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It's never been easy to get to our rural pubs without a car. But it can be done with a little advance planning. We have the TransPennine Trail for walkers, horse rides and cyclists. We have the Bridgewater Canal if you've hired or can afford to buy a narrowboat. And we still have a few bus routes.
Recently though the long-standing Altrincham - Warrington bus route was diverted away from Dunham Massey and Dunham Woodhouses, leaving such fine pubs as the Axe & Cleaver, the Swan with Two Nicks, the Vine, the Rope & Anchor, and the Dunham Apple Barn even more isolated. The reasons are complex but centre on the low bridge where the canal crosses Woodhouse Lane (the B5160). The bridge hasn't changed, nor it seems have the buses. But the safety margin between the height of the bus and the height of the bridge has been reviewed. The bridge is now signed as 9 feet high and the buses are officially 9 feet and 3 inches tall. They can't pass under the bridge, and there's nowhere convenient for them to turn, so they run via Partington instead.
But changes are in hand!
Firstly, two LocalLink ("dial a ride") bus services have been extended to cover Dunham Massey - see https://tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/local-link and https://locallink-booking.tfgm.com/Registration.
Anyone can use them but you must register and book in advance, so it's not suitable for spontaneous "looks like a nice day" trips. You can register for the Dunham Massey service - https://tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/local-link/area/dunhammassey - which also covers Lymm and Partington. Or for the Partington service - https://tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/local-link/area/partington - which to be honest seems to be exactly the same thing. You don't need to live in Dunham Massey, or Partington, or Lymm; you can live on the Moon and still use this service.
The LocalLink buses take concession cards and Getmethere cards and System One cards and tickets, so no need to pay twice if you use two different bus routes. Or you can pay on the bus (provided you've booked). It's a flat fare of £2.65 per journey, and yes, they do still take cash.
Secondly, the Greater Manchester Transport Committee has been discussing the problem of serving Dunham Massey and Dunham Woodhouse. They're planning to support a new bus route numbered 280. It will run hourly during the day between Altrincham, Bowdon, Dunham Massey, Dunham Woodhouses, Warburton, Partington, Carrington, Ashton-on-Mersey and Sale. (And back again!)
Thirdly, Warrington bus CAT5A will be diverted slightly to serve the Rope & Anchor - but not the Vine. It will run from Warburton to Sinderland Road via the Dunham Road, then Henshall Lane, Red House Lane and Altrincham Crematorium. The CAT5 bus will continue to serve Partington.
The changes to the 280 and CAT5A routes should take effect at the end of April. The LocalLink buses will be revised at the same time. They will concentrate on providing a service in the early morning, the evening and on Sundays, when the 280 doesn't run.
The new timetables will be on Transport for Greater Manchester's website in April, at https://tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/service-changes.
In order to support Pubs and Clubs CAMRA are planning to publish a Good Beer Guide for 2022 but with a 20% reduction in entries.
As its not possible to hold a meeting to select our entries the Branch is E-Mailing the voting forms our members.
If you have not received your forms you can e-mail treasurer <at> thcamra.org.uk with your name and membership number she will forward you a form.
Note:-
If are a Branch Member and you did not receive a form its possible your contact details held by HQ are incorrect, or your preferences exclude Branch E-Mails.
If you are a member and wish to receive branch e-mails visit the members dashboard:-
https://camra.org.uk/my-membership/
and check under "my membership" that your E-Mail address and Branch stored by CAMRA are correct and that under "Marketing Preferences" you have ticked the e-mail option next to "I wish to be contacted by my local CAMRA branch on local events and activities." If you are undable to access the dashboard then you can ring the membership team on 01727 798440.
The pandemic has ruled out Manchester Beer & Cider Festival returning to the city in 2021. But for beer lovers in the city and beyond, the loss of the physical festival is the least of our worries.
Pubs up and down the country have been struggling to eek out any kind of existence since the first lockdown closed all their doors back in March 2020. And Greater Manchester’s pubs have been under lockdown or severe restrictions more than anywhere else in the country.
At Manchester Beer and Cider festival we love beer and cider. But it was the pubs that let us discover the great ales and gorgeous ciders while socialising with friends and family. Pubs are a vital part of our social fabric and we want to say as loud as we can that PUBS MATTER.
So at Manchester Beer and Cider Festival we have teamed up with five of Greater Manchester’s finest pubs to bring you the Manchester Pubs Matter Festival.
The Manchester Pubs Matter Festival will run from Wednesday 17th to Saturday 20th February 2021.
For details of how to participate see the MBCF web site
https://mancbeerfest.uk/what-is-the-manchester-pubs-matter-festival/
*** Update *** - Pubs can now sell alcohol provided its pre-ordered.
The new lockdown rules to be implemented from 5th November state that:-
"Hospitality venues like restaurants, bars and pubs must close, but can still provide takeaway and delivery services. However, takeaway of alcohol will not be allowed."
In previous lock downs offering alcohol for takeaway was a lifeline for many pubs, and particularly breweries. It is a baffling and damaging decision to remove this option, particularly when other businesses such as supermarkets can continue to sell takeaway alcohol. CAMRA has written to the goverment asking for this restriction to be removed. You can read the full text of this letter here:-
Concerned pub goers and beer drinkers in England can email their MP here:
https://camra.e-activist.com/page/68352/action/1
and ask for the removal of the takeaway restrictions, and for a proper support package for pubs and brewers to be implemented.
There over 50 small breweries in our LocalAle scheme who benifit from the Small Brewers Relief Scheme making it vital to a thriving beer market and consumer choice. Changes proposed by the government could see support removed from some of the smallest brewers. CAMRA is calling on the government to publish the full details of their proposals and ensure that no brewer loses relief they currently receive. You can help support small brewers by signing the petition at:-
The latest news from Trafford & Hulme CAMRA
News from pubs across the branch area.
Articles and features about branch activities & anything else beer, cider or pub related.
Reports on Branch Events including Pub Crawls, Brewerey and Festival Visits.
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