December - Ladybrook
Ladybrook Hotel
18 Fir Road, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 2NP
The Pub of the Month winner for December is the very large Ladybrook on Fir Road in Bramhall. Lawrence Devaney is a fan and explains why it's a deserving winner.
The Ladybrook is a traditional pub built to meet demand from a growing suburbia in the 1930s. Since current landlady Tracy Robinson took it over in November 2015, she has transformed the beer selection and connected with her customers on several levels, delivering the concept of a community pub.
Both Tracy and owners Greene King should be applauded for the 11 cask beer options available at this Cask Marque Pub of which three are usually from Greene King's own stable. Tracy looks for guidance from SIBA to inform her choice of cask ales, and, if not unique, the Ladybrook is special in frequently having two dark beers available even in the summer. The choice of beers is attracting a growing number of regulars whose own preferences Tracy is happy to reflect in the beers on offer. Expect to see Titanic, Rudgate and several more micro - breweries represented. There's a 10% CAMRA discount on cask beers so a pint comes in under £3. There is a selection of good keg beers and lagers available, as are speciality gins and rums.
There's a well laid out open bar area with a central space and two side wings. Both décor and layout were updated 2½ years ago whilst still retaining a traditional feel. Mixed table and seating options in the three loosely distinct sections provide comfort for drinkers and diners. The menu offers a good selection of quality meals with special deal options available. The Ladybrook is a popular football pub (not to everyone's delight) but one of the wings provides for a quieter area on match days. A completely separate 'vault' at the back has a pool table and its own bar.
Very importantly, the pub has welcomed various social gatherings and interest groups including an orchestra and a chess club, and is currently leading a campaign raising funds for a local street-based defibrillator. Join the local CAMRA branch to celebrate the award to Tracy and staff on Thursday night, 28 December. The pub is on the 378 bus route and is a three-minute walk from the Bramhall Green roundabout stop.