August - White Hart
The White Hart
High Street, Cheadle SK8 1PX
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month for August 2016 is the White Hart in Cheadle. Alan Gent and Matthew Thompson are fans.
The White Hart stands proudly at one end of Cheadle High Street, next to St Mary's church, representing the historic - and iconic - heart of the village.
It was originally a coaching inn, but few would argue with the fact that the pub's heyday was as a Boddingtons's pub, when it was well nigh impossible to get through the door on a Friday or a Saturday night- and that was selling one beer, not 14!
Since then the pub has had a chequered life, passing through the hands of a succession of owners, often of little benefit, to either the pub or its clientele. Now, however, the most recent transfer of ownership from the now defunct Spirit Group to (whisper it) Greene King, seems to be reaping benefits. Greene King undertook a sympathetic makeover, keeping the dark wood panelling and fireplaces, but introducing a clean, fresh look with new floor coverings, some bright tiling, and new furniture There are televisions, but usually with the sound turned down and it's possible to find a seat where they can't be seen if sport isn't your thing.
Food features throughout the day, but the biggest - and best - change has been on the beer front Although two beers on the bar must always be Greene King, the remaining four can be guest beers, most of which are drawn from the SIBA list. When we called in, this included two from Brightside Brewery and, praise be, a very drinkable Tetley Bitter. There is also a house beer brewed by Greene King. There's a nod to the current craft boom with Hop13 and Punk IPA on keg fonts and a small selection of craft beer (Sierra Nevada, Brooklyn, Meantime, BrewDog) and Belgian beer in the fridge.
So, plenty to enjoy, why not pop down on Thursday 25th and show your appreciation to Matt Jones and his team. Buses 11, 11A, 310, 309 and X57 will all drop you nearby.