November - Gateway
882 Wilmslow Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 5PG
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for November 2013 has been awarded to the Gateway, East Didbury, writes Jim Flynn
Sited at the junction of Kingsway and Wilmslow Road, this large inter wars roadhouse was struggling by the early part of this decade. In mid-2011 Hydes sold the Gateway to J.D. Wetherspoons but all did not go well following the re-opening as they clearly hadn't got it right. With their standard low prices curtailed the public saw no reason to cross the road from the leisure complex opposite. Indeed for a while despite the obvious investment in new carpets, improved toilet facilities, exterior lighting and new kitchen facilities it looked like the usually surefooted Wetherspoons had got it wrong. However along with a reversion to their normal pricing structure they had an ace up their sleeve in the form of a new manager Kevin Muldoon.
Kev had previously worked at the Waterhouse and the Seven Stars in the city centre and in the 18 months he has been at the Gateway there has been a remarkable improvement in both quality and service despite the fact that this is his first pub management position. The public have responded in their numbers and the pub is now vibrant and highly popular. Kev was previously responsible for the cellar in the Waterhouse and his influence has come to the fore here as not only has the Gateway become an entry in the new 2014 Good Beer Guide for the first time in many a long year but over the time of his tenure cask ale sales has doubled.
There is a focus on regional beers directly supplied direct from the brewers with half a dozen guest ales (plus normally Old Rosie cider) as well as the usual Wetherspoons' Abbott and Ruddles and a house beer from Hawkshead, 'Gateway to the Lakes'. The pub also runs "brewer of the month" featuring the products of one particular brewery.
So why not join the local CAMRA branch on Thursday 28 November when the award will be presented to Kev and his hard working staff when a really great night will be enjoyed by all. Don't miss it!
The pub is on one of the UK's busiest bus routes with amongst others the 50, 142, 42, 42a, 45a from the city centre, 42, 370, 23A from Stockport, 84 from Reddish and the Heatons and 44, X57 and 130 from Cheadle and southwards stopping nearby. Trains from Piccadilly to the Airport stop at East Didsbury and the newly opened East Didsbury Metrolink stop is close by.