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STOCKPORT & SOUTH MANCHESTER AREA

NR AIRPORT - I once lived not to far from the airport and occasionally when someone was driving we'd call in at ...
* ROMPER - Last visit: mid 90s - years ago when I was last here it was a small Boddies pub with a few little rooms but since has been completely altered & renamed (to what I cant remember).

ALTRINCHAM - have been in a big pub in town but can't remember which one or anything about it. Can't have been that exciting.

BRAMHALL -
* VICTORIA - now ORANGE TREE - Last visit: early 90s - was a modern-ish Boddingtons pub went in once or twice around 1990, understand it has since greatly changed to a wine bar type place.

BREDBURY - met a friend here once
* RISING SUN - Last visit: 2006 - seemed a busy local but also lots of people eating. Low ceilings, beams etc and several different areas despite being quite an opened out interior. Beers were Tetley and Everards Tiger.

CHEADLE - long ago I used to work in Cheadle but not been in any of these since around 1994 (with one exception) so no idea what they're like now.
* ASHLEA - Last visit: early 90s - a quite smart, pretty typical food pub from what I remember.
* CHESHIRE LINE TAVERN - Last visit: 2010 - called in here when passing after having been in once before at least 15 years earlier. It's a converstion of the old railway station, an attractive brick building some distance from the town centre. It has a large fairly typical but pleasant dining pub style interior including wood burning fire, bare brick and woodwork and different areas to sit. Several ales from Marstons and similar including their guests plus large portions of good food.
* CROWN - Last visit: early 90s - little Hydes pub on the high street.
* GEORGE AND DRAGON - Last visit: early 90s - a big pub full of young people and cant recall if it had any real ale, plenty of local nutters though.
* OLD STAR INN - Last visit: early 90s - another Hydes local on the high street.
* PRINTERS ARMS - Last visit: 1994 - once upon a time i worked across the road and went here often. A friendly busy Robbies pub with jukebox, dart board, various little rooms and I used to enjoy superb suasage, egg and chips with a couple of pints for my lunch - I was very unhealthy back then! It was then modernised with new conservatory area which spoilt some of its traditional appearance though was still a good pub.
* QUEENS HEAD - Last visit: 1994 - across from the Printers, another good Robinsons local with several different rooms and a good beer garden. Passing by now I notice it's been refurbished and altered but I've not been in for a look.
* RED LION - Last visit: early 90s - Robinsons pub that was refurbished in quite a smart style during the early '90s.
* ROYAL OAK - Last visit: early 90s - a busy multi roomed Robbies local.
* VINE - Last visit: early 90s - a small pub on the high street, cant remember owt about it
* WHITE HART - Last visit: 1994 - a big white Boddingtons pub in centre of Cheadle 'village'.

