November - Vale Cottage
Kirk Street, Gorton, Manchester, M18 8UE
(Warning, pub much nearer to Hyde Road than Google suggest.)
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month for November is the Vale Cottage on Kirk Street in Gorton.
When the pub closed in the summer of 2011 many people thought that was that. Another victim of a dispute between a licensee and the pub's owners (Enterprise Inns in this case) had bitten the dust. With the track record of closed pub chain establishments, the prospects of re opening looked bleak, when along came a knights in shining armour, Geoff and Tina. Who re-opened the pub in early November.
What swayed them? They already knew of the homely atmosphere and friendly staff and clientele. In fact the staff are so dedicated that Lesley, Ria, Carole, Kath, Janet, Nora, Debora and not forgetting Rita the cleaner have not missed a shift between them over the past year. Many clubs and groups meet here, a recent capture is the Gorton MCFC supporters who meet every Wednesday. The first and third Mondays of the month sees acoustic jam nights along with occasional visits by Morris dancers and bell ringers. Coupled with delivering good home cooked meals and excellent beer what more does a pub need?
So why are we bestowing this honour on Geoff and Tina? They have rescued a pub that could have so easily have remained boarded for years, or even been demolished. Now, after serving an excellent pint of Taylor's Landlord, usually one of the Witches from Moorhouses and a changing guest, they have a thriving pub. All this enthusiasm and commitment has resulted in Enterprise putting their hands in their pockets and doing up the outside of the building.
How do you find the Vale Cottage? You need to know which footpath to take off Hyde Road, Gorton. With your back to the Waggon and Horses, take the country footpath to the right of the butterfly garden and orchard. Traverse the Gore Brook, part of Gorton Heritage area, and the Vale Cottage can be glimpsed through the trees. When approached this way you can understand their strap-line - The country pub in the city.
Busses 201, 204 and 205 will get you there from Manchester (with 206 daytime only) while 203 travels between Manchester and Stockport.