Hello,
I got Wednesday off work in the hottest week of the year so far so me and Tash could accompany Wee Fatha to Tatton brewery to buy some bottled beers. Naturally, as a rambling sot, the only thing to do whilst undertaking this task was to visit some other pubs. As Tash has never been with us to Cheshire there are some repeated visits from last time, but it was well worth doing so.
About 2 hours after setting off we arrived, having come past Manchester Airport into the rural idyll of Ashley, in Mobberley. No getting lost this time, we passed the Railway where Matty and WF went last time and headed for the Church Inn. I understand that apart from the Railway the 3 or 4 other pubs in Mobberley are owned by the same firm. This is disappointing, as it could stifle competition, but to be absolutely honest, none of the three pubs we visited were bad.
The Church Inn is just across the road from, um..the church, and is a large rambling premises serving food and four real ales. We had halves of Tatton's Ale Glorious which I think is brewed for the pub (or rebadged), half a Wizard dark mild and a pint of Brightside Your Town pale ale for me. We sat in the garden admiring the views and deciding whether or not to get food - in the end we didn't as only Wee Fatha was going to and the starters were all sharing plates. The beer was well kept and unsurprisingly the Brightside was the highlight for me.
Further into the sprawling village we came to the Bulls Head and the Roebuck. The Bulls Head car park holds about 6 cars so its good the same firm owns the Roebuck where we parked. We also went in for a drink, since it had only reopened the weekend before. One thing that is slightly annoying about all 3 pubs is that someone greets you on the way in - this is to establish if you want to eat, or simply have a drink. I know some people like this kind of greeting but I would rather find the bar and wait to be served by a friendly barkeep. In this case, the bar is hardly that - so we would probably have talked to the guy anyway.
We had halves of Dunham Deer Beer and one from Tatton which I think was blonde. Having opened the gate to let WF climb less steps into the garden we got sat out in the sunshine and decided to get some food, starters of Ratatouille for WF and Dunham potato chips for me and Tash. Was the food pretentious? Yes. Was it tasty and reasonably priced? Yes. A decent place to stop, and to leave the car as we popped over the road.
The Bulls Head is a little older looking inside than the other two - am certain that much of the antiquity is imported but I like the tiled floor and the panelling, real or recent, in the pub. The bar had 6 beers on so we tried thirds of them all - this included a pale ale from Wincle, Wobberley Mobberley which I think is also brewed by Wincle, Cheshire Cat Pale Ale, Dunham Bulls Head Bitter, Weetwood Oregon Pale ale and Wizard (or Merlin?) Merlins gold. We supped them outside in the warm sunshine and enjoyed them all, especially the Weetwood.
From here we drove to Tatton brewery for WF to buy his bottles of beers, of which there were many, and then onto Lymm to visit the Old Post Office, or Lymm Brewery Tap. The beer range comprised Dunham Massey and Lymm brewery beers and we had halves of Dunham Stout, Cheshire IPA, and Lymm Dam. The later was 7.2% and a copper coloured strong ale, which was easy to drink, as was the Chesire IPA. We had free olives with the beers (even tempting WF to try a few) and bought some local pork scratchings. Always a good place to stop off, and playing some decent tracks including Mark Lanegan.
We drove out to Winnick and Burtonwood next to visit the Fiddle ith Bag Inn. There were three beers on including one which everyone went for but since WF and Tash were staying alcohol free I went for a North Blyth Seafarers Pale. I sat outside and soaked up more beautiful sunshine whilst Tash took a tour of the numerous artifacts inside.
Our next stop was the exccllent Grocers Micropub on Liverpool Road in Cadishead, run by Martin, AKA Dimpled Mug. We parked just down the road and entered to find the tiny pub busy, mainly with customers anticipating the quiz. I had two pints of the excellent Dunham Experimental #2 and Tash likely had some Wilson Potter, and we sat down in the right hand corner to soak up the atmosphere and listen to the buzz of conversation.
A steady stream of customers came, few went, and it was obvious that the quiz was a very popular event. The beer was on great form and it was good to catch up with Martin and to congratulate him on winning his local branch pub of the year. Really must try and get back there sometime when we have more time to sit down and have a proper sup!
Our penultimate stop was the Star at Higher Broughton. Am not sure if the pub is brewing anymore but they had First Chop AVA and Abbeydae Moonshine on so we all went for the first, apart from WF, now on J2o. The pub is still community owned and has a basic interior with three rooms, including one at the back which seems to have been brought more into use as a games room, and may have lost some original features as a result.
Our final stop was in Chorlton at Pi. Its somewhere that serves food til 22.0 and the pies are quite nice - a simple meal to fill us up before the trip back to Sheffield. I had something locally brewed in here - I said that about Pi in Macc as well, but I wasn't after having much and enjoyed whatever we had. Tash really enjoyed her coffee as well. Pi is part of a chain as you may know and its an interesting if frustrating mix of hipster and trendy staff and ethos. However the beer seems well kept and its a good place to fill up when you are on a lengthy pub crawl.
