Bob Wobbly Bob

Mild Magic needs

YOUTaking place April 12 to May 19

Why not take partFor full details see page 15


Macclesfield CAMRAPub of the YearThe Pub of the Year for Macclesfield and East Cheshire Branchis the Wharf on Brook Street, Macclesfield.

Within easy walk of the towncentre, the Wharf (nearMacclesfield marina) waspurchased as a free house only 18months ago. In this short timelandlord Chris Stairm and and hiswife Jane have transformed thisstreet corner pub. Chris ispassionate about real ale, andnow has five handpumps, with‘Wharf’ bitter (the provenance ofwhich is a closely guarded secret)and the four others. These usuallyfeature a dark stout or porter, and often Locales - frequently fromMacclesfield’s RedWillow brewery as well as Happy Valley, and manyothers from Northern regions. There is also real cider and a wide selectionof bottled beers, including a range of gluten free beers.

A true community local, the pub was packed pub full of CAMRAmembers, regulars and many friends and family there to celebrate theaward with Chris, Jane and their team. Photo of the presentation abovecourtesy Andy Stairmand.

Alban PearceAlban Pearce was well known to many CAMRA members in GreaterManchester, as he had work at several local beer festivals, includingStockport. His death just before Christmas, while not unexpected (hehad been ill for some time) was a great loss to his many friends andcolleagues.

Although a resident ofBolton, Alban worked formany years at SalfordUniversity and was a regularin the nearby New Oxford.As well as British real ale, heloved Belgian beers, and hadvisited that country severaltimes. The pub recently helda charity benefit night toremember Alban, which wasattended by members of his family, work colleagues, CAMRA friendsand pub regulars. Landlord Tim Flynn paid tribute to Alban in a well-received speech, and £500 was raised for The Christie hospital.

The pub now has a plaque dedicated to Alban's memory, which can beseen in the main bar, appropriately just under an advert for one of themost famous Belgian beers, Orval.

Fallowfield NewsThe saga of the Orange Groverumbles on. The owners have applied todemolish the pub and we asked for anupdate from the City Council who toldus “the proposals were considered bythe Planning and Highways Committeeat their meeting on 26 July 2012 andthey were minded to approve theapplication, subject to the applicantsentering into a Section 106 Agreement to contribute towards highwaysand parking improvements in the vicinity of the site. Discussions arestill under way regarding the contribution and so the agreement has notyet been signed, which is why the application has not yet beendetermined. Once the agreement is signed, the applicants can receivetheir approval.” Meanwhile the pub remains standing and trading. Morenews as we get it.

CAMRA member?

No?Why not join 147,000

other likemindedcampaigners helping

preserve Britain’sbrewing traditions?

See page 26for details.


Bruges NewsLe Trappiste Altrincham’s famous specialist Belgian beer baris re-locating to Belgium.

The Le Trappiste opened in 2002 and was formerly located onGreenwood Street before moving to Shaws Road in 2010. The bar quicklyestablished itself as ‘the most authentic Belgian style beer café in thecountry’, an accolade bestowedupon it by The Good Beer Guideto Belgium. It was awarded thestatus of Ambassadeur d’Orval in2010, by one of Belgium’sTrappist Monasteries. One ofonly sixteen such bars in the UK.

Bar owner Martin Matthews toldOpening Times that he was “veryexcited about the move and the challenge that lies ahead”. He added that“for me it was a natural move, we were at the highest level in the UK, sothe obvious direction to go was Belgium. There is a certain irony attachedto the move, not only will we be offering specialist Belgian beers, but wewill also be importing from some of the leading microbreweries in theUK, Holland, Germany, Scandinavia and the USA.”

Due to open in spring 2013, LeTrappiste will offer a carefullyselected regular menu of morethan 100 specialist beers,including some internationalofferings. There will be achanging selection of 10 beers ontap from InBev, Troubadour, StFeuillien, Duvel-Moortgat, andVan Steenberge, complimentedby two guest lines toaccommodate appearances from

the likes of Struise, Verzet and Den Triest. Le Trappiste owner MartinMatthews proudly said “The Troubadour line will be the only permanentone in Brugge, and will be the only place to try their speciality beers, suchas the current offering Troubadour Magma Sorachi Ace”.

Le Trappiste has an internationalreputation and has already featuredin articles in newspapers in Belgiumand Australia; so much so thatdiscussions have taken place withseveral Belgian breweries and LeTrappiste will be the first bar inBruges to offer their beers withexclusivity. Martin added, “To havethese breweries contact us offering tosupply their beers on an exclusivebasis is a real testament to ourreputation and what we hope toachieve in Bruges or Brugge to becorrect.”

“Since the news was announcedmany of the bar’s customers have been in touch with messages of supportand many plan to visit once we open in April. The bar is located in a 13th

Century cellar 300m from the main square the Grote Markt.” Martinwent on to say “Whilst we enjoyed our time in Altrincham and gainedmany friends, who we look forward to welcoming to Brugge, it wasalways the intention to move the bar to a bigger location, I feel that wehave found the perfect location. Brugge is a UNESCO World Heritagesite with over four million visitors a year, it is a haven for the good beerlover, CHEERS.”

Le Trappiste Brugge is at 33 Kuipersstraat and will opendaily from 4pm (except Monday when it will be closed).


