Horse & Farrier

144 Gatley Road, Gatley, SK8 4AB

Horse & Farrier December’s Pub of the Month award-winner is the Horse & Farrier in the centre of Gatley. Peter Butler and Sue Lightfoot tell you all about it.

Dating from before 1910, the Horse & Farrier, with its impressive mock Tudor frontage, is a focal point in Gatley village, opposite the clock, which was the original First World War memorial.

The present building, refurbished in 2016, and again in 2021, is made from two, or possibly three, old cottages, and has a covered entrance with a mosaic floor leading to a multi-roomed traditional pub with food service. A central bar serves all six of the separate rooms and a small area upstairs is available for functions.

To the right of the entrance is a quiet room with a traditional air to it, and a real fire; a couple of cosy seats sit under the stairs. To the left is a little snug, again with a real fire, and beyond that there are two lounges, again with real fires.

An open lounge with Sports TV is to the right of the bar, and beyond that there’s a drinkers’ area with dartboard. A garden to enjoy, and a wide choice of snacks and meals, make this pub popular with all ages – accompanied children are welcome (except in the Sports area) until 8pm. Four-legged friends are not forgotten either. Live music entertains at weekends, and various events are hosted here, including the popular Party in the Car Park and the occasional Psychic Event (see Facebook and Instagram for updates).

Two changing and five regular cask beers from Hydes are usually available, alongside a good selection of other beers, wines and spirits. Manager Liz Bennett-Greaves oversees all of this with a consummate professionalism that comes from long experience in the licensed trade.

The presentation will be on Tuesday 30 December, from 8pm. Do try and join us. The Horse & Farrier is close to bus routes 11, 370 and 371, and Gatley railway station is 300 metres away

The Pub of the Month award is sponsored by Stephensons, a local family firm that has been supplying the local pub and catering trade for over 150 years.