October - Navigation
The Navigation
1 Manchester Road, Heaton Norris, Stockport SK4 1TY
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for October 2018 has been won by the Navigation, Heaton Norris, writes Jim Flynn.
The Navigation is the only Stockport pub owned by Congleton's Beartown Brewery and, is next to Nelstrops Flour Mill on Lancashire Hill roundabout and was built to service both the workers from the flour mill and the bargees on the Stockport branch of the Ashton Canal, which closed in the late 1950s. The central bar of the pub services both the lounge, in which daily newspapers are provided, and the vault which has a pool table. There are TVs and a jukebox but none are intrusive and conversation is always to the fore in this friendly, very down-to-earth pub.
In times gone by, the Navigation was managed by Manchester United's goalkeeper Alex Stepney but Beartown bought the pub in December 2001 and for the last 10 years, almost to the day of our presentation, Barry and Debbie Harvey have run the pub with distinction, attracting a very loyal band of regulars who you will often see stepping behind the bar to work.
Over the years Barry has worked very hard on his beers but at times he has not been helped by the fluctuating fortunes of the brewery. Now, however, Beartown is owned by another Congleton brewery, Manning Brewers, and after significant improvements the beer is of the highest quality. Barry nearly always has three or more beers from Beartown and Mannings available along with Holts Bitter, and occasionally Holts Mild, and all at very affordable prices.
This is a great opportunity to try these beers, which are rare for Stockport, in what is a highly welcoming and very accessible pub. So join us in presenting the Pub of the Month award to Barry, Debbie and their staff on Thursday 25 October. I'm sure this will be a really great night as we will also celebrating their decade at the helm!