June - Heaton Hops
Heaton Hops
7 School Lane, Heaton Chapel, Stockport SK4 5DE
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for June 2016 has been won by Heaton Hops on School Lane in Heaton Chapel writes Jim Flynn.
It could be said that this award has been late in coming as Heaton Hops has already won City Life Greater Manchester Best Pub award for 2015, but we in CAMRA like to be sure that a new venture has legs before we award a gong. Perhaps here, though, we were somewhat tardy given the stellar success of this bar opened by Damien O'Shea (the 'Aleman')
and his partner Charlotte in April last year. They clearly knew the area was ready for such an innovative project having run a stall selling their interesting range of bottled beers at the monthly Heaton Moor market and found a great thirst for new beers. These bottled beers are still very much part of their business.
Heaton Hops, based in converted shop premises with just two small rooms (the second is downstairs) and an outside drinking area, is an intimate but hospitable place to have a drink. Along with the bottled beers from the UK and around the world there are two changing cask beers, traditional cider and keg beers. The aim is to promote local beers as far as possible although not to the exclusion of high quality products from around the country. CAMRA members are especially welcome with a 10% discount offered on all purchases.
To say that the place has captured the imagination of local drinkers is an understatement with the place packed out almost every night (don't go on Mondays though as it's shut). Get there early to join the local CAMRA branch to celebrate the award which will be presented to Damian, Charlotte and their staff on Thursday 30th June when I'm sure there will be great beer and a convivial welcome.
The pub is on the 329 and 84 bus routes, the 192 stops nearby and Heaton Chapel train station is only 5 or 6 minutes away, so there is no excuse to miss the night.