CHEADLE HULME - once upon a time I lived just down the railway line and would visit friends here regularly, in more recent years I've been occasionaly to meet some of the same people, usually at a pub quiz.
* CHEADLE HULME - Last visit: 2006 - big brick Holts pub next to the station, used to come here for the cheap but variable quality beer when it was a typical no frills Holts place. Now refurbished (and these days Holts beer is much improved!) with one half of the pub smarter and serving food, the other side is still more basic with a dart board etc.
* CHURCH Last visit: 2006 - a very nice busy little Robinsons local with several of Robbies brews on offer but it is expensive and I've found the bar staff a bit snooty! A cosy front room by the bar, a little public bar hidden to one side and a larger back room where quite upmarket food is served.
* CONWAY - Last visit: early 90s - now the RYECROFT ARMS - went here years ago on a couple of occasions, remember little about it other than it was a rather rough pub in a residential area, I was once here during a police raid! It's still in the same place obviously, but now a refurbished Hydes pub which I've not been in .
* GOVERNORS HOUSE - Last visit: 2007 - chain pub run by whoever owns Green King/Hardy Hanson beers - it sells 3 of their ales. A large rambling interior, quite smart, food sold but with its staff in uniforms and typical wooden decor it's not really my sort of pub but been in a few times to meet for the Mon night quiz.
* HESKETH - Last visit: 2005 - long ago I came here often when it was a meeting place for various people I knew, more recently I visited for the long running Mon night quiz. These have now stopped due to a major refurbishment & I've not been since, hear it now a smarter place with emphasis on food. Prior to this it was a rather average pub with seating on different level. In my youth would drink Wilsons and Websters, in later years sold John Smiths and one or two guests. Photo
* KENILWORTH - Last visit: 2005 - back in the early 90s it used to have a rough reputation but since refurbished in a standard modern chain pub style. A huge pub with food sold, sports on big screens, some real ale sold - have only been in once in recent times to meet someone and watch football.
* KINGS HALL - Last visit: 2008 - Wetherspoons pub, one very long open room though with some quieter corners and comfy sofas, also upstairs seating. When i last visited there were some good beers including the from the local 3 Rivers brewery.
* MARCH HARE was OLD MILL - Last visit: 2007 - as the Old Mill in the early 1990s I used to enjoy coming here, back then it was one of the few pubs in the area that specialised in a regularly changing range of interesting beers. A large pub which appears old but was built from reclaimed materials, it had lots of bare brick and wood, different seating areas and a very high barn like ceiling. But it is now a chain pub, place for eating not drinking (Vintage Inn ?) with just some average ales [Bass etc] and the inside has changed including lowering the once vast open roof.
* MILLINGTON HALL - Last visit: 2004 - Hydes pub opened in 2004 converted from an interesting old building but on my one visit I was almost refused entry by the halfwit doormen who took exception to the trousers I was wearing! They were nothing offensive, the trousers I mean, not the berks on the door, pathetic when all I wanted was a pint with a friend on a wet Wednesday evening. I did manage to get permission to enter [normally I'd have refused to go in but I was curious for a look at the place], inside is a fairly typical upmarket refurbished pub style place with a range of Hydes beers. I wont be going again
* Cheadle Hulme British Legion - Last visit: 2006 - no real ale and visiting is like being in an episode of Pheonix Nights! Only visited because for a period the quiz we attend was held here

CHORLTON - I visit here quite often, a trendy suburb full of bars many of which sell good ales. To avoid repeating myself, all of these (unless noted) can be described as single room laid back cafe bar type places with pavement seating, real ales and copies of the Guardian lying about!
* BAR - Last visit: 2011 - quite large semi open plan interior behind the glass front, various seating styles including sofas and booths, a jukebox and a good choice of ales from both Marble and other small local breweries. photo
* DULCIMER - Last visit: 2011 - a large brick walled and rather bare room plus another big room upstairs, and from the bar to the toilets is a very long trek up several flights of stairs! Besides Thwaites there's 4 ? ales from micro breweries, and friendly service!  photo   website
* ELECTRIK - Last visit: 2011 - another single room bar in I assume a converted shop, though larger than most of the others. A mix of seating including sofas and arm chairs, jukebox and the walls are decorated with a picture of a moose and some sort of rugs! Ales include a variety of small breweries from around the country. photo
* HORSE & JOCKEY - Last visit: 2011 - this one is not a cafe bar! It's a large old pub on Chorlton Green. Inside is a large semi open area round the big bar, refurbished but traditional and broken up into different areas with a mix of seating, wooden and stone floors and low ceiling beams. There's also a large outside seating area. A good choice of ales with several from small breweries, and also from its own Bootleg Brewery. A small menu of good local but not that cheap food.   photo   website
* MARBLE BEER HOUSE - Last visit: 2011 - one narrow room with a few hidden corners too, it feels more pub like than most of the Chorlton bars with a fireplace, wooden bookshelves and bare wooden floors. It sells the range of Marble Ales plus guest beers. photo.
* NOOK - Last visit: 2011 - small, big windows, darkly lit, brewery memerobilia on the walls and a couple of ales, one from a micro brewery  photo
* ODDEST - Last visit: 2011 - this bar has an impressive choice of ales, 6 I think all from small and mostly local or Yorkshire breweries on my visit. Yet again it's a cool laid back place with various seating areas, sofas, jukebox etc
* PARLOUR - Last visit: 2011 - a couple of different areas inside, big windows, wooden floors, a few ales including a couple from local-ish micro breweries    photo
* PI - Last visit: 2011 - the smallest of all the bars here, one little room with the bar up a couple of steps at the back. 4 handpumps with 3 ales from small breweries (Tatton, Bank Top, Pheonix and similar) and a real cider. It specialises in selling pies, and they are good! Friendly service too.    photo   website
* SEDGE LYNN - Last visit: 2012 - the other one here that's not a cafe bar! It's a Wetherspoons, with all that implies from a choice of interesting ales to some punters being the sort attracted by cheap lager. A great building, not sure what it once was but it's one long room with a vast arched ceiling - like being in an ornate aircraft hanger!   photo   

