Pub & Club News

Frequent flyers of The Moorfield Sale will have undoubtedly noticed that it had closed for a while.

Well the good news is that it's reopened as.... just merely 'The Sale' (Imagine the discussion at the marketing meeting coming up with that one!)

Anyway, after sampling what they have to offer at the Sale I can confirm that there are 4 handpumps, however, the Old Golden Hen wasn't on despite the clip showing. When I pointed out the clip should be turned, this was met with silence and a blank stare. The practice of leaving pump signs visible when not on seems to be an industry norm now.

I tried the Deuchars (well kept but bland) and the Abbot Ale which was in decent form and just about merited a 3 score. 2 halves cost £4.60 so clearly not trying to compete with Wetherspoons and its ilk.

It seems like even more of a food pub now and beyond the bar, it has been given a restaurant feel (quite well done IMHO). Even the bar area, where the fruit machines remain, is geared up for food. There is a terrace and large patio area out the back in front of a large car park. This was very popular on the warm evening of my visit. 

Service looked stretched and somewhat fraught and I assumed this was understandable teething problems.

Overall, a significant improvement and very pleasing to see real ale back on. The continuity of this and its quality should ideally be regularly checked.

It was nice to see a few people drinking cask from my observation.

Watch this space!

The Branch visited the J.P.Joule in Sale for the first meeting of 2023 where we were welcomed by Kev Muldoon, the new Manager and Eric Fulham, Assistant Manager. Here are the members checking the quality of his cellar keeping...

Some  good news on the Pelican. On the 14th October the Planning Inspector reject an appeal by New Care(Altrincham) Ltd. against the non-determination by Trafford Council of their plans to demolish the Pelican and replace it with a Specialist Care Home. In his report the planning officer states:-

the loss of the Pelican Inn, a NDHA (non-designated herritage asset) of architectural merit with historic connections to the area, would result in unacceptable harm to the historic character of the area. Moreover, the size, appearance and detailing of the proposed replacement buildings would result in incongruous additions to the street scene, which would have unacceptable and detrimental effects on the character and appearance of the area.

and finds:-

"there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the public house is no longer capable of functioning as a community facility. Consequently, I find that the loss of the host building would reduce the ability for the local community to meet their typical social and cultural needs to its detriment"

the full report, which contains a great deal more information on the factors he used in reaching his decision can be downloaded from the Planning Inspectorate Appeals Casework Portal here:-

https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?caseid=3296154

On the 14th October 2022 Trafford rejected an application to demolish the Hare and Hounds stating that:-

1. The proposed development would lead to the total loss of a non-designated heritage asset which would have an adverse and irreversible impact on its significance. On balance, the benefits of the scheme would not outweigh the severe harm that would be caused to this non-designated heritage asset. As such the proposal is contrary to Policies L7 and R1 of the Trafford Core Strategy and the NPPF.

2 The proposed development would lead to the loss of a functioning public house as a local community facility, contrary to Paragraph 93 of the NPPF and the principles of sustainable development within it. In particular, the application fails to demonstrate that the existing public house is no longer viable.

You can view details of the application and the council's descision on thye Trafford Planning Portal here:-

https://pa.trafford.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=RB57M7QLHIX00&activeTab=summary

The applicants have leave to appeal.

Trafford & Hulme branch is one of several CAMRA branches participating a a trial of a Beer Quality Accreditation Scheme. Recognizing pubs consistently selling well-kept real ales is an important aspect of CAMRA’s campaigning to improve beer quality at the point of dispense and this new accreditation scheme is a means of recognizing quality. Pubs that gain accreditation can publicise the fact, including the display of the attached window sticker. The award is made based on scores entered into the National Beer Scoring Scheme by CAMRA members. CAMRA members are encouraged to score all real ale, cider and perry that they drink. For more information on this see the Beer Scoring page. 

The following pubs and clubs within the branch have currentlt achieved the requied standard and been awarded this accreditation. The scores will be reviewed on an regular basis, and additional pubs who attain the required standard will be added to the list.

Assembly (Urmston) 
Barking Dog (Urmston)
Beech Inn (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Beer House (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Carters Arms (Sale)
Cheshire Tap (Altrincham)
Chorlton Tap (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Church Inn (Flixton)
Costello's Bar (Altrincham)
Dulcimer (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Elektric (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Flixton Conservative Club (Urmston)
Font (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Hillary Step (Whalley Range)
J P Joule (Sale)
Jack In The Box (Altrincham)
Lord Nelson (Urmston)
Old Packet House (Altrincham)
Pi (Altrincham)
Prairie Schooner Taphouse (Urmston)
Sedge Lynn (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Strange Brew (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Tim Bobbin (Urmston)
Unicorn (Altrincham)

Trafford & Hulme branch is one of several CAMRA branches participating a a trial of a Beer Quality Accreditation Scheme. Recognizing pubs consistently selling well-kept real ales is an important aspect of CAMRA’s campaigning to improve beer quality at the point of dispense and this new accreditation scheme is a means of recognizing quality. Pubs that gain accreditation can publicise the fact, including the display of the attached window sticker. The award is made based on scores entered into the National Beer Scoring Scheme by CAMRA members. CAMRA memberes are encouraged to score all real ale, cider and perry that they drink. For more information on this see the Beer Scoring page. 

The following pubs and clubs within the branch have currentlt achieved the requied standard and been awarded this accreditation. The scores will be reviewed on an regular basis, and additional pubs who attain the required standard will be added to the list.

Beer House (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Cheshire Tap (Altrincham)
Chorlton Tap (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Costello's Bar (Altrincham)
Dulcimer (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Flixton Conservative Club (Urmston)
Font (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Garricks Head (Urmston)
Hillary Step (Whalley Range)
J P Joule (Sale)
Jack In The Box (Altrincham)
Lord Nelson (Urmston)
Old Market Tavern (Altrincham)
Pi (Altrincham)
Pi (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Prairie Schooner Taphouse (Urmston)
Railway (Sale)
Rustic (Altrincham)
Sedge Lynn (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy)
Sip Club (Stretford)
Swan with Two Nicks (Little Bollington)