August - Heaton Hops
August Pub of the Month - Heaton Hops, Heaton Chapel
7 School Lane, Heaton Chapel, SK4 5DE
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for August 2023 has been won by the Heaton Hops on School Lane in Heaton Chapel, writes Jim Flynn.
Heaton Hops in Heaton Chapel was
opened by Damian O'Shea ('the Aleman') and his partner Charlotte back in April 2015, and since then they have won numerous awards from far and wide.
The bar is based in converted shop premises with just two small rooms (the second is downstairs) and a seemingly ever-expanding outside pavement drinking area which, in the summer especially, gives a continental feel. Damian has certainly created a friendly, hospitable and innovative place to have a drink.
There are now three changing cask beers, traditional cider and keg beers, along with bottled and canned beers from the UK and around the world (Damian started out selling bottled beers in local markets). The aim is to promote local beers as far as possible, although not to the exclusion of high-quality products from around the country. Indeed, one of the cask beers is now always supplied by Taylor's as the bar is a member of Taylor's Champions Club. The increasing choice of cask beers has enabled Damian to become one of the most enthusiastic supporters of CAMRA initiatives such as Mild Magic.
To say that the place has captured the imagination of local drinkers is an understatement, with the place packed out almost every night (don't go on Mondays, it's shut). So get there early to join the local CAMRA branch to celebrate the award, which will be presented to Damian, Charlotte and their staff on Thursday 24 August, when I'm sure there will be great beer and a convivial welcome.
The pub is on the 7 and 42A bus routes, the 192 stops nearby and Heaton Chapel train station is only five or six minutes away, so there is absolutely no excuse to miss this night!