January - Gateway
The Gateway
882 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 5PG
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for January 2022 goes to the Gateway at 882 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 5PG, writes Jim Flynn.
Kevin Muldoon took over as manager of this large, inter-war, red-stone and white-brick roadhouse almost 10 years ago, not long after JD Wetherspoon had purchased the pub from Hydes. He made an immediate impact, and it has been a roaring success ever since.
Initially, Wetherspoons invested considerably 
in the place, with new carpets, half-height wooden panelling on most of the walls, improved toilet facilities, exterior lighting, new kitchen and, more recently, substantial improvements to outdoor facilities. However, another refurbishment is planned in the next 12 months, so clearly Wetherspoons see the pub as a long-term success. A big plus for the Gateway is that it was built as a pub, with lots of separate areas and nooks and crannies surrounding the large central bar, giving it the advantage of having a real pub ambience that many Wetherspoons can't have.
Kev's tenure has been marked by the high quality of the beer, such that the pub has been a Good Beer Guide regular for nine years, including 2022, along with excellent service to the customer. The public have responded in their numbers and the pub is vibrant and highly popular. Nowadays it is not just seen as a prelude to a trip across the road to the cinema or bowling but very much a night out in its own right.
There is a focus on regional beers supplied direct from the brewers, evidenced by the house beer, Gateway to Heaven, from Brightside Brewing up in Radcliffe, as well as the usual Wetherspoon's Abbot, and Ruddles.
So why not join the local CAMRA branch Thursday, 27 January when their Pub of the Month Award will be presented to Kev and his hard-working staff: I'm sure, a really great night will be enjoyed by all. Don't miss it!
The pub is on many bus routes including the 50, 142, 42, from the city centre, 42, 23 from Stockport, 42A from Reddish and the Heatons and 42B/C (early evening only) from Cheadle. It's also close to East Didsbury train station and Metrolink stop.