The Trafford & Hulme Branch Pub of the Season for Winter 2013/14 is The Wharf situated in the Castlefield area of Manchester.
The City Centre is fortunate in being able to boast a number of top quality real ale outlets with some notable ones located around the perimeter of Castlefield.
However, for a long time, a foray down into the actual Castlefield basin was a rather unrewarding experience for the cask ale drinker. Thankfully, that situation changed in July 2012 with the arrival of The Wharf.
Huge credit should be given to owners, the Brunning & Price Group, for taking on a derelict and somewhat uninspiring building and turning it into a real feature of the area (the building was purpose built in 1998 to house the Jackson’s Wharf pub which closed in 2005).
The Wharf consists of two floors, the top level is set up to provide a more formal dining experience whilst the ground floor, with its various little alcoves and cosy corners, offers the customer that “proper pub” feeling.
B&P are a company who take cask ale seriously, preferring to use smaller independent breweries as well as encouraging those local to their pubs and it’s a philosophy that can be clearly seen in operation at The Wharf.
Entering the pub from the large outside terrace you are immediately welcomed by the sight of a long bar boasting a total of 12 handpumps, double the quantity from when it first opened. The beers on offer are always varied and interesting and include their very own house beer “Brunning & Price Original Bitter” brewed locally by Heywood’s Phoenix Brewery.
The friendly and knowledgeable staff led by Manager Siobhan Youngs included, until recently, Deputy Manager and cask ale enthusiast Dave Green leading the cellar team. With Dave now installed as Manager of B&P’s newest pub, Worsley Old Hall, the task of ensuring that his excellent work continues has fallen to his successor Chris Beswick. Chris assures us that he will be looking to build upon The Wharf’s growing reputation for providing quality real ale.
We hope you can all join us in congratulating Siobhan and her team and maybe seeing for yourself why The Wharf is well deserving of the title Trafford & Hulme Branch Pub of the Season Winter 2013/14.