January - Arden Arms
Arden Arms
23 Millgate, Stockport, SK1 2LX
The Pub of the Month for January is the Arden Arms on Millgate, Stockport. John Clarke explains why it has won.
When a local institution changes hands and, make no mistake, the Arden Arms is an institution, there is always a sense of nervousness and perhaps anticipation too. What will the new people be like? What will they change? That was certainly the case when Geoff and Maria Troughton took over in August 2017.
When Opening Times interviewed them shortly afterwards, Geoff told us, “We’re not here to change anything: we just want to run a great pub”. And, in the intervening years, that is exactly what they have done.
There were some small changes – not least a redecoration, slowly carried out by Geoff before opening time, and so carefully done that hardly anyone noticed (although the pub did look brighter). There was some work on the bar back, too, and the handpumps were replaced. Outside, full use is made of the large courtyard, both for al fresco dining in warmer weather, and watching some live entertainment.
The cellar is looked after by Geoff and it has to be said the quality of the Robinsons beers here is second to none, gaining the Arden a regular entry in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. At least four cask beers are always available, and at this time of year they invariably include the classic Old Tom – ideally sipped in front of one of the pub’s open fires.
The food remains varied and excellent, with the kitchen open every lunchtime from 12 noon and also in the evenings between 6.00pm and 9.00pm Thursday to Saturday. The pub’s reputation for music is also undiminished with live bands every Saturday night, and most Friday nights, too.
Geoff and Maria have done an excellent job in not only maintaining but also enhancing the reputation of this classic pub (its historic interior has earned it a place on CAMRA’s National Inventory of Heritage Pubs). Come and join us on Thursday 25 January when we celebrate their success and present this very well-deserved award. The pub is just off Stockport Market Place so is handy for too many bus routes to list here!