Stagger - Heaton Moor and Heaton Norris West
Heaton Moor and Heaton Norris West
Friday 20 January 2023
A sheepish stagger for ewe!
And why have we titled it a sheepish stagger? — Bar, bar, bar sums up the experience!
Tonight we start on Heaton Moor Road at JW Lees Elizabethan.
This was converted from one of the large Victorian houses which line both sides of the road. Originally built in 1874 as a private dwelling, when it was known as Bampton House, in the early 1900s it became a private members club, retaining the same name. Just over 100 years after being built it was converted in 1977 to its current use. The fact that this was the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II probably influenced it new name! A large pub, with a central bar and [except for January evenings] an inviting outdoor area. Lees Bitter and Manchester ale plus the seasonal, I wonder whether the Plum Pudding will still be available.
On leaving we cross the road to the north side, and remain thus for much of the rest of the stagger. Here we meet our first flock of sheep! The next two premises along Heaton Moor Road, namely Thom's Wine Bar [baa] and Casa De Moor, [baa] don't sell real ale by any dispense method so onwards to the next real ale outlet.
Our next real ale port of call is the impressive
sandstone fronted Plough on the Moor. This historic pub was rebuilt in 1886 when it was known simply as the Plough. When entering look up and note the bucolic scene depicting ploughing carved in to the lintel. Now in the Mitchells & Butlers stable it still retains the feel of a community local, but with the added bonus of a food offering. It was re-furbished throughout in 2008, but still retains its nooks and crannies separated by stained glass partitions. A more recent makeover caused great consternation when the original stained glass front windows vanished to be replaced by paint on pretend stained glass. Should the weather be up to it, to the rear is a covered courtyard and a garden. As our next venue is but a cock's stride down the road here is time to try more than one of the ales on offer.
Dragging ourselves away from the Plough it is but a few door along Heaton Moor Road to the Crown. This is one of the few pubs in the area to retain its original multi-room interior and very traditional gents' toilet (sorry ladies it's out of bounds!). When originally built in 1820, the front rooms didn't exist because of three which stood outside. These were felled in 1930 and the front extended to match the building line of the other premises. An alleyway to the right leads to a separate entrance to the vault, the back garden and formally the off sales counter. Until 1963 it was part of the small estate of Richard Clarke's Reddish Brewery here in Stockport.
On leaving the Crown we need to pop our nose in to the Cork of the North [baa] and Leoni's [baa - told you we would meet a lot of sheep] to conform that real ale isn't available (yet?).
Around the corner and a few doors down Shaw Road the resolve of some die hard cask ale drinkers may be tested at the Bottle Heaton Moor. Real ale is available here but there is no sign of a handpull nor are there casks behind the bar. There is, however, real ale from tap dispense. Beers available are constantly changing but endeavour to include a genuine German Helles lager and one of a stout/porter variety. A small front room, which can accommodate around 30 people, also contains the bar along with shelves full of bottles and cans, many being of the real ale in a bottle/can variety. Located at the rear of the premises is a popular small suntrap beer garden with seating for a further 15 people.
Now comes another flock of sheep! The other licensed premises along Shaw Road, namely Pale [baa] and Cassidys, [baa] don't sell real ale by any dispense method so onwards to the next real ale outlet.
Further along Heaton Moor road we reach the Moortop which has an interesting history. In 1875 six houses were built there and called Belmont Terrace. In 1939 Walker & Homfray's acquired four of those with Wilson's Brewery of Newton Heath subsequently acquired these in 1953. Three houses were demolished and, in 1955, the present pub was built. Current architecture is essentially a two story house with single story extensions along the front and side. In its original incantation it was known as The Moor Top (see photo right - click to see larger version). The beer range, usually five, features the products of local and regional micros. Food is also available, with the chef from the Damson restaurant across the road running both kitchens and sources the same ingredients for each too. In time food will probably play a greater role than it does now, but the Moortop will remain a pub where you can just drop in for a beer or two.
Three more café bars exist on the remainder of Heaton Moor Road, so we enounter our final flock of sheep (if three counts as a flock!) with the Nook [baa], Damson [baa] and Rock Salt [baa]. To finish tonights stagger we must embark on a long(ish) hike, sorry walk, to our final destination.
With its Hydes multi-ale concept, expect a guest alongside the Hydes regular beers, in the Nursery, a previous CAMRA National Pub of Year winner. As you walk in the door of this 1930s pub look around and you can see why. Two rooms open off the drinking lobby, the lounge (used as a dining room at lunchtime) and what was a smoking room. To enter the third room, the vault, you will have to exit and go around the corner to its own separate entrance! With its magnificent wood panelled interior the pub is on CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Interiors and is a Grade II listed building. To the rear is a lovingly tended bowling green where there is no better place to sit and watch a game on a warm summer's evening. The Nursery is at the heart of the community, attracting a great mix of people to live music, quizzes, as well as local groups meeting in the function room upstairs.
Below, clicking on Map will call up a Google travel map with that location automatically set as the destination. Insert your current location (post code?) as the start and choose a travel mode (public, car, cycle or foot) and discover your travel options. Following THIS LINK will take you to the Transport for Greater Manchester website for current travel information.
Heaton Moor and Heaton Norris West
Timing |
Pub Name |
Address |
Map & Rail |
Notes |
| 7.30pm Start point: | Elizabethan | 33 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4PB | Map Heaton Chapel |
|
| Followed by: | Thom's Wine Bar | 54 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4NZ | Map Heaton Chapel |
No Real Ale |
| Casa De Moor | 60 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4NZ | Map Heaton Chapel |
No Real Ale | |
| Plough on the Moor | 82 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4NZ | Map Heaton Chapel |
||
| 8.30pm Mid point: | Crown | 98-100 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4NZ | Map Heaton Chapel |
|
| Then | Cork of the North | 104 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4NZ | Map Heaton Chapel |
No Real Ale |
| Leoni's | 110 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4NZ | Map Heaton Chapel |
No Real Ale | |
| Pale | 3 Shaw Road, SK4 4AG | Map Heaton Chapel |
No Real Ale | |
| Bottle Heaton Moor | 9a Shaw Road, SK4 4AG | Map Heaton Chapel |
||
| Hula Heaton Moor | 17 Shaw Road, SK4 4AG | Map Heaton Chapel |
No Real Ale | |
| Cassidys | 21 Shaw Road, SK4 4AG | Map Heaton Chapel |
No Real Ale | |
| Moortop | 172 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4DU | Map | ||
| Nook | 111 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4HY | Map | No Real Ale | |
| Damson | 113 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4HY | Map | No Real Ale | |
| Rock Salt | 192 Heaton Moor Road, SK4 4DU | Map | No Real Ale | |
| Finishing at: | Nursery | 258 Green Lane, SK4 2NA | Map |
View Heaton Moor and Heaton Norris West in a larger map
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