Pub of the day was, clearly, the Grocers Micro Pub, but the Star and the Bulls Head were close runners up. A great day out, and a superb way to wrap numerous pub visits round visiting Tatton brewery fr 20 minutes.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Showing posts with label Bulls Head Mobberley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bulls Head Mobberley. Show all posts
Saturday, 11 June 2016
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Cheshire Choice
Good evening,
yesterday Wee Fatha was my guide as we took a follow up tour of the Cheshire, its pubs and breweries. We once again traversed a snow capped Snake pass (3 month after the last trip, perhaps confirming what a long cold winter we've had) but this time headed straight for Dunham Massey Brewery. More to come on that visit, but it was an enjoyable stop off.
We drove on through the lanes, stopping briefly in Lymm at the Dam for our lunch then into Warrington. The pharmaceutical, rugby and brewing capital of Cheshire is a first visit for me and I had two places I wanted to visit - the Lower Angel on Buttermarket, and the Tavern, on Church Street.
The first was relatively easy to find as we parked at the bottom of Buttermarket. The Lower Angel is an attractive looking Walkers livery boasting boozer with a traditional partition bar, and a door on each side. And the doors boast exceptional Walkers of Warrington leaded glass windows, matching the beautiful maroon tiling and leaded windows.. Inside is a bar running the length of most of the room on the left, and a strange stanchion or frame on the bar which I have only previously seen in the Kings Arms, Bloom Street Salford - like a king of single booth, but with no sides. Probably best you go and see for yourself! Although there are some pics coming on Flickr...
Beers wise there were two from the on site Tipsy Angel Brewery and a range of guests. WF had a half of Tipsy Angel Angel's Tipple, and I halves of their 200little angels and By The Horns bobby on the Wheat. Both were nice, the house beer perhaps best, and the 3 drinks came to £3.81. Great value.
All too soon we heading fr the tavern. Unfortunately, none of the 5 people we asked knew of either the Tavern or Church Street, one confusing it with Mersey Street (sigh) nut luckily a bobby on the street knew and we were soon walking to the pub, which we could see from the car park. The Tavern is large pub slightly above the road with 8 beers on offer. The three beers tried were Hapax Ruby for WF, Cheshire Brewhouse DBA (the only "dark" beer, which was, erm, brown) and 4T's Return of the Citra Hop.
I may be mistaken but I swear this all came to £3.61. A very reasonable price for a trio of ales. Luckily I got to finish most of WF's as he was rationing himself. Shame.
We made a brief detour to the thoroughly nice folk at Tatton brewery next. Alas they only took cash - luckily me and WF between us managed to generate the £49.75 required for two crates in real cash - with about 38p to spare.
A quick trip to a post office was required, and heralded an encounter with a well to do yoot. Seeing I was leaving, he continued to push past into the shop. Granted I pushed past into the road, neither of us was right here, but he mardily plummed out the phrase "its always the person entering who has right of way". Having helpfully responded "thanks retard" its only when I got outside (and surmised he was likely in the sports car) that I thought about how nonsensical his claim was - how would you get off the bus using this rule? And why, leaving the shop presumably laden with shopping, would you hold open the door for someone free of such constraints to enter? Mentalist....
Anyhoo, I digress, Mobberley beckoned next and the Bulls Head was our destination. Not that WF was certain. He had it down as a completely different pub, in fact, all we knew was we weren't going to the Railway. Ten minutes following endless pretty lanes followed until WF finally admitted he had no idea where the Bulls Head was. As with all trips out, this was my cue to recall the conversation we had before we left "Is there anything else you want to check before I turn the computer off Dad?" "No, I've got all the info I need". Whatevs....
We found the pub after a phone call and got another trio - halves of Mobberley Wobbly, Woodlands Birthday, brewed for the pub, and Tatton Gold. All were in decent form, though the long sought out Mobberley beer was a little sweet, but it was nice sat near the fire listening to the chatter. The prices were the highest of the day - perhaps reflective of the area. Although the Bull's Head isn't the sort of pub I usually go for, it was an enjoyable visit.
Another memory fuddled search followed so WF could take an admittedly pleasing pic of Bowden Parish Church before we popped onto Goose Green (via an incongruous cobbled route) in Altrincham, to visit Costello's. I rarely get to try Dunham Massey beer on draught and here it was absolutely superb. The stout, which I now know is brewed with a modicum of porridge oats for body, was delectable, WF enjoyed half a Stamford Bitter and I also had their strong East India IPA. Brewed with British hops, just like brewer John likes. The stout was so excellent I also had to have another half.
