Stockport Pub Guide H-L

The areas covered are as follows:

Note:

* indicates a pub recommended by me (but the absence of an asterisk may mean no more than I don't know the pub very well).
Where there is a photograph shown, click on the thumbnail for a larger image

Hazel Grove

Formerly known as the less sylvan-sounding "Bullock Smithy", a rather faded shopping strip along the A6 that cries out for an often delayed bypass. To the south in particular are some more salubrious areas of suburban housing. The local pub scene is dominated by Robinson's to a greater extent than almost anywhere else with the possible exception of Marple.

Anchor, London Road (Robinson's): Plain single-bar pub with a nautical theme
Bird in Hand, London Road (Robinson's): Small locals' pub with brassy decor
Bull's Head, London Road (S & N): Big pub by road junction, distinguished by a three-dimensional bull's head sign. Internally utterly lacking in character
Cock, London Road (Robinson's): Mock half-timbered pub by the traffic lights in the village centre. Retains a variety of rooms around the central bar including a traditional, secluded snug
Fiveways, Macclesfield Road (S & N, ex-Greenalls): Massive 1930s roadhouse-type pub, much altered internally. Now converted by S & N to a J & J Barras and - astonishingly - a real ale gain (August 2000) with Boddingtons Bitter available.
* Grapes, London Road (Robinson's): Lively, comfortable pub next door to the Three Tunnes. Remodelled at some time in the 1950s or early 60s and still has many features from that period
Grove, London Road (Robinson's): Half the interior has been "Robinsonised" with dreadful "Spanish arches", but the other side still has a traditional tap room and a comfortable snug with naval pictures
Horse & Jockey, London Road (Pubmaster, ex-Vaux): Small knocked-through pub that for some years offered Holts Bitter as a guest beer. Currently reported to have no real ale
Phoenix, Buxton Road (Laurel Pub Company): Long, low, mock half-timbered pub, formerly called the George & Dragon, refurbished and renamed in Summer 2004 and now non-smoking throughout - a first for Stockport - but still offering no real ale
Rising Sun, London Road (S & N): Large, externally impressive pub in the fork of the A6 and A523
Robin Hood, Buxton Road (Robinson's): Modernised pub in typical brewery style, frequently featuring live music
Royal Oak, Commercial Road (Robinson's): Large 1930s pub off the main drag that retains many original features
* Three Bears, Jackson's Lane (Robinson's): Compact modern pub built opened in 1994 which is very busy as it is the only pub for almost a mile in any direction and serves a large residential area. It is also has a strong food trade.
* Three Tunnes, London Road (Robinson's): Busy multi-roomed pub in the centre of the village. Brewery modernisation has been promised/threatened for many years but has not happened so far
White Hart, London Road (Robinson's): Unremarkable but surprisingly congenial locals' pub
Woodman, London Road (Robinson's): Formerly a small, traditional multi-roomed pub, has now been extended and knocked through. Also offers accommodation

Heald Green

Suburban area near the airport that grew rapidly in the 1930s. Has the distinction of having long elected Independent Ratepayers to the local council (I'm not sure what the original reason behind this was).

Beech Tree, Outwood Road (Whitbread): Suburban pub in out of the way location. Reported to have no real ale
Cheadle Royal, Cheadle Royal Business Park (Whitbread): Pub restaurant in modern style, but with plenty of wood in the decor and a variety of different areas. Currently trading under the "Table Table" brand. Creditably for an establishment of this type does offer real ale
* Griffin, Wilmslow Road (Holts): Large modern pub by busy traffic lights, transformed by a thorough rebuilding in Autumn 2006, now outwardly resembling Southfork Ranch, internally more upmarket and food-oriented than before, but still very much a pub
Heald Green Hotel, Finney Lane (Whitbread): Huge pub by Heald Green station with Beefeater restaurant and attached Travel Inn

Heaton Chapel

The most northerly of the Four Heatons, straddling the busy A6 and Manchester Road. Mostly pleasant suburbia, but there is a council estate hidden round the back. Its boundaries are steadily encroaching on the less locationally desirable Reddish

