Stockport Pub Guide M-Z

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

Marple

Pleasant dormitory village-cum-town in a hilltop location that makes road access difficult in the rush hour. Features the impressive railway viaduct and canal aqueduct spanning the deep valley of the Goyt side-by-side, and a flight of 16 locks taking the Peak Forest Canal up to its summit level and the junction with the Macclesfield Canal. The pubs are mainly owned by Robinson's and overall are a touch disappointing. There is now an illustrated on-line pub guide covering Marple, Marple Bridge, Mellor, Strines and Compstall, which is well worth a look. In recent years, Marple has lost two prominent pubs, the Bowling Green and Jolly Sailor, leaving a virtual Robinson's monopoly in the town.

Bull's Head, Market Street (Robinson's): Modernised pub on pedestrianised shopping street
Crown, Hawk Green(Robinson's): Attractively situated facing Hawk Green's green. Extensively refurbished over the years and seems uncertain whether it is a food house or one that targets a younger clientele
* Hare & Hounds, Dooley Lane (Hydes): Former Chef & Brewer pub with an emphasis on food, in an attractive location by an old stone bridge spanning the Goyt. Much modernised over the years but retains some cosy areas. Taken over by Hydes in mid-2002 and providing much-needed choice in the Marple area.
* Hatter's Arms, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Old-fashioned, multi-roomed backstreet pub of great character, mainly used by locals
* Navigation, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Bustling, town-centre pub that is popular for food.
Marple Tavern, Cross Lane (Pub Company, ex-Whitbread): Modern estate-type pub, originally called the Otterspool. Not visited.
* Pineapple, Market Street (Robinson's): One of Marple's better pubs, at the south end of the pedestrianised area. Unusually for a town-centre pub, has its own small car park at the rear.
* Railway, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Prominent, well-kept redbrick pub next to Rose Hill railway station, internally modernised but retaining a traditional atmosphere with plenty of comfortable seating.
* Ring O'Bells, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Congenial pub just off the town centre, retaining two comfortable snugs at the front. Towards the rear concentrates more on food. Has an appealing outside drinking area overlooking the canal and a large car park at the rear.
Romper, Marple Ridge (Free House): Upmarket, food-oriented pub a mile south of Hawk Green and commanding spectacular views. Prices match the pub's character

Marple Bridge

Attractive partner village to Marple, in the steep valley of the Goyt. The characterful main street by the side of the river is now home to antique shops

Hare & Hounds, Mill Brow (Robinson's): Very out-of-the-way pub in small hamlet up above Marple Bridge. Modernised interior of little character
Lane Ends, Glossop Road (Enterprise Inns, ex-Tetleys): Plain but comfortable one-room pub
Midland, Brabyns Brow (Whitbread): Brewer's Fayre pub restaurant in picturesque spot alongside the Goyt. No real ale
Norfolk Arms, Town Street (Bass): Attractive stone-built pub at the bottom of the steep Brabyn's Brow, apparently now the favourite venue of the Marple area's younger drinkers. No real ale
* Rock Tavern, Glossop Road (Pub Company): Four-square, stone-built rural pub close to the Derbyshire border, now greatly extended to provide a comfortable, rambling interior with a strong emphasis on food. A recent visit (March 2007) found two real ales from independent brewers available
Royal Scot, Town Street (Robinson's): Originally called the Railway, the first pub to be bought by Robinson's over and above their original home-brew house. Now much modernised, its football loyalties made clear by the "Malcolm Allison Room".
Traveller's Call, Glossop Road (Robinson's): Small locals' pub on main road opposite the Lane Ends, with awkward interior layout
Windsor Castle, Glossop Road (Robinson's): Prominent pub on sharp corner, interior one of the less appealing examples of "Robinsonisation"

Mellor

Long, straggling village that becomes more characterful as you climb the hill, with many old stone-built houses. The church is in a striking hilltop position

* Devonshire Arms, Longhurst Lane (Robinson's)

