April - Wellington (Stockport)
The Wellington
59-61 Wellington Road South, Stockport SK1 3RU
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for April is the Wellington on Wellington Road South.
The centre of Stockport has, over the past twelve months, bucked the national trend with pubs opening rather than closing, writes Dave Carter.
There are several newcomers and the first of these to open was the Wellington, Wellington Road South, opposite what used to be known as Grand Central. It's filled a gap by providing what has long been missing, namely a pub serving the A6 in this area of Stockport. Speaking for myself and, I am sure, many others, I used to find meeting friends in this part of the world a bit of a bind, especially in bad weather when there was no choice but to go to fast food joints or stand shivering in a bus shelter. Then, last spring, the Wellington opened.
Occupying a site which had formerly been a bookies, the Wellington opened to what can only be described as a mixed reception - the beer being regarded generally as below par. Mercifully, thanks to the work of landlord Lee Goodhall, the teething problems were cured and three good handpumped ales have followed. At the time of my visit they were Marston's Mansfield Brewery England's Pride, Weetwood Ales Cheshire Cat and Three Bs Bees Knees.
Lee is no stranger to this part of Stockport having been landlord of the Unity just down the road, and now flats, and is a great fan of music in his pubs ("If the music is too loud you are too old" is one of the notices on the wall). All forms of music are played on a Saturday night, either by from live performers or a DJ.
The staff members are extremely friendly and are happy to speak to their customers on a variety of subjects. But a word of warning - there are around twenty clocks dotted around the pub, only two of which tell the correct time (other than twice a day). Which ones are they? I'm not going to tell you. Come along to the presentation night on Thursday 18 April at 8pm and see for yourselves.
It is impossible to list all the buses stopping at Grand Central - if it goes towards Hazel Grove or Manchester along the A6 then it should stop there. Trains stopping at Stockport will leave you with a very short walk and the Wellington is directly across on the A6.
So have a great time meeting your friends in a very friendly pub and make it your A6 meeting place. There's no better starting point for a night out.