News & Features

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Chester – 29th December 2014

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Take a break from the turkey sandwiches and make the most of the holiday break for a tour of Chester’s great real ale scene. Catch the 11.17 Northern Trains service from Manchester Piccadilly to ChesterCalls atStockport 11:27Navigation Road 11:44Altrincham 11:46Hale 11:49 Arrives at Chester at 12.45 First stop Town Crier (Black Sheep + 2 Guests) … Read more

Manchester Beer & Cider Festival Needs You

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The second Manchester Beer & Cider Festival will open to the public on Wednesday 21st Janaury. Organised by CAMRA Greater Manchester Branches, in one year it established itself as the premier beer event in the North with over 10,000 customers and an unrivalled selection of beers & ciders. The festival is entirely staffed by festival … Read more

New Cask Gains in Flixton

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The ever improving Real Ale scene in Flixton has been boosted by the addition of two pubs that were, for a long time, “Cask Ale Deserts”.

 

The arrival, just over 12 months ago, of Vicky & Brian O’Keefe as the new management team at The Garrick’s Head on Moorside Road (virtually opposite Trafford General Hospital) has really helped in getting real ale established in the pub and the quality of the beers served has already resulted in it being awarded the Cask Marque.

Three handpumps now grace the single long bar, and recent offerings have included Wells Bombardier, Sharp’s Doombar, Wychwood Hobgoblin and beers from Thwaites and Young’s.

The beers are proving popular with both their regular and new customers.  

 

Already well known locally for its live music and its screening of live sports, The Garrick is now gaining itself a well deserved reputation for its choice and quality of cask ale.

 

From The Garrick, a short stroll down to the other end of Brook Road brings you to Flixton Road and to the Bird i’th Hand.

 

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Rope & Anchor gains Cask Marque

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The Rope & Anchor on Paddock Lane in Dunham Massey has just gained Cask Marque accreditation for their real ales. The JW Lees house is best known as a dining venue but has been making a major effort to improve the quality of their ale offering which has culminated in the Cask Marque. They have … Read more

Volunteers Hotel in safe hands

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There are new tenants at Holt’s Volunteer Hotel in Sale. Former hosts Jim & Tracy Roberts left the Cross Street pub at the end of September and have been replaced by Debby & Eddie Scott. The couple have a long association with Sale having moved to the area from the North East of England 26 … Read more

Chorlton Challenge 2014

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Chorlton Challenge 2014Friday 14th & Saturday 15th November 2014 The Chorlton Challenge is the annual survey of Chorlton’s 24 pubs and bars which serve cask ale. Spread over two days, the challenge is to visit all 24 pubs but if you can’t make the full weekend just drop in when you feel you can to … Read more

Champion Beer of Britain – make your vote count

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Nominations from CAMRA members are required for entrants into the North West Champion Beer of Britain competition. The winners from this area competition are put forward as finalists to the national Champion Beer of Britain competition at the Great British Beer Festival and the National Winter Ales Festival. There are 11 categories for the competition … Read more

Beech Inn spawns an impressive Orange Tree

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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

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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

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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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