Old stone pub with an attractive projecting porch. In the past has served some of the best pub food in Stockport, but I haven't visited it for some time

Moorfield Arms, Shiloh Road (Free House)

Large, food-oriented pub in an isolated, moorland spot

Oddfellows, Moor End Road (Free House)

Very old, stone-built pub with mullioned windows, now mainly concentrating on up-market food. Negotiating the car park requires a degree in geometry

Royal Oak, Longhurst Lane (Robinson's)

Lowest down the hill, and most down-to-earth, of the Mellor pubs. Has recently added a "proper" Indian restaurant, open evenings only.

Offerton

Extensive residential area on either side of Marple Road

Emigration, Hall Street (Robinson's)

Smallish, busy, much altered pub

* Fingerpost, Hempshaw Lane (Robinson's)

Large red-brick pub prominently sited on a busy crossroads, with a multiplicity of rooms and a strong local trade

Gardeners Arms, Marple Road (Inn Partnership, ex-Boddingtons)

Prominent but unremarkable pub in fork of two roads

Golden Hind, Marple Road (Greene King)

Large post-war pub with an emphasis on food. No real ale

Harvester, Turnstone Road (S & N, ex-Greenalls)

Modern estate pub. Not visited

Strawberry Gardens, Marple Road (S & N)

Attractive cottage-style frontage, but much extended at rear. No real ale

* Victoria, Hall Street (Inn Partnership, ex-Greenalls)

Straightforward, traditional two-roomer which has a good reputation for guest beers

White House, Hempshaw Lane (Inntrepreneur)

Caters mainly for a younger clientele with discos, karaoke etc. Currently (Autumn 2008) closed and boarded.

Attractive roadside pub that usually seems unaccountably quiet

Reddish

Workaday north-eastern suburb of Stockport, a separate local government area until the early 1900s, with a large industrial estate and extensive terraced housing. Never offering the best selection of pubs in the borough, it is now easily the worst area for real ale availability, with only 3 of 7 pubs listed offering cask beer, and none of those in North Reddish.

Bull's Head, Gorton Road (Bass): Large, prominent red-brick pub at the centre of North Reddish. No real ale
Carousel, Reddish Road (S & N): Large, modern pub half-way between Houldsworth Square and Stockport, with strong food trade. No real ale
Fir Tree, Gorton Road (Punch Taverns, ex-Tetley): Large, mainly single-storey 1950s pub. No real ale
Grey Horse, Broadstone Road (Holts): Imposing Edwardian pub with a rear vault and a spacious lounge, taken over by Holts in 2008.
Houldsworth Arms, Houldsworth Square (Whitbread): Impressive, tile-fronted pub dominating the busy Houldsworth Square, the shopping centre of South Reddish. No real ale.
* Thatched Tavern (Punch Taverns, ex-Tetley): Small, traditional street-corner local tucked away behind Houldsworth Square.
* Union, Broadstone Road (Robinson's): Small pub in terrace, refurbished in typical brewery style in the mid-80s, but somewhat mellowed by time.

Romiley

Dormitory suburb that has grown up around the old village; formerly part of its own local government district of Bredbury & Romiley Urban District Council. A mixture of up-market housing and overspill council estates.