Conor's Irish Bar, Manchester Road (ex-Whitbread): Big redbrick pub on road junction, originally and more properly called the "Chapel House". No real ale
* George & Dragon, Manchester Road (S & N, ex-Boddingtons): Another big redbrick pub prominently sited on a road junction. Very attractive exterior, one of the most impressive in Stockport. The interior has been knocked through but still has a number of distinct areas and distinct "vault" and "lounge" sides. Lively, buzzing atmosphere, almost always busy
Heaton Chapel, Wellington Road North (Bass): Pub-restaurant, formerly called the Rudyard. No real ale
* Hind's Head, Manchester Road (Whitbread): Smart, attractive, well-run modern pub in cottage style offering a range of real ales and also popular for food

Heaton Mersey

The nearest "Heaton" to Manchester, with a traditional core around the Crown and Griffin, but a lot of modern housing on the south side

* Crown, Didsbury Road (Robinson's): Attractive old pub, modernised inside, attracts an older, up-market clientele who are happy to pay 50p a pint more than in the Griffin down the road
Dog & Partridge, Didsbury Road (Pub Company, ex-Boddingtons): Modern pub, recently (August 2005) refurbished in a typical modern airy style, with wood floors and relatively little comfortable seating.
Frog & Railway, Didsbury Road (Greene King): Popular with young people - the name says it all. No real ale
* Griffin, Didsbury Road (Holts): Excellent, very popular multi-roomed pub with a superb wood-and-glass bar counter and that distinctive "Holts" feel. Has plenty of comfortable seating in all its five rooms. Refurbished in Autumn 2009 to put more emphasis on the food trade, but its original layout remains intact.

Heaton Moor

The most exclusive of the Heatons, with a lot of big 1930s and postwar houses, although many of the Victorian villas have now been converted to flats. Has some similarities in character to the more desirable areas of South Manchester such as Didsbury and Chorlton-cum-Hardy

* Crown, Heaton Moor Road (Pub Company, ex-Boddingtons): Well-renovated pub retaining multi-roomed layout, with more of a local feel than other pubs on the Moor. The vault is reached by a door from the alleyway on the right. Has the distinction of having two separate gents' toilets
Elizabethan, Heaton Moor Road (J. W> Lees): Large pub converted from a Victorian house. Has an up-market feel and does not have a particularly pubby atmosphere.
Moor Top, Heaton Moor Road (Pub Company, ex-Wilson's): Modern pub converted by S & N to J & J Barras "community pub" brand. Slightly more traditional than previously but still largely open plan. Returned to the real ale fold in early 2006.
Plough, Heaton Moor Road (Pub Company, ex-Tetley)

Big, busy pub with attractive sandstone frontage, popular with younger people. Has a narrow, rambling interior with a variety of areas going a long way back. The second picture shows the distinctive carved stonework above the door.

Heaton Norris

The most down-to-earth of the Heatons, and the nearest to Stockport town centre, with a large area of social housing to the east straddling Lancashire Hill, but becoming more salubrious to the west of the A6 in the Norris Bank area on Didsbury Road (which is where I happen to live)

