March - Gateway
The Gateway
882 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 5PG
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for March 2017 will be presented to the Gateway, East Didsbury. Jim Flynn tells you all about it.
Sited at the junction of Kingsway and Wilmslow Road, this large inter-wars roadhouse was struggling and so in mid-2011 Hydes Brewery sold it to Wetherspoons. However, all did not 
go well as the public saw insufficient reasons to cross the road from the leisure complex opposite. Indeed, for a while despite the obvious investment in new carpets, half-height wooden panelling, improved toilet facilities, exterior lighting and new kitchen facilities it looked like they might have bought a pup. However, they had an ace up their sleeve in the form of manager Kevin Muldoon.
Since he arrived, the public has responded and the pub is now vibrant and highly popular. It is often said by critics that many Wetherspoons do not feel like proper pubs but whatever the truth in this argument that can never be levelled against the Gateway under Kevin's tutelage. Both beer quality and service are excellent and like all good licensees Kevin knows his customers and his customers know him; this most definitely is a proper pub with a proper pub licensee! As a result, it is not just perceived as a prelude to a trip across the road to the cinema or bowling but as a destination in its own right.
Kevin is very interested in his beers and stocks many from local up-and-coming breweries and such is the quality that the pub has been a regular in the Good Beer Guide since 2014. The house beer is from Brightside and a good real cider is always available.
So why not join us when the Pub of the Month Award will be presented to Kevin and his hard-working staff on Thursday, 23rd March from 8pm onwards. Don't miss it!
The pub is on one of the UK's busiest bus corridors with amongst others the 50, 142, 42, 42A, 42B, 45 and 142 from the city centre, 42, 370, 23 and 23A from Stockport, 42A from Reddish and the Heatons, 44 and 130 from Cheadle and beyond, finally the 42B from Bramhall and Woodford. Rail services on the Piccadilly/Airport line stop at East Didsbury and East Didsbury Metrolink stop is also close by.