Cherry Tree, Compstall Road (ex-John Smiths): Big estate-type pub on main road, surrounded by sea of scarcely-used car park. No real ale. Not visited
Cow & Calf, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Prominently situated at busy road junction, with a somewhat gloomy, modernised interior that does not make the most of the potential of the site
* Duke of York, Stockport Road (Inntrepreneur, ex-John Smiths): Attractive, white-painted pub that incorporates an archway giving access to a row of cottages. Pleasant interior, with a genuine vault at the rear, and three separate lounge areas at the front, including a wood-panelled snug reached by going up some steps. Offers guest real ales as well as the usual Scottish Courage range. Ample car parking space.
Foresters Arms, Werneth Road, Greave (Pub Company, ex-Boddingtons): Tucked-away situation in the village of Greave about a mile north of Romiley centre. A pleasant pub with a variety of intimate, low-beamed rooms rambling around a central bar. Large car park at rear.
Friendship, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Multi-roomed locals' pub with its own bowling green
Railway, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Busy, down-to-earth local next to the railway station
Romiley Arms, Stockport Road (Greene King): Big pub, almost opposite the Railway. Not visited
* Shoulder of Mutton, Bowclough (Free House): Small former quarrymen's local situated above the village, with an atmosphere little changed since the 1950s. Interior comprises a spartan vault and cosy, chintzy lounge. Definitely no food and no children. Does not open at lunchtimes apart from Sundays. Unfortunately has had no real ale for many years, but despite this is one of the few keg pubs in the area worth visiting. Note: This is a spoof entry
Spread Eagle, Hatherlow Lane (ex-Boddingtons): Imposing building in the Hatherlow area about half a mile to the west of the village centre. Up to the late 80s retained an interior of great character, possibly dating back to the 1930s, with extensive wood panelling and original seating, but in two or three successive "refurbishments" this has regrettably largely been swept away
Stock Dove, Compstall Road (S & N): The most recent refurbishment has resulted in a pleasant, rambling interior in olde-worlde style with numerous seating areas and alcoves. Makes an effort to serve distinctive food but is let down by the limited range of real ale

Shaw Heath

Area of mainly Victorian terraced housing across the railway line from Edgeley

* Adswood Hotel, Adswood Lane West (Robinson's): Attractive, spacious multi-roomed pub with a cobbled frontage and a surprising, secluded beer garden. Maybe a little overlooked due to its tucked-away location, but well worth the detour. Despite the name, not really in Adswood
* Florist, Shaw Heath (Robinson's): Unusually named, impressive, three-storey early-Victorian pub in Italianate style. Somewhat remodelled inside, but still has a rambling layout with a choice of five distinct drinking areas plus the bar. Large function room on first floor. Public car park at rear
Plough, Shaw Heath (ex-Wilsons): Ordinary locals' pub with no real ale

Strines

Mainly modern village that straggles along the main road in the valley of the Goyt

* Royal Oak, Strines Road (Robinson's): Small, cosy roadside pub, comprising congenial main bar, vault and dining room. Small, rather awkward car park
* Sportsman, Strines Road (Free House, formerly Wilsons): Four-square roadside pub with a small vault and large, food-oriented lounge, offering guest beers from independent breweries. Impressive views over the valley of the Goyt from the rear

Woodford

Leafy village at the extreme south of the borough that is much more "Cheshire" than "Greater Manchester". Also home to a large British Aerospace factory and airfield, where the famous Avro Lancaster and Vulcan bombers were originally developed

* Davenport Arms, Chester Road (Robinson's): Superb multi-roomed farmhouse pub; licence held by the same family for 70 years and four generations. Distinct up-market strand in clientele but genuinely welcoming to all. The excellent traditional tap room features old Farmer's Weekly posters of British livestock. Exceptionally large and attractive garden at the rear which is well-secluded from the road and ideal for families. Children are welcome at lunchtimes in the snug.

Woodley

Rather indeterminate community on the main road to Hyde, centred on a modern shopping precinct

Lowes Arms, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Modern pub by traffic lights. Not visited
Navigation, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Prominent pub in fork of two roads, with unrealised potential
Railway, Stockport Road (Robinson's): Small pub by railway bridge, bought by Robbies from Bass. Not visited
White Hart, Stockport Road (Pub Company, ex-Bass): Externally, the most attractive pub in Woodley, now concentrating on food. No real ale
Woodley Arms, Stockport Road (Pub Company, ex-Vaux): Modern pub in Woodley shopping precinct. No real ale. Not visited

Town Centre | Areas A-G | Areas H-L | Over the Borders

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