Old Hunters Inn, Stalybridge

One of lifes little gems. If ever you thought that the art of running a 'wet pub' was lost, then think again. This pub has returned itself to a proper local by vitue of the landlady Lorraine and James.
It really does not get much better than this oasis of the brewery outlet. Its a Robinsons House so expect Unicorn Bitter, Robinsons Smoothflow, Hatters Mild and Old Tom rocket fuel kept in the best of order in the best of surroundings. The landlady is charming with particularly high standards of service and cleanliness. This is emphasized by tremendous bar staff who are warm, friendly and welcoming, a credit to the pub. Toilets are not particularly my thing but you can tell an awful lot about the serving of the beer by the way its removed. The loos here do not need a deep breath before entering-enough said.
The beer lines are clean, the beer is well kept, there is no clutter or glasses hanging around.
Its just outside the town centre but it caters for the football and rugby followers. Any colour of shirt or scarf can be worn in safety as long as you can take the banter. There is no age level in the pub, old or young, male or female, working or retired, proffessional or manual. It all mixes superbly. The pub doesnt go quiet if a new face walks in and more than likely someone will be talking too them before long.
Its what I call a self regulating pub, trouble rarely happens, the locals and regulars wont permit it, so it doesnt happen.
If you like "Early Doors" pubs then this is a good venue. Straight from work, couple of beers, call the boss a @$&??!! and go home for tea. Excellent. Well done Lorraine and James, Well done Robinsons, proving that the smaller brewery chains get it right where the big boys get it so wrong.

4 Jan 2010 11:57

The Old Original, Scouthead

My partner and I with a couple of friends, visited between Xmas & New Year 2009. We found the pub ideally situated outside of the main trawling areas so you had to decide that you really wanted to go there. It was the epitome of the country rural pub/restaurant. In a village with all the interior trimmings of old beams, low ceilings, open fires, slightly rustic and pleasantly lit. A warm welcome and a warm room. Good beers and real ales on for the quaffers with lagers, wines and spirits aplenty. Commercial pushyness did not seem to be in evidence but then neither did sheer profesionalism. Sometimes one has to pay a slight penalty for youth and inexperience particularly the inability to hold a thought or idea for more than 30 seconds. However that was just an inconvenience not a tragedy. A table was found with a window view on a spectacular winter scene, spoiled only by the car park in front of it.
There was certainly no rush that night and I suspect the holiday period and wintery weather was playing havoc with staffing requirements. Undetered we ordered our food which, whilst slow in appearing, favoured the appetites of us dinners. The food was well cooked and presented but I suspect that freezers and microwaves perform too big a part in the pubs fare. Its a well known trap too big a menu cant support fresh food so freezers and microwaves plug the gap. To be fair the prices charged are perfectly reasonable for the standard of presentation and the drinks are similarly reasonable.
We would go again and we would enjoy what was put before us to be sure, there will be no expectation of Michelin standards but its honest to goodness British gastro pub standard. Knocks the likes of Brewers Fare and Carvery into the long grass, where it belongs.

4 Jan 2010 11:37