Yew Tree Inn, Cauldon Lowback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Yew Tree Inn has had a new lease of life recently, all the character remains, the beer is as good as ever and the food is simple but fresh and filling. The toilets have had a long overdue revamp (very much in keeping with the rest of the pub) and there are now two areas to enjoy a pint outside. The pub has started having an annual music and beer festival along with many other events throughout the year. Happy days are here again!
|
For people who know, understand and love genuine, drinkers pubs, this is one that cannot be missed. Amazing collection of antiques, brick-a-brack and beer memorabilia nestle among the grand old Inn building, that is wonderfully and absurdly juxtaposed by the massive cement works you drive through to reach it from the main drag. Beer is impeccable, as are the home made pickled Eggs and pork pies. The Landlord has his rules and foibles, but for those who understand how traditional landlords run their pubs (it is his front room, afterall) and approach this place with the respect it deserves and savour what it has to offer compared to the hundreds of staid, corporate, uninteresting pretend pubs that are so prevalent today, a warm welcome is assured and a grand old evening guaranteed.
|
A visit here last night would appear to be a much improved experience on recent visits by others. For a "quiet"" Tuesday night, the place was bustling with friendly locals, the beer was in excellent form and Alan was much more relaxed and chatty than he reported recently. All pints continue to be pegged at �2, regardless of being bitter, mild or cider and there was a run on the pork pies. Hopefully the corner has been turned and this can be much more of a decent experience for those coming for the first time.
|
Reading these recent experiences saddens me greatly as I have loved this place for years, but my own recent visits would confirm some of what has been laid as criticisms. Alan has always been a good, but highly individual landlord who does seem lately to have become much less tolerant of new faces, especially those with children and generally seems a lot less of a happy soul. The toilets were always basic, but have become a real problem and I am not sure Alan either cares or wnats to notice at all. The condition of the beer has become a little erratic of late too, as a severely vinegary pint of Bass recently proved.
These are all symptoms of a general decline in the level of homeliness and welcome that you could always rely on. Hopefully, it is only a dip and maybe Alan can pull himself and the pub back to what it was...don't worry about the shabbiness of the fittings, though, that really is still part of the charm.
|
What a surreal experience!
On balance it's difficult to recommend this pub, despite the undeniable character of the place and because it is so unique that you will probably never experience a pub like this in your lifetime. It is simply like going through a time warp into the past, the decor being incredible and what a fabulous collection of items to observe.
The bar prices have also gone through a time warp. It's probably 10-15 years since I came across a pub with average prices so low. How the landlord makes a profit I am unsure. Perhaps this explains the fact that the toilets seem to have gone through a time warp as well. I suspect that they haven't been cleaned in 15 years which may explain the rather unpleasant smell of urine that fills the pub - and I mean FILLS it.
The last poster sums up well why it's difficult to recommend this pub, aside that it needs a visit from the environmental health. Sadly the landlord is anything but friendly and be assured that if you do visit you should be visiting for what you can see, not what you can smell and certainly not for a friendly welcome.
A major disappointment.
|
Situated somewhat incongruously between an ugly massive cement works and some quarry factories, the inside of The Yew Tree really does look like a cross between the Antiques Roadshow and Steptoe's junkyard.
It's an old stone built building situated off the A523 and, with no hanging pub sign and seemingly no real effort to attract custom ( no sandwich boards etc and nothing really to encourage you in ), it's easy to miss, although the large yew tree outside in front of the pub helps.
Previous posters - especially that intrepid Captain Cook of the pubgoing world, Roger B - have more than adequately described the delights that await you once you cross the threshold into the pub.Myself, I was particularly impressed with the working polyphons, some fine Jacobean furniture and the collection of old radios. Note also the old penny farthing bicycle hidden behind a wooden settle.
In contrast to Roger however, I didn't find landlord and collector par excellence, Alan, particularly engaging or welcoming at all. Perhaps I got off on the wrong foot at the outset. My friendly and good-humoured opening remark of "Blimey, it's a bit difficult to find, isn't it ?!" was countered by a rather brusque and disagreeable "no" and then telling me that it's only 4 and a bit miles from Alton Towers and that people from all over the world had managed successfully to find this pub over the years. He didn't seem desperately welcoming to later arrivals either. Whilst in negative mode, I ought to mention the smell from the gents toilets, which really does need addressing.
For the record, in case anyone's interested, beers on were Burton Bridge Bitter, Rudgate Mild and Bass. The first two - both at a very reasonable � 2.00p per pint - were in splendid form. The cash register, reminiscent of the one in Open All Hours, is yet another throwback to earlier days. On the bar were a few home made pork pies and a glass jar of pickled eggs.
The pub is listed in the 2010 CAMRA Good Beer Guide where the commentary says "there cannot be another pub like this". It also regularly appears in more general pub guides - eg The Good Pub Guide, and a 25 year certificate is on display. It also appears in the "Strangest Pubs in Britain" book.
Don't forget to sign the visitors book - situated by the entrance on an old school desk - when you finally come to leave.
This is most definitely a must visit pub and I would encourage you to visit and experience it for yourself when you possibly can, but you might be advised to refrain from telling Alan that it's difficult to find !
|
We visited the Yew Tree yesterday as a return visit after several years. Although this pub may seem a little grubby round the edges and has a slight 'eau de toilet' in one bar, in these days of sterile and bland corporate chain pubs, this is sooo refreshing and totally unique. Totally eccentric and full of things to look at. The beer was lovely (not much chioce but beautifully kept) and elderly mum asked for sherry and unlike the 'chains' it came without a blink and in a schooner (not a brandy glass or a tumbler as is so often th case) We had a pork pie which was looked hand made and was fresh and delicious (and came with a jar of mustard in case we wanted it).
