Heaton Moor and Heaton Norris West
A sheepish stagger for ewe!
And why have we titled it a sheepish stagger? — Bar, bar, bar sums up the experience!
Tonight we start on Heaton Moor Road at the impressive sandstone
Plough. This historic pub was rebuilt in 1886 when it was known simply as the Plough. When entering look up and note the bucolic scene depicting ploughing carved in to the lintel. Now in the Mitchells & Butlers stable it still retains the feel of a community local, but with the added bonus of a food offering. It was re-furbished throughout in 2008, but still retains its nooks and crannies separated by stained glass partitions. A more recent makeover caused great consternation when the original stained glass front windows vanished to be replaced by paint on pretend stained glass. Should the weather be up to it, to the rear is a covered courtyard and a garden. As our next venue is but a cock's stride down the road here is time to try more than one of the four ales on offer.
Dragging
Crown. This is one of the few pubs in the area to retain its original multi-room interior and very traditional gents' toilet (sorry ladies it's out of bounds!). When originally built in 1820, the front rooms didn't exist because of three which stood outside. These were felled in 1930 and the front extended to match the building line of the other premises. An alleyway to the right leads to a separate entrance to the vault, the back garden and formally the off sales counter. Until 1963 it was part of the small estate of Richard Clarke's Reddish Brewery here in Stockport.
On leaving the Crown we need to pop our nose in to the Cork of the North [bar] and Leoni's [bar - told you we would meet sheep] to conform that real ale isn't available (yet?).
Around the corner and a few doors down Shaw Road the resolve of some die hard cask ale drinkers may be tested at the Bottle Heaton Moor. Real ale is available here but there is no sign of a handpull nor are there casks behind the bar. There is, however, real ale from tap dispense. Beers available are constantly changing but endeavour to include a genuine German Helles lager and one of a stout/porter variety. A small front room, which can accommodate around 30 people, also contains the bar along with shelves full of bottles and cans, many being of the real ale in a bottle/can variety. Located at the rear of the premises is a popular small suntrap beer garden with seating for a further 15 people.
Now comes another flock of sheep! The other licensed premises along Shaw Road, namely Hula Heaton Moor [bar], Pale [bar] and Cassidys, [bar] don't sell real ale by any dispense method so onwards to the next real ale outlet.
Further along Heaton Moor road we reach the Moortop which has an interesting history. In 1875 six houses were built there and called Belmont Terrace. In 1939 Walker & Homfray's acquired four of those with Wilson's Brewery of Newton Heath subsequently acquired these in 1953. Three houses were demolished and, in 1955, the present pub was built. Current architecture is essentially a two story house with single story extensions along the front and side. In its original incantation it was known as The Moor Top (see photo right - click to see larger version). The beer range, usually five, features the products of local and regional micros. Food is also available, with the chef from the Damson restaurant across the road running both kitchens and sources the same ingredients for each too. In time food will probably play a greater role than it does now, but the Moortop will remain a pub where you can just drop in for a beer or two.
Two more café bars exist on the remainder of Heaton Moor Road, so our final flock of sheep is met (if two counts as a flock!) with the Nook [bar] and Rock Salt [bar]. To finish tonights stagger we must embark on a long(ish) hike, sorry walk, to our final destination.
With its Hydes multi-ale concept, expect a guest alongside the Hydes regular beers, in the Nursery, a previous CAMRA National Pub of Year winner. As you walk in the door of this 1930s pub look around and you can see why. Two rooms open off the drinking lobby, the lounge (used as a dining room at lunchtime) and what was a smoking room. To enter the third room, the vault, you will have to exit and go around the corner to its own separate entrance! With its magnificent wood panelled interior the pub is on CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Interiors and is a Grade II listed building. To the rear is a lovingly tended bowling green where there is no better place to sit and watch a game on a warm summer's evening. The Nursery is at the heart of the community, attracting a great mix of people to live music, quizzes, as well as local groups meeting in the function room upstairs.
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Heaton Moor and Heaton Norris West |
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Timing |
Pub Name |
Address |
Bus & Rail |
Notes |
7.30pm Start point: |
Plough on the Moor |
82 Heaton Moor Road |
Map |
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Followed by: |
Cork of the North |
104 Heaton Moor Road |
Map |
No Real Ale |
8.30pm Mid point: |
Crown |
98-100 Heaton Moor Road |
Map |
|
Then |
Leoni's |
110 Heaton Moor Road |
Map |
No Real Ale |
Pale |
3 Shaw Road |
Map |
No Real Ale |
|
Bottle Heaton Moor |
9a Shaw Road |
Map |
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Hula Heaton Moor |
17 Shaw Road |
Map |
No Real Ale |
|
Cassidys |
21 Shaw Road |
Map |
No Real Ale |
|
Moortop |
172 Heaton Moor Road |
Map |
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Nook |
111 Heaton Moor Road |
Map |
No Real Ale |
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Rock Salt |
192 Heaton Moor Road |
Map |
No Real Ale |
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Finishing at: |
Nursery |
258 Green Lane |
Map |
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