Ash, Manchester Road (Inntrepreneur): Large, externally imposing pub that was comprehensively refurbished in mid-2000, leaving it smarter than before but seeming to have less space and a lack of comfortable seating. A convert to no real ale in Spring 2005.
Midland, Wellington Road North (Pub Company): Has recently (Autumn 2005) reverted to its original name after a spell as an Irish theme bar called "Dillon's Whistlin' Jig", and has also restored real ale.
* Four Heatons, Didsbury Road (Hydes): Modern pub with a strong local trade, formerly the "Moss Rose", renamed and given an impressive refurbishment in May 2003. Has a smart, welcoming, comfortable lounge and a lively vault at the rear
Grapes, Old Road (Inn Partnership, ex-Boddingtons): Small two-bar pub tucked away in the middle of a housing estate. No real ale
Grey Horse, Old Road (Inn Partnership, ex-Greenalls): Two-bar pub amongst modern housing. Some nice stained glass above the bar. No real ale
Hope, Wellington Road North (Bass): Has a striking red-brick exterior advertising the defunct Hardy's Crown Brewery. Recently (2009) restored real ale after a long absence
Lonsdale, Belmont Way (Inntrepreneur): Formerly the "Roundhouse", a characterless modern pub aimed mainly at a younger clientele. No real ale
* Magnet, Wellington Road North (Free House): White-painted, two-bar former Wilsons pub with a busy vault and an oddly laid out lounge that gives the impression of having been extended into the next-door building in two separate phases. In late 2009 was sold and became a multi-beer free house which looks to have a promising future.
* Navigation, Lancashire Hill (Beartown): Takes its name from the former Stockport Branch of the Ashton Canal which once terminated here. Modern pub that once had Alex Stepney as licensee. Recently (December 2001) taken over by Beartown Brewery of Congleton and offers a varying selection of their excellent, distinctive beers. They have also given it a low-key refurbishment, making it a very pleasant place to drink. Despite its location well away from the town centre circuit, it has rapidly built up a strong following and it is one of the best pubs in the town. It was voted as the Campaign for Real Ale Greater Manchester Pub of the Year for 2002. Apart from a few spaces at the front, car parking nearby is difficult.
* Nursery, Green Lane (Hydes) Superb multi-roomed pub with long-serving licensees. Little changed since it was built in 1939 and included on CAMRA's National Inventory of historic pub interiors. The interior includes a spacious wood-panelled lounge, a rear smoke room and a robustly traditional vault. There's also an excellent bowling green at the back that is home to numerous teams and competitions, and an upstairs function room. Good food, but only set lunches on Sundays. The lounge is used as a dining room at lunchtimes, but reverts to normal pub function in the evenings. Serves Jekyll's Gold and seasonal beers as well as Mild and Bitter. It was a worthy winner of CAMRA Greater Manchester Regional Pub of the Year 2001, and went on to win CAMRA's National UK title!
* Railway, Wellington Road North (Free House): Surprisingly spacious pub at the junction of the A6 with George's Road. During 2009 was sold off by Punch Taverns into the free trade and returned to the real ale fold. Live music features heavily in the evenings.
* Silver Jubilee, Belmont Way (Robinsons): Pleasant, comfortable modern pub next to Belmont Way shopping centre
The Venue, Manchester Road (Ownership uncertain): 1960s building, formerly the Three Crowns, later turned into a dedicated live music venue. Currently (February 2010) closed and boarded and would seem unlikely to reopen as a pub.

Heaviley

Straddles the A6 to the south of Stockport town centre. The main feature of interest is the splendid Victorian St George's Church with its tall spire and associated vicarage, school and parish rooms

Bamford Arms, Buxton Road (Whitbread): Beefeater pub restaurant that also incorporates a Travel Inn. Real ale is available in the downstairs pub bar
* Blossoms, Buxton Road (Robinson's): Excellent, unspoilt local in the sharp apex of the A6 and Bramhall Lane. Surprisingly small interior incorporates a vault, pool room and very cosy snug around the central bar. Large function room upstairs. Some of the best Robbies' in central Stockport. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 1998
* Bowling Green, Charles Street (Inntrepreneur): Just off Hillgate, recently received a tasteful renovation which also saw the welcome return of real ale. A good example of a busy, traditional urban local
Duke of York, Buxton Road (Robinson's): Three-storey pub with a stucco frontage, internally falls into the category of having been knocked through a bit but retaining distinct areas. Appeals to a younger clientele than many of the other nearby pubs on the A6
Flying Dutchman, Higher Hillgate (Robinson's): Modern and not unpleasant late-80s rebuilding of an old pub
Jolly Sailor, Bramhall Lane (S & N): Impressive Edwardian red-brick edifice on leafy Bramhall Lane, comprehensively knocked through inside
Puss in Boots, Nangreave Road (Robinson's): Modern pub that for a long time was owned by Robbies' but leased to the erstwhile Boddington Pub Company
Wheatsheaf, Higher Hillgate (Pubmaster, ex-Vaux): Unremarkable pub where the lounge and vault were recently knocked through. Regrettably now offers no real ale

High Lane

Former village on the A6 near Lyme Park now surrounded by commuter development

Bull's Head, Buxton Road (ex-Boddingtons): Attractive pub by the canal bridge, but knocked-through inside. Limited, awkward car parking
Horseshoe, Buxton Road (Robinson's): Four-square pub on road junction, surprisingly small inside. In the past it has served some quite adventurous food but currently seems to cater mainly for regular drinkers
Lyme Arms, Buxton Road (Pub Company): Formerly the Dog & Partridge Brewer's Fayre pub-restaurant, changed name and ownership during 2006. Not visited in its new guise
Red Lion, Buxton Road (Robinson's): Large, modern pub with a strong emphasis on food and also offering accommodation
Royal Oak, Buxton Road (Burtonwood): Comfortable pub with a fairly traditional atmosphere, serving a rare brew for the area

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