It wasnt very busy on this visit but was last time. We had more of a chance to see the vast range of furniture throughout the pub (ancient settles and pews and copper topped tables) and were pleased to see the polyphons and other ephemera still all intact. Theres a pianola too with many rolls of music which was tempting. Theres a penny farthing hidden behind a settle and theres something in every corner and from floor to ceiling. Antique babys strollers and beautiful clocks on the galleried landing too. Dogs are welcome and is also a walkers pub. Well worth a visit but dont be precious about 'neat and tidy'. Its what makes this pub so very different and well worth a visit!
|
Went to the Yew Tree on the recommendation of a local.
This pub could be so good. It is amazing inside and it a pub like none other, it's like going back in a time warp. The Polyphon collection is quite amazing and these things make an amazing sound.
However, our overall experience was sadly one of major disappointment. The landlord is eccentric, but quite frankly he wasngreatly unwelcoming and quite rude. We had our very well behaved children with us and it became immediately apparent that this is nor a child friendly pub. We weren't greeted with the slightest smile and whilst ok about being asked to sit in the family area were not asked politely. This area, being next to the toilets smells if urine and is not pleasant.
With a welcom this pub would be great, but with gloom and no smiles it feels luke Texas Chainsaw Massacre material.
So just when you think it couldn't get any worse the children want to put 2p in a Polyphon to see it working, which is encouraged. The landlord helps us here but when the wife gets her phone out to video the children working the machine he kind of turns in us. He objects to his beloved Polyphons bring videoed on a mobile but there are no signs to say this. Not only this but he is instantly rude about it. Yet he was unable to put together a coherent argument as to why.
The long and the short of it is, this pub is worth a look but unfortunately you're not going to feel welcome. Child friendly it is not and female friendly is it not either. Very sad as this great experience is being ruined by poor manners.
|
just wow. the greatest pub i have ever had the pleasure to drink in. go there.
|
There's virtually nothing I can add to Roger B's description that could enhance it in any way. I first visited this wonderous monument to old Britain around 6 years ago and vowed to re-visit asap...having just relocated to within 15 miles - and soon to within just 4 miles - I am fortunate indeed to now want to regard this almost as my local.
Alan is an extremely welcoming and gentle-souled landlord who is happy to welcome in anyone, old or new. The beer is well-kept and cheap - at just �2 a pint - and there are also locally made pork pies at very cheap rates.
A further enhancement of the Yew Tree experience can be had by visiting on the first Tuesday of each month to hear the Folk Club in full swing.
The pub can be approached from either the A523 turning off at Waterhouses down the side of the pub on the main road, continuing past the huge cement works and looking out for it on the right hand side...hidden behind the yew tree.
Coming from Stoke on the A52, simply look out for the Cauldon turning off to the left, 4 miles after the turning to Cheadle, and follow it in to the pub on your left. If you miss the small turning, continue to the A523 junction and turn left onto the A523 into Waterhouses as before.
Whatever your route, make it there and revel in the past.
|
Not the easiest pub to find being tucked in between the surrounding industrial works (and the SatNav won�t help much) but persevere and you will encounter one of the most amazing if rather eccentric pub experiences going. The old farmhouse style appear to be a typical rustic country pub from the outside but once through the door you enter a world that makes Antiques Roadshow look like a village jumble sale.
The pub has been in the family for decades and the current owner, the charismatic serial hoarder Alan, (who has been here for nearly 50 years himself and took the pub over from his mother) has spent the best part of his life scouring antique shops and car boot sales which has resulted in a pub that resembles an explosion at Steptoe & Sons junk yard. The pride of place goes to the 8 Polyphons (a sort of Victorian jukebox for the uninitiated) which have been restored to full working order (make sure you have lots of 2ps with you when you go). There are also working Pianolas, a huge collection of grandfather clocks, numerous commemorative jugs, plates and mugs, antique firearms, butter churners, air raid sirens, weighing machines, bottles, gas masks, faded newspaper cuttings, adverts, signs, 1970�s Pirelli calendars, radios, penny farthings, rocking horses, a 3000 year old Greek Vase and even a pair of Queen Victoria's stockings amongst the fantastic collection of assorted jumble and bric-a-brac. If you are lucky and interested enough (and it is hard not to be), you will more than likely find yourself being enthusiastically taken on a guided tour by Alan who will point out the rarities and oddities.
The furniture includes a stunning collection of antique and unusual pews/settles, many of them elaborately carved and one with a spectacular marble back. One room has a selection of 60�s style dimple topped tables. There are 3 functioning rooms with low ceilings and open fires and one with a dart board in case you forget that this is actually a fully functioning community pub. A fourth room to the left of the main entrance is cluttered up with bits and pieces that have yet to find an appropriate display spot. The beers may appear almost secondary in such a place but the 3 ales (Bass, Burton Bridge and a mild that I didn�t note) were well kept and, in line with the pub in general, the Carling dispenser was also a 1970�s relic, not out of place alongside the Watneys lampshades. The till is of course a shiny old pre-decimal �kerching� job with all the knobs and buttons and you still expect a pint to cost 5 shillings (sadly the prices, although reasonable, are a little more modern).
To add to the ambience, the music is also a throwback to the 30�s and 40�s and gives it a real authentic old time feel. Go there, enjoy the beers, the welcome, the surroundings and, after you have comtemplated on who does the dusting and how much is the insurance, sign the visitor�s book (it is on an antique school desk at the entrance). After a visit to this unique place where even the cobwebs are a highlight, other pubs will never appear to be the same again.
|
|