DIDSBURY - been here occasionally in the early - mids 90s, and one more recent visit
* DIDSBURY - Last visit: 2010 - went here years ago, cant remember what it was like then. More recently called in for something to eat, it's a large white pub with a refurbished interior but feels older with low ceiling, beams etc. Much more of a dining than a drinking pub but a few ales including Adnams and a guest
* OLD COCK - Last visit: mid 90s - back when I visited it was a large old pub with a mix of locals, students etc, a good atmosphere and a good choice of beer. But when I had a look in 2010 it had become a smart dining pub, I didnt go in
I've also been in a few others on the main street including a busy local and a posher bar - no idea which.

GATLEY -
* HORSE AND FARRIER - Last visit: mid 90s - quite a big comfortable Hydes pub I went in a couple of times when I lived not too far away after visting the cinema next door.

HAZEL GROVE - all pubs on the A6. I used to live a few miles up the road and knew someone who lived nearby but these days have no reason to visit.
* BROWNS - Last visit: 2005 - a bar I was dragged into once, no real ale (though a couple of proper lagers) but not my sort of place.
* COCK HOTEL - Last visit: 2005 - a busy down to earth Robbies local with a central bar, large lounge and pool room.
* BULLS HEAD - Last visit: 2005 - tried it once out of curiosity, had a tasteless pint of John Smiths and there was a half hearted disco taking place. But I've read since (2008) it is now selling a few decent real ales so good luck to it!
* GRAPES - Last visit: 2005 - a good busy town centre Robinsons pub, various different rooms and a juke box.
* HORSE AND JOCKEY - Last visit: 2005 - opened out, comfortable but rather unremarkable pub which had no real ale. A nice black & white cat though. [I believe now (2008) that it has started selling cask ale - no news on how the cat is]
* RISING SUN - Last visit: 2005 - big pub though divided up into different areas, with pool, jukebox and shows football on TV. Advertises various events such as live bands, karaoke etc which can attract some shell suited rather dodgy looking punters, but quite a mixed crowd generally and does sell a couple of guest beers along with the usual Pedigree.
* THREE TUNNES - Last visit: 2005 - another busy traditional Robbies pub, next door to the Grapes and again with various rooms and a lively atmosphere.
* WHITE HART - Last visit: 2005 - a quieter Robinsons pub on A6 with a large open room, darts, jukebox and a cat.

HEALD GREEN
* GRIFFIN - Last visit: 1993 ? - was a 1960s style ugly building, inside was a basic and rather large Holts pub. From passing by have seen it has undergone a major refurbishment and is barely recognisable.

HIGH LANE - all these pubs on the main A6 thru the village, went in them on odd occasions when I used to live not too far away.
* BULLS HEAD - Last visit: 2006 - busy traditional Boddingtons pub next to canal (benches outside alongside canal), also has a second beer (Landlord/Black Sheep etc). A mix of ages and types of people, has football on TV and sometimes music events in small main room with 2 seperate rooms incl pool room.
* HORSESHOE - Last visit: 2006 - a nice comfortable Robinsons loca .
* RED LION - Last visit: 2005 - big Robinsons pub, also has a large restaurant area as well as doing the more usual bar food.
* ROYAL OAK - Last visit: 2003 ? - Burtonwood pub with comfortable lounges and a games room, been here once to eat and attend a quiz.

MARPLE RIDGE - somewhere I'd occasionally visit when cycling in the area, but I dont live near there anymore
* ROMPER - Last visit: 2004 - smart rural pub, lots of stone and wood etc. Aimed at the food market though not tried it, but does have a range of guest beers (which I have tried).

MELLOR - passed through here on a walk once
* ODDFELLOWS ARMS - Last visit: 2000 ? - traditional little stone pub in the village with Adnams and Marstons beer plus guests and a reputation for good food, though it was a bit up market and pricey for my tastes when I was out walking and just wanted a simple pie or something!

