News & Features

The second Manchester Beer & Cider Festival will open to the public on Wednesday 21st Janaury. Organised by CAMRA Greater Manchester Branches, in one year it established itself as the premier beer event in the North with over 10,000 customers and an unrivalled selection of beers & ciders.

The festival is entirely staffed by festival volunteers who are needed from Friday 16th to Monday 26th. Whether you can help out for the entire 11 days or just a few hours, all help is appreciated and there are a range of "perks" available. To find out more and to put your name down, visit www.manchesterbeerfestival.org.uk/staffing

The ever improving Real Ale scene in Flixton has been boosted by the addition of two pubs that were, for a long time, “Cask Ale Deserts”.

The arrival, just over 12 months ago, of Vicky & Brian O’Keefe as the new management team at The Garrick’s Head on Moorside Road (virtually opposite Trafford General Hospital) has really helped in getting real ale established in the pub and the quality of the beers served has already resulted in it being awarded the Cask Marque.

Three handpumps now grace the single long bar, and recent offerings have included Wells Bombardier, Sharp’s Doombar, Wychwood Hobgoblin and beers from Thwaites and Young’s.

The beers are proving popular with both their regular and new customers.  

Already well known locally for its live music and its screening of live sports, The Garrick is now gaining itself a well deserved reputation for its choice and quality of cask ale.

From The Garrick, a short stroll down to the other end of Brook Road brings you to Flixton Road and to the Bird i’th Hand.

The Rope & Anchor on Paddock Lane in Dunham Massey has just gained Cask Marque accreditation for their real ales.

The JW Lees house is best known as a dining venue but has been making a major effort to improve the quality of their ale offering which has culminated in the Cask Marque. They have joined a growing number of Lees pubs which offer 50p off a pint of cask ale every Monday.

They also have a presence on both twitter (@Rope_anchor) and facebook (facebook.com/RopeAndAnchor) where they post news of changes to their beers & menu as well as special events at the pub.

There are new tenants at Holt's Volunteer Hotel in Sale. Former hosts Jim & Tracy Roberts left the Cross Street pub at the end of September and have been replaced by Debby & Eddie Scott.

The couple have a long association with Sale having moved to the area from the North East of England 26 years ago and are really pleased to be back in the area they view as home. They have been in the pub trade for many years with an impressive list of pubs behind them - Stretford's Melville, The Kingsway in Levenshulme to name just two.

They have moved to Sale from another Holt's pub, The Grafton Arms in the shadow of Manchester Royal Infirmary. The couple don't have plans to make significant changes to the pub - the Thursday night quiz will remain as will Saturday's disco & karaoke - and their long experience should make sure that the ale remains in the same excellent condition.