Beech Inn spawns an impressive Orange Tree

Orange Tree - Looking at Bar owner Orange Tree

Orange Tree - Looking at Bar owner Orange TreeAltrincham’s Orange Tree re-opened on October 8th. As reported previously, the pub has been taken over by Chris Clish who has overseen the  revival of Chorlton’s Beech Inn. Chris has gone into partnership with Gabrielle Burns-Smith, formerly his manager at The Beech Inn and  her partner James Dainty to take the lease of the Enterprise Inns pub. The pub has undergone an extensive refurbishment lasting two  months and is now a much smarter affair than it was previously.

Externally the rather garish orange colour scheme has been replaced with a much more subdued green while internally the is a mix of  stripped brick walls and plain grey plaster. On entering the pub, seven handpumps flank the corner of the bar in front of you. Five  dispense real ale with two given over to cider. Three regular ales are Landlord, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin Thwaites Wainwright while when the branch’s Altrincham Market social called on October 17th, the guests were Dorset’s Otter Amber & Rudgate Ruby Mild. Gabby told us that their is an eighth  line installed but they are physically struggling to fit the pump in. She also told us that while none was available on our visit, they  will be aiming to have at least one local brew available – beers from Mobberley Fine Ales have been going well and they also had  Beartown in the cellar.

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Chorlton is 25 – The Shak opens

Shak - Bar seating copyright Shak

Shak - Bar  seating copyright ShakChorlton-cum-Hardy now has an incredible 25 pubs & bars serving real ale. The latest addition to the area is The Shak which opened in October on the same part of the Wilbraham Road strip as Mono & The Bar. The Shak is a first venture into the bar world for manager &  co-owner Francesca Duffy who has opened the bar with two sleeping partners having come back to the UK after a period living in Dubai.

The bar has been fitted out in a modern style with the walls a mixture of neutral grey / green and stripped wood cladding and panels. A  giant print of a forest scene adorns the wall to the right of the entrance. The bar is to the rear of the raised area which forms the  left hand side of the bar. Although initially opening with two handpumps, a third was added after the success of ale sale on the opening weekend in October.

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Your new branch committee

At the Trafford & Hulme Branch Annual General Meeting on 9th October, the branch voted in the committee who will serve the branch for the next 12 months.

Your branch chair remains Paul King, with John O’Donnell as vice-chair. Paul will also serve as Cider Officer while John will also continue to act as Branch Contact.

We are pleased to welcome three new members to the committee for 2014-15.

Altrincham Resident David Wade joins the team as both Webmaster & Social Media Officer, while Tim Field from Sale comes on board as Public Affairs Officer for the Trafford Council Area. Metropolitan University student Bernard Randall is the new Branch Young Members Contact.

The new Treasurer is Andy Jenkinson who will also continue to lead pub campaigning as Pubs Officer.

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