STOCKPORT TOWN CENTRE & EDGELEY - a place I've visited for a pint since very early '90s when I tried my first tastes of unusual ales (as opposed to the usual Boddies/Robbies/Wilsons etc) at the Old Vic and Woolpack. Since I moved to the north of Manchester in 2006 I visit less frequently but still do on occasions to meet friends and go to the better pubs.
* ARDEN ARMS - Last visit: 2010 - a brick Robbies pub with fine original interior round a small central bar with its tiled floor, various rooms including a public bar, a hidden snug (you have to walk through the bar to get to it!) and a larger wood panelled room complete with grandfather clock and real fire. Also benches in the partly covered yard outside. Robbies bitter, mild and seasonal beers. photo
* ARMOURY - Last visit: 2009 - a traditional Robbies local on the roundabout in Edgeley with a lounge in a typical Robinsons style including an interesting copper ? fireplace and now TV sports. There's also a games room. photo
* BAKERS VAULTS - Last visit: 2009 - a large pub on the market place, one room round a big central bar with a high ceiling, arched windows and interesting architecture. It has regular live music events, when it was busy and noisy but with a good atmosphere, its quieter during the day. Beers are from Robinsons, on one visit there was also a different guest ale. photo     website
* BLOSSOMS - Last visit: early 90s - big Robbies pub on A6 south of town centre, has a good reputation and a fine traditional interior but I've not been for a long time.
* BULLS HEAD - Last visit: 2009 - a large Robbies pub near the market, I visited in 2009 for the first time in many years. It looked recently decorated and has a partly open plan but intereting interior with high ceilings and there's a full range of Robinsons beers. photo
* CHURCH - Last visit: early 90s - Robbies local in Edgeley.
* CHESTERGATE TAVERN - Last visit: early 90s - a large pub in Mersey Square I ended up in once or twice, dont remember owt about it, dont think it had real ale.
* COBDENS was MANCHESTER ARMS - Last visit: 2002 ? - a Robinsons pub which was a small lively but run down bikers pub on the A6 in town centre, now refurbished in a modern bar style, unusual for Robbies with a younger crowd, dress restrictions and so on.
* CROWN INN - Last visit: 2011 - under the famous viaduct, an excellent pub with a small bar full of handpumps (14 I think!) with a huge choice of beers from independent breweries both local and around the country. Several cosy traditional rooms inside including a dark comfortable front room, a more basic bare floored room (there was a pool table, it now seems to have gone). One of the back rooms is often used for live music. Has recently undergone a clean up and redecoration and opened a beer garden. photo   website
* CROWN HOTEL - Last visit: early 90s - a mile or more south of town on the A6, a big Robinsons pub went in once a long time ago.
* EDGERTON ARMS - Last visit: early 90s - near the market, was very rough, long since refurbished and not I've been in for years but looks nowt special.
* GEORGE - Last visit: 2006 - large pub on the A6. No real ale, I ended up in here briefly under duress from a friend who wanted to watch football on TV. After a swift half of some rubbish I talked some sense into him.  
* GRAPES - Last visit: early 90s - small traditional Robbies local in Edgeley.
* JACK HORNERS - Last visit: early 2010 - not far from the station, a brick corner pub with an interesting old interior with various small areas to sit on different levels and with bare brickwork and dark wooden beams. There's also a jukebox and TV and down to earth local punters! I'd not been in here for almost 20 yrs but read it had now guest beers so called in for a look, besides more common ales were 2 good ales from the Clarks brewery.   photo
* MAGNET - Last visit: 2009 - on the A6 heading north, an unremarkable looking pub outside but reopened in late 2009 as a real ale pub with 10 or more handpumps selling a changing range of unusual beers. An interesting layout with rooms either side of the bar including areas on different levels and various hidden corners to sit, there's a mix of seating styles and a pool room down some steps at the back. It's all newly decorated inside including white painted bare brickwork and plus lots of brewery memorabilia on the walls.    photo
* NELSON - Last visit: 2005 - near the college, Theakstons and guest beer (just Boddingtons on my last visit). Quite a large pub with pool table, I hadn't been in for years but made the mistake of calling in to watch football on TV, was busy with vocal locals including one drunken psycho, I left before it all kicked off!
* OLD VIC - Last visit: 2010 - corner building on the Edgeley side of the railway station, it's long looked very run down though is slowy being tidied up, but in any case don't be put off by the outside as inside is a small lively local with real fire and a large welcoming landlord, if you can cope with his dry sense of humour! The pub is decorated with various interesting artifacts and sells a small selection of changing guest ales from little breweries. On my few visits over the last couple of years the interior is also slowly undergoing a redecortion though it still looks half finished. Jukebox and a mostly covered rear yard to sit out    photo    website