Through the dark lanes next we ended up in the Harrington Arms at Gawsworth. Packed to the rafters, this pub seems to have changed slightly, if nothing else in its customer demographic, since my last visit about 7 years ago. A lot of tables were now set for food, and the ancient tables and fixtures were so brazenly rustic as to be almost too basic. I haven't been enough times to comment on what the first room on the left used to be like, but if any food inspired stage management had taken place it was still a glorious layout with a fantastic black and red tiled floor. Beers in here were halves of Robinsons 1892 for WF and a pint of Hoptimus for me, not a bad beer as well.
Hunger was setting in now so we opted to go to the pub of the two we wanted to visit in Macclesfield that did food. Despite knowing where Sunderland Street is, we must have driven past the Treacle Tap at least twice, but called them and managed to find them, and parked down a nearby cobbled street. To our huge relief they were serving food - so I had a steak and Red Willow ale pie, WF a chicken and mushroom. Both came with mash and mushy peas - the gloriously satisfying starchy food that lines a drinkers stomach.
There were 3 cask beers on, Buxton Rednik Stout and Spa (which was a replacement for something I forget), I had a pint of that, and WF a half of teh Red Willow Wreckless. In the end, because the friendly lass behind the bar asked us to move tables to accommodate a large party, I ended up with another half as recompense. Thank you very much! One other great quality that the Tap possesses is a great range of imported bottled beers - at sensible prices. Most between £3.20 and £4.50. One of the more inexpensive venues to carry the name Tap, it seems.
Our penultimate stop was a bit of a hunt but we eventually found the Wharf on Brooke Street. A fine free house sporting 5 handpumps and some interesting keg taps, I contrived to forget entirely what I had. All I know is one of the halves was dark. WF had a pint of the Wharf Best or similar of which landlord Chris was unwilling to divulge the makers identity - I like his explanation that he tells persistent query posters the answer is West Yorkshire brewery Goodall Brookes.....
Our final stop was a new one for WF and a long awaited return for me. The Old Hall at Whitehough was chosen ahead of the Roebuck in Chapel or the Cheshire Cheese at Hope, and didn't disappoint. I had halves of Happy Valley 5 rings and the excellent Ilkley Wit Marie, with WF on a small amount of a half of Hambleton Sweet Chariot. We sat at the bar supping our ales and talking to a couple about beers and BeerX. Contrary to your natural expectations, they were able to run away. Eventually.
So, another great day out in the Cheshire, featuring a good mix of pubs and some great local Cheshire beers. In the next couple of months we expect to be making a trip out to try the new Dunham Massey Brewing Co venture - a brewpub in Lymm called the Old Post Office. Watch this space for news.
Wee Beefy.
yesterday Wee Fatha was my guide as we took a follow up tour of the Cheshire, its pubs and breweries. We once again traversed a snow capped Snake pass (3 month after the last trip, perhaps confirming what a long cold winter we've had) but this time headed straight for Dunham Massey Brewery. More to come on that visit, but it was an enjoyable stop off.
We drove on through the lanes, stopping briefly in Lymm at the Dam for our lunch then into Warrington. The pharmaceutical, rugby and brewing capital of Cheshire is a first visit for me and I had two places I wanted to visit - the Lower Angel on Buttermarket, and the Tavern, on Church Street.
The first was relatively easy to find as we parked at the bottom of Buttermarket. The Lower Angel is an attractive looking Walkers livery boasting boozer with a traditional partition bar, and a door on each side. And the doors boast exceptional Walkers of Warrington leaded glass windows, matching the beautiful maroon tiling and leaded windows.. Inside is a bar running the length of most of the room on the left, and a strange stanchion or frame on the bar which I have only previously seen in the Kings Arms, Bloom Street Salford - like a king of single booth, but with no sides. Probably best you go and see for yourself! Although there are some pics coming on Flickr...
Beers wise there were two from the on site Tipsy Angel Brewery and a range of guests. WF had a half of Tipsy Angel Angel's Tipple, and I halves of their 200little angels and By The Horns bobby on the Wheat. Both were nice, the house beer perhaps best, and the 3 drinks came to £3.81. Great value.
All too soon we heading fr the tavern. Unfortunately, none of the 5 people we asked knew of either the Tavern or Church Street, one confusing it with Mersey Street (sigh) nut luckily a bobby on the street knew and we were soon walking to the pub, which we could see from the car park. The Tavern is large pub slightly above the road with 8 beers on offer. The three beers tried were Hapax Ruby for WF, Cheshire Brewhouse DBA (the only "dark" beer, which was, erm, brown) and 4T's Return of the Citra Hop.
I may be mistaken but I swear this all came to £3.61. A very reasonable price for a trio of ales. Luckily I got to finish most of WF's as he was rationing himself. Shame.
