October POTM - Arden Arms
23 Millgate, Stockport, SK1 2LX (View on Google Map)
October’s winner is the historic Arden Arms, also in central Stockport, just off the Market Place. Sue Lightfoot has been along.
Arden Arms
The Arden Arms, built in what was then a convenient place for a coach house, is now conveniently situated near the Peel Centre shops, the market place and the centre of Stockport. It was acquired by Frederic Robinson in 1890, is Grade-II listed and is on CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
Outside this attractive building there’s a blue plaque in honour of Elizabeth Raffald, whose family built the Arden Arms and who, amongst other things, produced the first town directory for Manchester and Salford in 1772.
The main entrance to this traditional pub takes you past a lovely old dresser and leads you to a dining area to the right. To the left is the distinctive, curved, glazed bar through which a hidden snug can be accessed, one of only a very few remaining in the UK. The decoration and furnishings create a Victorian ambience, (even some of the old bell pushes work!) and this combines well with the newly revamped courtyard, which is a real find and allows views of the old stables. Live music is played there every Saturday evening and a board outside advertises forthcoming events.
When the pub changed hands at the beginning of May last year, there were many who thought it was going to be a hard act to follow because of the reputation the pub had built up over time, in particular for its food offer.
No need for concern, however, as Nichole Binnie and her welcoming staff have more than risen to the challenge. The refurbishment has been a sympathetic one and the new menu has something for everyone, from snacks and small plates to full meals, including Sunday lunch.
Beers on offer, and always in good condition, are Robinsons Dizzy Blonde, Trooper and Unicorn, with a fourth pump for a different Robinsons beer each week, depending on availability. Old Tom appears during the winter months.
The presentation evening will be from 8pm on Thursday 22 October – please come along to celebrate with Nichole and her team, and enjoy some well-kept traditional beers. The address is 23 Millgate SK1 2LX. Alas, no horse-drawn coaches go past these days, but the pub is not far from the Asda bus stop – and there’s always Shanks’ pony…
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.