* PACK HORSE - Last visit: early 90s -near the market, not been for many years. A mock tudor building which sells real ale but cant remember what
* PETERSGATE - was BLARNEY STONE and before that was called something else - Last visit: early 90s - I used to visit this pub occasionally many years ago, cant remember what it was called then. Had 2 rooms either side of the bar incl a back games room. It then became an Irish pub and has now changed again.
* PINEAPPLE - Last visit: 2002 ? - an old Robbies pub in the town centre near the bus station and viaduct. Cant remember much about what its like inside other than it being small and cosy with ceiling beams, .
* RAILWAY - Portwood - Last visit: 2010 - opposite the Peel shopping centre and often threatened by redevelopment so from the outside it looks a bit neglected but inside is one long L shaped room with a large bar and many handpumps. It was a Porters Ales pub which has now become Pennine Ales so has their range of ales at good prices along with many other interesting guests from little breweries. A down to earth friendly place and has real bar billiards. photo
* RAILWAY - Wellington Road - Last visit: 2010 - a rather bland looking double fronted pub, but now sells interesting ales, Wold Top, Titanic and a couple of others on my visit. A lounge to one side of the bar and an open room to the other with big TV and small stage areas, plus a small pool room.
* QUEENS HEAD - Last visit: 2009 - a very small, old Sam Smiths pub (so cheap ale) with a superb traditional narrow wood panelled bar room and couple of little back rooms. photo
* SPREAD EAGLE - Last visit: 2000 ? - Robbies brewery tap, nothing of note about the building but had the nicest pint of Robbies Mild ever in here!
* STOCKPORT ARMS - Last visit: early 90s -from what I remember just an ordinary but decent enough town pub.
* SWAN WITH TWO NECKS - Last visit: 2009 - great little Robbies pub in shopping area, unspoilt interior with wood panelled snug, a couple of lounges and drinking corridor, a good place to escape shopping for a quick pint and a snack, but it's size means can be busy. An outside gents too which always adds something to a pub! A choice of Robinsons ales. photo
* TIVIOT - Last visit: early 90s - quite a big town centre Robbies pub I tried once long ago.
* UNITY - Last visit: 2007 - a small but lively little Robbies pub across the road from station.   photo
* WATERLOO - Last visit: late 90s - a Robinsons pub a bit out of the town centre we went in for the quiz nights some years ago and won every week! Then they stopped the quiz and haven't been back since, has a lounge and a traditional vault.
* WHEATSHEAF - Last visit: early 90s - only been in once many years ago, on a street corner off the A6 but can't remember anything about it.
* WINTERS - Last visit: 2003 - a big Holts pub coverted from a shop so has a wide shop front style appearance with large windows, also a distinctive external clock face. The usual basic Holts style and an upstairs room. photo
* WOOLPACK - Last visit: 2008 - on its own out near the motorway and Pyramid building, went here a few times in the early 1990s when it was one of the few pubs selling unusual ales. I hadnt been back for 15+ years until decided to try it again and found it was selling 3 Storm Force Ales, dont know if these are regulars but the one I had was good. [the pub since closed but has reopened with a bigger choice of changing ales] The building itself has a bare floored area to one side of the bar with games machines and 2 larger partly opened out rooms.  photo

I'm sure in the early 1990s I visited a few other Stockport pubs, details of which I've long forgotten

WHALLEY RANGE - these 3 are all cafe bars in the same row of shops, not far from Chorlton so my comments to that place also apply here
* HILLARY STEP - Last visit: 2011 - quite a small bar, with seating by the big windows at the front also up a couple of steps near the bar. Relaxed atmos and several ales, Hawkeshead, Beartown and similar brews on my visit and at cheaper than nearby Chorlton prices! photo.
* JAM STREET CAFE - Last visit: 2011 - a small one room bar behind a shop style front (I assume it was once a shop), a tiled floor and more seating on the pavement outside (beneath a big awning) than there is inside. A couple of ales, one from the Outstanding brewery, the other I forget.    photo
* NIP & TIPPLE - Last visit: 2011 - larger than the other two with a couple of bright rooms with modern artwork, there's also nice patio area out front. Friendly service and good home made pizzas, beer wise there's the usual continental beers and a couple of ales from micro breweries.    photo    website

WOODFORD - back when I lived a few miles from here it was somewhere to walk to on a summer evening
* DAVENPORT ARMS - Last visit: 1999 - very characterful and cosy Robinsons pub in an old former brick farm house with several little rooms and a nice beer garden.

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