July - Crown (Heaton Moor)
98-100 Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport, SK4 4NZ
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for July 2012 was won by the Crown, Heaton Moor, writes Jim Flynn.
In an area which is definitely on the up as far as pubs and beer are concerned when Martyn Clowery and his manager Stuart Davies took over the Crown in Heaton Moor 12 months ago they recognised that something had to be done to ensure that this ex Boddington's house stayed in front of the competition. Their plan was simply to ensure that the pub played to its strengths as a traditional boozer while improving its range of beers.
Stuart describes the pub has having all the best attributes of the Grapes in the sitcom Early Doors written by local writer Craig Cash. You can see his point not only for the setting but also for the wide range of characters who populate the three rooms (including the last traditional vault in the area). Although very popular for sport, horse racing as well as football, the televisions are not intrusive and there are no food menus, no jukeboxes, no fruit machines and no pool tables; just people enjoying a drink and having a conversation.
With the demise of cask Boddingtons the beer range has widened to include Copper Dragon Golden Pippin, Marston's Pedigree, Wells Bombardier, John Smiths and one or two guest ales. Having signed up for the Spirit Master Brew Range and also SIBA Direct Stuart hopes to find something to please his old Boddies drinkers as well as enabling him to choose a variety of interesting guest beers.
Stuart has been running pubs from North Wales (his home) to London and back for 14 years and this experience certainly shows. The bar staff are very attentive and service is always prompt even at the busiest of times. The beers are kept very well and the Stuart has ensured that the pub has supported CAMRA's local campaigns, most recently Mild Magic.
The pub is less than 5 minutes from Heaton Chapel Station, 5 minutes from the 192 bus route, the 22 and 197 stop a few hundred years away and the 84 passes the door. Don't miss it!