We made a brief detour to the thoroughly nice folk at Tatton brewery next. Alas they only took cash - luckily me and WF between us managed to generate the £49.75 required for two crates in real cash - with about 38p to spare.
A quick trip to a post office was required, and heralded an encounter with a well to do yoot. Seeing I was leaving, he continued to push past into the shop. Granted I pushed past into the road, neither of us was right here, but he mardily plummed out the phrase "its always the person entering who has right of way". Having helpfully responded "thanks retard" its only when I got outside (and surmised he was likely in the sports car) that I thought about how nonsensical his claim was - how would you get off the bus using this rule? And why, leaving the shop presumably laden with shopping, would you hold open the door for someone free of such constraints to enter? Mentalist....
Anyhoo, I digress, Mobberley beckoned next and the Bulls Head was our destination. Not that WF was certain. He had it down as a completely different pub, in fact, all we knew was we weren't going to the Railway. Ten minutes following endless pretty lanes followed until WF finally admitted he had no idea where the Bulls Head was. As with all trips out, this was my cue to recall the conversation we had before we left "Is there anything else you want to check before I turn the computer off Dad?" "No, I've got all the info I need". Whatevs....
We found the pub after a phone call and got another trio - halves of Mobberley Wobbly, Woodlands Birthday, brewed for the pub, and Tatton Gold. All were in decent form, though the long sought out Mobberley beer was a little sweet, but it was nice sat near the fire listening to the chatter. The prices were the highest of the day - perhaps reflective of the area. Although the Bull's Head isn't the sort of pub I usually go for, it was an enjoyable visit.
Another memory fuddled search followed so WF could take an admittedly pleasing pic of Bowden Parish Church before we popped onto Goose Green (via an incongruous cobbled route) in Altrincham, to visit Costello's. I rarely get to try Dunham Massey beer on draught and here it was absolutely superb. The stout, which I now know is brewed with a modicum of porridge oats for body, was delectable, WF enjoyed half a Stamford Bitter and I also had their strong East India IPA. Brewed with British hops, just like brewer John likes. The stout was so excellent I also had to have another half.
Through the dark lanes next we ended up in the Harrington Arms at Gawsworth. Packed to the rafters, this pub seems to have changed slightly, if nothing else in its customer demographic, since my last visit about 7 years ago. A lot of tables were now set for food, and the ancient tables and fixtures were so brazenly rustic as to be almost too basic. I haven't been enough times to comment on what the first room on the left used to be like, but if any food inspired stage management had taken place it was still a glorious layout with a fantastic black and red tiled floor. Beers in here were halves of Robinsons 1892 for WF and a pint of Hoptimus for me, not a bad beer as well.
Hunger was setting in now so we opted to go to the pub of the two we wanted to visit in Macclesfield that did food. Despite knowing where Sunderland Street is, we must have driven past the Treacle Tap at least twice, but called them and managed to find them, and parked down a nearby cobbled street. To our huge relief they were serving food - so I had a steak and Red Willow ale pie, WF a chicken and mushroom. Both came with mash and mushy peas - the gloriously satisfying starchy food that lines a drinkers stomach.
There were 3 cask beers on, Buxton Rednik Stout and Spa (which was a replacement for something I forget), I had a pint of that, and WF a half of teh Red Willow Wreckless. In the end, because the friendly lass behind the bar asked us to move tables to accommodate a large party, I ended up with another half as recompense. Thank you very much! One other great quality that the Tap possesses is a great range of imported bottled beers - at sensible prices. Most between £3.20 and £4.50. One of the more inexpensive venues to carry the name Tap, it seems.
Our penultimate stop was a bit of a hunt but we eventually found the Wharf on Brooke Street. A fine free house sporting 5 handpumps and some interesting keg taps, I contrived to forget entirely what I had. All I know is one of the halves was dark. WF had a pint of the Wharf Best or similar of which landlord Chris was unwilling to divulge the makers identity - I like his explanation that he tells persistent query posters the answer is West Yorkshire brewery Goodall Brookes.....
Our final stop was a new one for WF and a long awaited return for me. The Old Hall at Whitehough was chosen ahead of the Roebuck in Chapel or the Cheshire Cheese at Hope, and didn't disappoint. I had halves of Happy Valley 5 rings and the excellent Ilkley Wit Marie, with WF on a small amount of a half of Hambleton Sweet Chariot. We sat at the bar supping our ales and talking to a couple about beers and BeerX. Contrary to your natural expectations, they were able to run away. Eventually.
So, another great day out in the Cheshire, featuring a good mix of pubs and some great local Cheshire beers. In the next couple of months we expect to be making a trip out to try the new Dunham Massey Brewing Co venture - a brewpub in Lymm called the Old Post Office. Watch this space for news.
Wee Beefy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)