ONE PUB ONLY? Railway CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND? Pineapple, Crown and Ye Olde Woolpack before walking through back streets to the ground SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT? Arden Arms CHANGES FROM GUIDE Closed - Ye Old Woolpack                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Arden Arms 23 Millgate   SK1 2LX  Telephone 0161 4802185 W www.arden-arms.co.u G Ben Quinn and Steve King F Restaurant quality menu all home cooked. Private partioes catered for by arrangement in the evening 12 to 2.30 Mon - Thu, 12 to 4 Sat - Sun   MP   TV   BM   P   D O 12 to 11           The Arden Arms was runner up in the CAMRA national pub of the year. This is a place of real ale and good pub dreams. Joe and Steve have created an ambience that is popular to all ages and as importantly both sexes. Rarely do pubs in this guide find young women chatting in comfort over a pint, as parents talk of the important facts of life, i.e. the merits of Robinson’s’ seasonal ales. Everything in the Arden says understated class. The freshly cooked food trade dominates lunchtime activity, while in the evenings it is real ale drinkers that travel from a wide area. There are several different snugs each with a distinctive feel. The Millgate room, for example, has chandeliers and a large mirror to complement the art work on the walls. Some might enjoy walking through the bar to a leather - furnished snug / office. I would walk miles to this pub, next summer I will return to sample the summer brew in the courtyard. UPDATE:  The pub is as relaxingly brilliant as ever. Local CAMRA POTY 2009 BWV 11.3.05:  Robinson’s Double Hop, Enigma. Hatters Mild, Unicorn BWV 5.6.06:  Robinson’s Double Hop, Hatters Mild, Unicorn Wards Bitter BWV 15.8.09 Robinson's Double Hop, Hatter, Tit for Tat, Unicorn                                                Crown Inn 154 Heaton Lane   SK4 1AR  Telephone 0161 4290459 W www.thecrowninn.com G Steve Alexander MP   TV         O 6 to 1 Mon - Wed, 12 to 2.30, 6 to 11 Thu, 12 to 11 Fri - Sat, 6 to 10.30 Sun            This pub predates the arches under whose shadow it falls (1745 V 1875). It is a gem of a pub with an atmosphere of gentle good craic. It has several small parlours, one of which is designated as non - smoking. There was a great temptation to attempt to become a member of the Gallon club, achievable with a different beer each time. Those who do (Sampling 8 ales over 4%) are entered on to the roll of honour. More curious was the knitting pattern challenge; next time perhaps. More traditional pastimes might include a game of “guess the tipple” played as the many newcomers sample the first ale from the impressive list of regional independent breweries. It is a great pub that will be revisited by most who find it for their first time. When I go again I will make sure I have enough time and a place to stay nearby, so the beer list gets due justice. UPDATE:  New owners have recently arrived and on the day of my visit were not available. Fans have told me it is still as good as always. BWV 11.3.05:  Bank Top Volunteer, Port O’Call,  Black Sheep Best,  E + S Shot in the Dark,  Crown Inn Best,  Pictish Mild, Porter,  Phoenix White Monk,  Ramsbottom Provident, Tomfoolery,  Storm Silk of Amnesia,  Wilkins Dry Cider BWV 5.6.06:  Bank Top Brydge Bitter,  Beowulf Finns Hall Porter,  Copper Dragon Best, Golden Pippin,  Facers Splendid Ale,  Moorhouses  Black Cat, PWB,  Thornbridge Best,  Thwaites Lancaster Bomber UPDATE 2009 Regional CAMRA AWARD 2008 BWV 15.8.09 Blue Monkey Evolution, Copper Dragon Golden Bitter, Dark Star Sussex Extra Mild, Facers Splendid, Howard Town Wren's Nest, Harviestoun Game Bird, Moorhouse's Premium, Pride of Pendle, Pictish Brewer's Gold, Thornbridge Jaipur IPA, Woodlands Mild Magnet Inn Wellington Road North SK4 1HJ Tel 0161 429 6287 G Lesley Watts F No food O Mon - Wed 4 - 11, Thur - Sun 12 - 11 CP G (Digital Games - pool table, 2 dart boards, various board games) TV - none M - Jukebox D - good - no steps           Following the sudden closure of Ye Olde Woolpack, we welcome  Stockport's newest addition (13 Nov 09) to an already excellent real ale town.  Beer policy first - 14 (count 'em) ever changing hand pumps. Porter, stout and real cider guaranteed. The variety of ale is amazing, just check out what was on when I visited. As if that isn't enough, there is also an extensive selection of American, German and Belgian bottles beers. Although the pub is just getting up and running, it's already gaining a reputation for excellent ale, great service, and County supporters are increasingly finding themselves being drawn to the Magnet both pre and post match.           The Magnet has been a Coaching Inn / Pub since 1840, and has been tastefully renovated, leaving many of the original features intact, such as the fireplaces. As you enter the only door, there is a large room to your right, which has a jukebox and provides access to a well sheltered smoking area, which although small, does have room enough for a table and chairs. To your left is a smaller room, more popular with the locals, and which provides access to the rather splendid games room down a few steps at the far end. There you will find 2 dart boards, a pool table, card tables etc. The walls are adorned with ale-related memorabilia, local, national and even international. One wall has been completely dedicated to discarded pump clips.   