November - Sun & Castle
The Pub of the Month for November is the Sun & Castle on Hillgate, in Stockport. John Clarke explains why it has won.
Landlady Veronica Bell (known to everyone as Ronnie) says that her pub is something of a contrast between inside and out. She’s right. From the outside, it can look a little plain – but walk through the doors and you’re in a warm and friendly local.
Holts haven’t always owned the Sun & Castle; for many years it was a Tetley pub and, for a lot of those, sold no cask beer. Holts are responsible for replacing most of the original inter-war fittings with a mock Victorian interior, and for once this really seems to fit the bill, with pride of place going to a spectacular 1890s bar back.
So what you have now is a warm interior with lots of dark wood and a classic ‘traditional pub’ feel. On the right is a cosy lounge, and behind that a bigger, rambling room complete with a small stage. On the left is a spacious and well-used vault.
Ronnie has been there on and off for most of the last 23 years and in that time has made the pub very much her own. Eleven years ago she retired but was tempted back for six weeks – and is still there! She has been in the trade for over 35 years and seems to have spent most of those on Hillgate as, before coming to the Sun & Castle, she had lengthy spells at the now-closed Golden Lion and Pack Horse.
The cellar was looked after by Ronnie’s late husband Harry, who won many awards for his efforts, but he passed his skills on to Ronnie to very good effect. The Holts Bitter is always in excellent form, and it’s pretty much impossible to stay for just one pint!
Do come along and join us on Thursday 23 November when we present this well-earned award to Ronnie and her hard-working staff. The pub is just a short walk from Wellington Road South and its many buses.