October - Beer Shop
Beer Shop
13 Kingsleigh Road, Heaton Moor SK4 3QF
The October Pub of the Month winner is the Beer Shop on Kingsleigh Road in Heaton Moor. Opening Times editor John Clarke explains why it has won.
Tucked away in deepest suburbia, 
the Beer Shop has long been something of an oasis in this part of Stockport (and, indeed, in Burnage just down the road).
It was opened in 2011 by Dean Hilton, who planned it as a retirement project. This rapidly got out of hand and Dean finally retired in September 2020, when the business was taken over by Finnish ex-pat Markus Sorsa, who moved to the north-west from London when his wife got a job in Hyde.
Since Markus took over, he has refocused the business so that the Beer Shop is much more of a pub and less of a shop. That's not to say there isn't still a range of beers to take away, with the focus largely on local breweries, supplemented by a good range of German bottles.
There has also been a significant refurbishment and redecoration. Mixed furniture, natural wood, and brightly coloured fabrics create a sixties vibe. Vintage film posters and glassware add to the bohemian feel.
The cask beer range has now settled down to three beers on handpump, usually all from local breweries, and including one dark beer. Alongside these are three on keg, one of which is an imported German lager.
Trade is building well, and the Beer Shop now seems to be developing a good local trade. However, its location shouldn't deter visitors from further afield, as buses 25 and 197 from both Stockport and Manchester will drop you close to the end of the road. They will certainly be put to good use when we present this very well-deserved award on Thursday 20 October from 7:30pm. Please join us to celebrate the Beer Shop's ongoing success.