West Didsbury

Friday 16 September 2022

West Didsbury is fast aping Chorlton, with the number of caf é-bars rising in what can, at times, feel like a weekly regularity. Sadly, from CAMRAs point of view, very few of these serve real ale! Thus there will be much peering through windows, or walking in just to be disappointed, tonight. West Didsbury, essentially Burton Road, has good public transport connections with Manchester but isn't as easy to get to from Stockport.

Tonight's stagger starts in the Woodstock Arms, on the fringe of West Didsbury, on the major thoroughfare, Barlow Moor Road, in a building which once housed the British Council. At least it is on the 23 bus route from Stockport so arrival should be no problem. It is a typical Victorian businessman's residence, and retains many of the original features. Of note is the grand staircase to the upper floors, which is spacious enough to boast a settee on the landing! Being a Mitchells &Butlers house, it offers beers from major national suppliers.

On leaving, almost opposite is Albert's Restaurant & Bar which under its former guise of the Barleycorn served real ale. Alberts continued this, but with only one beer on offer. Currently, it is reported as having lost even this, so it is worth popping a head around the door to confirm this information is correct.

We now take a walk down Palatine Road whence we will reach our next intended pub, the Wine & Wallop on Lapwing Lane, right opposite the West Didsbury tram stop. Downstairs is where all the action is; but boasts a utilitarian d écor, with bare-board flooring and exposed brick walls. Upstairs is more relaxed, with settees and a balcony where you can lord it over the masses downstairs. There can be up to six beers on, usually from local, ie Greater Manchester, breweries. There may even be a 'home brew' available, as they are looking at getting their own kit. WARNING: anyone without the means to pay electronically will either have to beg a drink off a mate, or tragically go without, as the bar is cashless. The photo shows the former use, as John Williams &Sons, Self Service shop (click on image to see full sized).

A few doors along from Wine &Wallop we have the Lapwing Deli. They currently have two Burton Road beers - an IPA and a pale ale - both real ales but served via KeyKeg ™. They're hoping to get their own kit so they can brew their own beers.

To reach our 8:30pm destination, requires a slight backtrack [in the sence of walking towards the Woodstock] when we travel a short way along Old Lansdowne Road where we will find the Albert Club. Being a private club, access to members of the public isn't automatic, but the Club Steward has been contacted and we will be welcomed with open arms tonight. This was a recent Club Of The Year winner so the beer quality is assured, but the pandemic caused havoc with presentation of their certificate!

Returning to Lapwing Lane and continuing into the heart of West Didsbury and, at around 9:00pm we will reach the Railway. Created from a cottage in the 1890s, this little pub is supposed to be haunted by the spirit of an old customer. This small Holts pub was (until the late 1990s when it was knocked through into the next-door cobblers) an even smaller John Smiths pub, so don't complain if it is a little crowded on a busy Friday night. The upside is, anyone joining the stagger here will be able to find the current revellers easily, as there are scant few hiding places! Beers on offer are Holt's Bitter, along with their Two Hoots and sometimes a guest.

Our next destination is just across the road, and couldn't be a bigger contrast. Inside, the Metropolitan is cavernous, with a multitude of different areas in which to relax. In its former days, it was known as the Midland Hotel and was built in 1880 when the Midland Railway opened their shortcut from New Mills to Chorlton, cutting out the detour via Guide Bridge and what is now the Fallowfield loop. When the line closed, and the need for a hotel vanished, it declined and gained a bad reputation. Taken over in 1998 by two local businessmen, who then recruited local artisans to rejuvenate it, thence the Metropolitan was born. The renaming was (probably) a nod to the previous owners, Grand Metropolitan. This resurrection meant it lost its bowling green and off-sales counter, but did incorporate the former stables into the outside drinking area.

Our journey now proceeds South along Burton Road, where we have a veritable myriad of caf é-bars. As is the way with their dynamic and quick-acting proprietors, their offering changes on an almost weekly basis. Many have previously offered real ale, either on handpump or via Real Ale in a Bottle, but current intelligence says none is available at the moment. Thus, the CAMRA campaigning flag can be flown, by breaking up into smaller groups and entering every outlet to discuss real ale. Remember, these days many KeyKeg ™beers are real ale and would be just the ticket here. Here is a reminder of the bars to be checked: Drawing Room; Proove; Mary and Archie; Volta; Folk; Bar; Boiler Room; Saison.

After all that campaigning you will be gasping for a beer, and salvation is available in the last pub on the road. Sited in the former Wellington Stores [still trying to discover whether it was owned by a person of that name or a purveyor of waterproof boots as the photo left appears to be Whiteside's tobacconist/general store], either way the George Charles, gained its name from the person who owned the shop way back in the late 1800s. Should you wish to gaze upon his visage, there is a photo in the basement. Cask ales feature beers from local brewers, and usually one is offered from the Federation Brewery at the Con Club in Altrincham, as both are owned by the same person. The three handpulls are usually devoid of pump clips, with the offering being shown on signs above the bar.

For those wishing to head home towards Chorlton, Fallowfield/Manchester or Burnage/Levenshulme/ Gorton/Openshaw and beyond, there are bus stops outside the George Charles. Stopfordians will have to journey up to Barlow Moor Road, where they will be able to catch a bus home.

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.

West Didsbury
Timing	Pub Name	Address	Bus & Metrolink	Notes
7:30pm Start point:	Woodstock Arms	139 Barlow Moor Road, M20 2DY	Map West Didsbury
Then:	Albert's Restaurant & Bar	120-122 Barlow Moor Road, M20 2PU	Map West Didsbury	No real ale
	Wine and Wallop	97 Lapwing Lane, M20 6UR	Map West Didsbury
	Lapwing Deli	109 Lapwing Lane, M20 6UR	Map West Didsbury
8:30pm Mid point:	Albert Club	39-41 Old Lansdowne Road, M20 2PA	Map West Didsbury
Followed by:	Railway	3 Lapwing Lane, M20 2NT	Map Burton Road
	Zaranda	1 Lapwing Lane, M20 2NT	Map Burton Road>	No real ale
	Metropolitan	2 Lapwing Lane, M20 2WS	Map Burton Road
	Drawing Room	148b Burton Road, M20 1LH	Map Burton Road	No real ale
	Proove	160 Burton Road, M20 1LH	Map Burton Road	No real ale
	Mary and Archie	200 Burton Road, M20 2LW	Map Burton Road	No real ale
	Volta	167 Burton Road, M20 2LN	Map Burton Road	No real ale
	Folk	169-171 Burton Road, M20 2LN	Map Burton Road	No real ale
	Boiler Room	222 Burton Road, M20 2LW	Map Burton Road	No real ale
	Saison	236 Burton Road, M20 2LW	Map Burton Road	No real ale
Finishing at:	George Charles	246 Burton Road, M20 2LW	Map Burton Road

View the West Didsbury map in a larger map.

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Updated August 2022

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