August Weekday Wander — Land o' cakes

Despite the title, this isn't a trip to Scotland, but a visit to Eccles, purveyor of a curranty cake not to be mistaken for one from Chorley!

We're going west this month, but in the geographic sense and not in the downhill meaning! If visiting Eccles, everyone must call in at the Lamb (photo here), a large Holts pub across the road from the tram stop. There is a cosy vault to the right, but as a group of any more than three would take over, we will go straight on into one of the main rooms. The surprisingly small bar for such a large pub still has space for not only bitter but mild as well. But don't just focus on the beers, look up at the etched glass bar surround (none of those spray on fakes here) which, reputedly, still slide up and down. The front rooms are well appointed with Edwardian décor, fixed seating and inbuilt bell pushes, but the most interesting room is that to the rear. This was the billiards room, hence the raised seating for spectating. In its later days it did resort to snooker, but those days are long gone (but remembered by this author!)

Just along Regent Road we enter the new kid on the block, the Eccles Cross. A JWD outlet which is surprisingly small as it is housed in the former New Regent cinema (photo here). Maybe Eccles was pioneering the small, cosy multi-screen concept way back in 1920! Internally it is as you would expect, but do take note of the dugouts housing intimate drinking booths. There is also an outside drinking courtyard, should the weather be with us.

Unlike other towns with famous cuisine, Eccles doesn't have a Ye Olde Eccles Cake Shoppe, so we will be departing cake-less to Patricroft for our next pub. The Stanley Arms (photo here) is a complete contrast to the Lamb in everything except for its beer range. Small and intimate, and could probably fit into the front room of the Lamb! Never the less, it is still full of character (and characters) and a must visit pub as it is Grade II listed and included in CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.

In days gone by Patricroft was made world famous by two of its engineering giants. At one time every forge would have had a Nasmyth steam hammer, (or a copy) for all those heavy metal forming jobs. Likewise there were hundreds of Gardner Diesel engines from the 6LX range powering buses, lorries and small ships. Both are now lost (though Garners lives on as Garners Marine in Kent). A third local employer was the massive Patricroft motive power depot (engine shed to you and me), again all gone. And we can't leave without mentioning the pioneering Bridgewater Canal, the first waterway built independent of an accompanying river, unlike the Mersey & Irwell Navigation which merely straightened out bends in the river.

We finish the day with not one, but two micro bars (plus a stand-by Holts pub) a little way up the road in Monton. First up is the Monton Tap (general view of Monton Road in the photo right), opened in 2018 in a former shop. As would be expected it is small and cosy, but still offers three beers, usually from local breweries. There is also French café style seating outside on the surprisingly wide pavement, should the weather be with us! Secondly we have, but with opening time of 4:30pm, the Malt Dog which was first opened in 2013 and again serving three changing guest beers. This is a little larger, having an upstairs room along with the pavement drinking area.
NOTE: For anyone still hankering for another Holts beer, the Park opposite (previous 1950s incantation photo left) offers salvation.

Travel arrangements below are laid out from Stockport using the train, but for some, a tram from Didsbury to Pomona, then changing for the Eccles line may be much more convenient. Unfortunately there are works on the line, and trams are only travelling as far as Weaste, with a bus replacement to the last two stops! See you in the Lamb. 

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