Brewery NewsRobinsonsHaving enjoyed huge success with “build arocket boys”, the beer designed by Elbow,Robinson's hope to repeat that success withanother musical tie-up. This time they’ve goneinto partnership with legendary heavy rockgroup Iron Maiden to produce “Trooper”.

Real ale fanand history afi-cionado BruceDickinson,Maiden's vo-calist (pic-tured), playeda major role indeveloping theunique flavourof the beer, en-tailing ongoingvisits to Robin-son’s breweryin Stockport.Dickinson'son-stage UnionJack flag-waving military character is an iconicelement of the band's live concerts and "TheTrooper", written by bassist Steve Harris, isone of Maiden's most popular songs and one ofthe highlights of any Maiden show.

Announcing the partnership, Oliver Robinson,Managing Director of Robinson's, said: "Thiscollaboration - between two huge Britishsuccess stories - makes for an ideal and naturalmatch; Bruce Dickinson loves his real ale, andRobinson's Brewery is one of Britain’s mostestablished and respected independent family-owned brewers."

And Bruce Dickinson added: "I'm a lifelong fanof traditional English ale; I thought I'd diedand gone to heaven when we were asked tocreate our own beer. I have to say that I wasvery nervous: Robinson's are the only people Ihave had to audition for in 30 years. Theirmagic has been to create the alchemicalwedding of flavour and texture that is Trooper.I love it."

Oliver Robinson continued: "Trooper is apremium British ale with true depth ofcharacter and flavour. For more than thirty

years, the unmistakable icon of Eddie, theband’s instantly-recognisable mascot, hasadorned every album cover, T-shirt and poster- so it is fitting that Eddie will now adorn thecask pump clip and take centre stage on thebottle label of Trooper.”

Fans of both Iron Maiden and real ale can signup to get news and updates on TrooperPremium British Beer fromironmaidenbeer.com, where bottles will beavailable to purchase by both UK and overseascustomers from May 2013.

The beer itself comes in at 4.8% (4.7% inbottle) and is described as a “deep golden alewith a subtle hint of lemon” which comes froma blend of Bobec, Goldings and Cascade hops.The cask version of the beer will be available inselected Robinson's pubs.

HydesFollowing their move to Salford, Hyde’s havelaunched a subsidiary brand called “The BeerStudio” with the aim of producing moreexperimental beers. The website(thebeerstudio.co.uk) includes a ‘Manifesto’which declares:

“Located in Media City UK, close to SalfordQuays, The Beer Studio is a brand new brewery- dedicated to experimentation and innovationin the brewing of cask ales.”

“We use the very latest varieties of hops andmalt to create superb beers with flavoursdistinct from any you will havepreviously tasted.”

“Whilst many brewers may shy away fromthese new and innovative ingredients, weembrace them, in the confidence that ourexpert brewers can pioneer superb new caskbeers, using our state of the art brewery tooffer drinkers something truly unique.”

“By the time otherbrewers follow our lead inusing new and excitingvariations on ingredients,we will already havemoved on, always stayingahead of the competitionto constantly offer ourdrinkers a flavour of the future.”

Even allowing for the hype this sounds verypromising. The first beer to appear has beenBurnt Sienna (5%) which uses a new barleymalt (propino) and a new hop which has noformal name as yet and goes by the designationof p08-6. And of course, the proof of thepudding is in the drinking, as it were – andthose who have tried the beer have been veryimpressed. Others in the pipeline includeTerre Rouge (4.4%), Golden Ochre (4.2%) andVenetian Red (4.7%).

TicketyBrew

The latest brewery in the region is theStalybridge–based TicketyBrew which fired upits mash tuns in early February. It has alreadymade something of an impact.The people behind TicketyBrew are Keri andDuncan Barton. Former actor Duncan is thebrewer who, after 18 months of home-brewing,and having perfected his recipes, decided toupscale to a commercial operation. His five-barrel brewing kit came from Dave Porteralthough only 800 litres at a time have beenbrewed to date.

The reason for the limited brew lengths is thatTickeryBrew is only producing bottled beers,one of a small number of new brewers to dothis. The brewery has stalls at various localmarkets and OT caught up with Duncan atStockport’s craft market in mid-March(pictured above), and where we were able to try(and purchase) the two TicketyBrew beers.Stronger of the two is Dubbel, (6.5%), a prettyimpressive interpretation of the classic Belgianstyle. As with the Belgians, the beer includescandi-sugar in the grist and is made using aproper Belgian yeast for a truly authentic tasteand flavour profile.The second beer is Pale Ale at 5.5%. This alsouses Belgian yeast which imparts a slightspiciness underpinning the superb hopcharacter provided by Galena and Cascadevarieties from the USA. Future additions to therange may include a Blonde and a Porter.Apart from market stalls, TicketyBrew beersare appearing in numerous bars and beershops including Bier Cell and Mort Subite inAltrincham, and in Manchester’s NorthernQuarter at the Crown & Kettle, Bay Horse andArt of Tea. The Kro chain will also be taking thebeers as will Lounge One in Didsbury. Look outfor them. The website is atwww.ticketybrew.co.uk.And still they come – next up: Six o’ClockBrewing Co. More on this in due course.




Robinsons

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