February - Grey Horse
Grey Horse
99 Broadstone Road, Reddish, Stockport SK5 7AS
The Stockport & South Manchester Branch's Pub of the Month award for February 2023 goes to the Grey Horse, on Broadstone Road, Reddish. Ray Cronie is a fan and explains why it won.
This prominent pub, with its ornate brick and terracotta exterior, was built in 1909, originally for the nearby Richard Clarke brewery. Clarke's was bought out and closed down by Boddingtons in 1963. Takeover and closure also befell them too, and in 2007 it was bought by Manchester brewer Joseph Holt.
In recent times, the Grey Horse has undergone a couple of refurbishments, the most recent in August 2022. The main body of the pub is a large comfortable lounge. This was created from two former rooms joined together. The vault is a large L-shaped bar, containing a pool table, high tables, and access to the rear outside area, where there is a large garden and a smoking area. At the front is another outdoor drinking area giving views of Broadstone Road and the mill.
Licensee Helen Partington has been in charge for almost three years. She has numerous years of experience in the licensing trade, and has worked hard to make the pub a centre of the community.
Holt's Bitter is the main beer on sale, and there is a 'Happy Hour', which sees 20p off the price of a pint, between 12 noon and 6pm from Monday to Thursday inclusive. There is free pool all day on Mondays and a quiz night every Tuesday. There are numerous large TV screens showing sport, the main topic being predominantly football.
So why not join the local CAMRA Branch on Thursday 23 February, when the Pub of the Month Award will be presented to Helen and her hard-working staff? It promises to be a very good night.
The once-a-week train service to Reddish South won't help you, but there are convenient buses to take you to the Grey Horse. The 42A, running from South Manchester to Reddish, and the 7, from Stockport to East Manchester, will drop you very close by. The 203 will drop you off near Houldsworth Square from where it's a short walk.