The pub is pretty much run by Lesley and her family, and there are plans to install a microbrewery in the cellar later this year. If you are "doing Stockport" both pre and post match, or staying the weekend, you might also like to check out the Railway which faces the Magnet on the opposite side of the A6, which usually has up to 5 ales to choose from. I'll be honest though, if you end up in the Magnet, I doubt you'll want to move on.             Away fans are most welcome and there is plenty of room for all. The secret isn't quite out yet (Feb 2010), so get in before it gets too busy. If travelling by train, simply exit the main exit at the station, follow the road down to McDonalds, and get the 192 bus (every 2 mins). The driver will tell you where to get off (just 4 or 5 stops).           I'll come clean, I'm a Stockport supporter, but we needed a quick write up so here you are. Why not be the first away fans to visit, write a proper independent review, and send in a nice photo of the pub with you standing outside? BWV Feb 2010 Beerworks  Brainwash, Downton Marynka,  Peerless - Gold;  Quartz Blonde, Roosters Apres,  Salopian Icon, Saltaire  Cascade, Skinners  Splendid Tackle, Thornbridge Equinox, Raven, Quartz  Blonde; Wharfebank  Camfell Flame,  Gwynt Valley  Scrumpy Graham Privett February 2010 Pineapple Inn 159 Heaton Lane   SK4 3221  Telephone 0161 4803221 G Eileen Lloyd F Good value, all home - cooked menu with specials 12 to 2 Mon - Sat   MP   TV   JB   P   O 11.30 to 11 Mon - Sat, 11.30 to 10.30 Sun           Andy at the Woolpack suggested the Pineapple would make an excellent fifth pub in the guide because it is a fun pub, very popular with his regulars and located in the real ale circuit. It lies on the same street as the Crown and is ideal for as last pint after the game. I would come here before the game because the instant impression is that the Pineapple is, as John behind the bar said, “just daft.” It is the banter that is instant and infectious. There is no chance of not making an impression, or being ignored here.           The pub has two small rooms that have all the features of our best town pubs. The smaller “commercial room” is where I went to chat with John while Eileen finished off the lunchtime food trade. It has some great pub mirrors from various breweries and is sparkling and very cosy. The other bar has wall to wall dinner plates and was full with a mix of mature couples enjoying their regular lunchtime shopping and beer day. The bar itself was a wall of Good Old Boys from where the instant welcome came to this weary traveller. They have extensive knowledge of good beer and obviously enjoy the best of being valued friends. On a matchday there is a healthy mix of home and away fans.  In the early evening the beer garden gives a clue to who uses the pub. If you love sixties architecture go and take a look. It is a truly impressive sight to see the tower block that provides the bulk of the teatime trade. BWV 5.6.06:  Robinson’s Cumbria Way, Hatters, Unicorn, Wards Bitter UPDATE 15.8.09 Hartley's Cumbrian Way, Robinson's Hatters, Unicorn, Tit for Tat The juke box and chat was in great form again Railway Avenue St   SK1 2BZ  Telephone 0161 4296062 G Susan Hitchen F Update No food now  SP   BM   P   D O 12 to 11 Mon - Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun            I chose a great time to visit this quality ale house. The Friday guests were available and the range of Porter brews was in its full glory. Understandably, the pub was very busy. It was early Friday evening, the average age was particularly younger than most houses of this type and the young were setting into the real stuff with encouraging relish. There is an impressive list of European beers on the boards but the local ales certainly held their own. The place had a delightful mix of people; posties enjoying a jar on their way home from work, plus courting couples and regulars who talked beer, footie, and all things blokey. The occasional real ale ticker came, sampled a few, and moved on, down the line that is. It has all of this and a bubbly murmur that one finds in top ale houses. It is a pub that is very difficult to leave; the same can be said for Stockport as a whole. UPDATE:  ASDA is being relocated and the pub is under threat of closure as a result. One of my favourite pubs may be lost within the coming season. BWV 11.3.05:  Blackpool and Barnsley  March Hare,  Eccleshall Slaters Premium Porters Bitter, Dark Mild, Rossendale Ale, Railway Sleeper, Floral Dance.  Copper Dragon, Black Gold BWV 5.6.06:  Porter Cribden Dark, Crushed Bitter, Floral Dance, Hambeldon Bitter, Pitch Porter, Railway Sleeper, Rossendale Ale, Sunshine UPDATE BWV 15.8.09 Cottage Summer Dance, Pictish Brewers Gold, Phoenix White Tornado, Rossendale Bitter, Ploral Dancer, Pitch Porter, Railway Sleeper, Rossendale Ale, Sunshine Thwaites Bomber There are also 5 real ciders that are ever changing and masses of continental lagers. Their real cider festival coincides with that of the town and has 15 + in October. The Beer feastival at the pub in August has 25 - 30 beers Steve Bradbury comments that theRailway is now a free house with a wider selction of real ales. ALSO TRY:-  SHAW HEATH LABOUR CLUB  Adjoining the ground it now serves real ale and welcomes away fans. STOCKPORT CAMRA EDGELEY PARK  LOCAL BREWERY Hornbeam Brewery Unit 1 – 1c Grey Street Denton Manchester M34 3RU Tel: 0161 320 5627 www.hornbeambrewery.com  WETHERSPOONS The Calverts Court  13 St Petersgate  Stockport  SK1 1EB  Opening Times:  Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am.