Pubs, Pints & People in Trafford & South West Manchester
The branch was extremely sorry to hear that landlord Steve Crook has left The City Arms in Kennedy Street. Earlier in the year, Steve suffered a serious back injury which has seen him unable to work in the cellar since. Unfortunately, his recovery from this injury has taken a lot longer than doctors originally predicted … Read more
Below is the itinerary for the Sale Stroll 2014, our annual wander round the many hostelries of Sale which offer real ales. This year the Stroll will take place on Saturday 20th September. Everybody is invited to join us – either for the whole day or just pop in and out when you are free.
Sale has a great variety of pubs from major chains to small independent free houses so will make for a varied day out.
The Trafford & Hulme Branch Pub of The Season for Autumn 2014 is perhaps one of the most unusual “pubs” in the whole of the branch area but one that has made an impression in just six months of trading. Located in former office space above an estate agent’s office, the only sign of the Stretford Sip Club’s existence is a hand painted wooden sign in the window adjacent to the anonymous door of the premises on the corner of Barton Road and Kingsway.
Step inside the door and assorted casks stacked under the stairs are the first clue to what lies above. Climbing to the top of the stairs and you may think you’ve been mistaken and you have entered into somebody’s lounge complete with sofas and dining table – it’s only when you venture to the rear room that you will find the bar complete with it’s two handpumps and well stocked fridge.
Opening in April 2014, The Sip Club was the realisation of the dream of landlady Heather Garlick, a born and bred Stretfordian who wanted to bring to her hometown the kind of place she would like to socialise at herself – a cosy and welcoming space offering only genuine quality beers & wines. How the Sip Club has embedded itself into the local area in such as short period of time is remarkable and testament to the vision and hard work of Heather and the band of family, friends and suppliers who have embraced what she set out to do.
There was surprise in the twittersphere and beyond at closing time on July 5th when cryptic posts from Manchester’s Odder Bar on both twitter & Facebook announced #EndOfAnEra. As the dust settled over the next day or two, it became apparent that the seemingly popular Oxford Road Bar & club had been sold and closed … Read more
While the forthcoming reopening of The Orange Tree is great news, elsewhere in Altrincham things aren’t so good with no fewer than three pubs closing in recent months. First to go was The Victoria on Stamford Street – primarily a restaurant in recent years but one that maintained a handpump on the bar and served … Read more
Altrincham’s The Orange Tree has had a pretty torrid time over the last couple of years with several different licensees come and go. Things may be looking up for the Enterprise Inn’s owned pub on Old Market Place with the news that the new team behind the pub is to be led by Chris Clish, … Read more
Trafford & Hulme Camra Pub of the season for summer 2014 is The Old Market Tavern in Altrincham – better known as’ O.M.T.’ to most people.
John Glover with his wife Linda and family ‘took over the reigns’ in March, 2005 and quickly set about making the pub what we see today. However when they first entered the building it was in a mess having been closed for a period of time and certain ‘undesirables’ had broken in and the place had been vandalised with many items ‘gone missing’. Over the years the pub has been transformed into a thoroughly enjoyable place to participate drinking some fantastic beers.
2008 was the year that saw the OMT re-enter Camra’s Good Beer Guide and has been in every edition since. Also the same year saw it voted as Trafford & Hulme’s Camra Pub of the Year.
Although the OMT is owned by Punch Taverns, John has an excellent agreement with them which allows him to choose which beers he wants. Six beers are permanent – Caledonian Deuchars IPA, George Wright’s Drunken Duck & Northern Lights, Taylor’s Landlord, Phoenix Arizona and Facers DHB, with a futher five handpumps reserved for guest beers from far and wide.
Less than a week after closure of The Jackalope on Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, the bar was reborn as Strange Brew. At the helm of Strange Brew is David Williams, a beer fan with a history at various notable Manchester bars. Dave spent three years at Good Beer Guide listed Sandbar before moving over the … Read more
Unfortunately, the Church Inn on Higher Cambridge Street in Hulme had a kitchen fire in early June. Fortunately pub was open at time so the fire was put out before anyone was in danger. Damage is mostly limited to kitchen (although redecoration has taken place due to smoke damage). The kitchen has been closed and … Read more
The Stretford Sip Club, hidden away above Trading Places on Barton Road in Stretford, is going from strength to strength as locals slowly discover this new gem in their midst. The bar now has it’s own events room which it launched with a sold out whiskey tasting evening. The room can seat around 20 people … Read more