East Cheshire
Pubs of Excellence

We make awards to our best pubs, (largely on a seasonal basis, with some special awards too) to honour licensees who are doing the most for you, the drinker. Each is presented with a framed certificate as an indication to their customers that they are in a pub that has a commitment to quality.

Pub of the Year 2007; to be chosen shortly
Pub of the Year 2006;Prince of Wales, Macclesfield
Pub of the Year 2005;Ship, Wincle
Pub of the Year 2004;Prince of Wales, Macclesfield
Pub of the Year 2003:Beartown Tap, Congleton
Pub of the Year 2002:Beartown Tap, Congleton
Pub of the Year 2001;Poachers, Bollington
Pub of the Year 2000;Hanging Gate, Higher Sutton
Pub of the Year 1999;Waters Green Tavern, Macclesfield

Pub of the Season, Winter 2007. St Dunstan, Langley
Pub of the Season, Autumn 2007, Cock & Pheasant, Langley
Pub of the Season, Summer 2007, Harrington Arms, Gawsworth
Pub of the Season, Spring 2007, Black Swan, Lower Withington
Pub of the Season, Winter 2006, Lord Eldon, Knutsford
Pub of the Season, Autumn 2006, Rifleman's Arms, Wilmslow
Pub of the Season, Summer 2006; Vale, Bollington
Pub of the Season, Spring 2006; Railway View, Macclesfield
Pub of the Season, Winter 2005;Queen's Head, Congleton
Pub of the Season, Autumn 2005; Crown Inn, Lower Peover
Pub of the Season, Summer 2005; Swettenham Arms, Swettenham
Pub of the Season, Spring 2005; Plough, Prestbury Road, Macclesfield
Pub of the Season, Autumn 2004; Robin Hood, Rainow
Pub of the Season, Summer 2004; Stag, Great Warford
Pub of the Season, Spring 2004; Prince of Wales, Macclesfield
Pub of the Season, Winter 2003; Congleton Leisure Centre Bar
Pub of the Season, Summer 2003;Ship, Wincle
Pub of the Season, Spring 2003; Waters Green Tavern, Macclesfield
Pub of the Season, Winter 2002; Dolphin, Macclesfield
Pub of the Season, Autumn 2002, Highwayman, Rainow
Pub of the Season, Summer 2002; Dog Inn, Peover Heath
Pub of the Season, Spring 2002, Beartown Tap, Congleton

The Jim Bowden Award 2004 British Flag, Macclesfield
The Jim Bowden Award 2002 Bull's Head, Kerridge
The Jim Bowden Award 2001 Castle, Macclesfield

Outstanding Contribution to Real Ale Award 2005; Water's Green Tavern, Macclesfield
Conversion to Cask Award 2004; Brewer's Arms, Macclesfield

Pub of the Year 2004   Prince of Wales Macclesfield

Our top award for 2004 went to the Prince of Wales opposite the Silk Museum in Roe Street, Macclesfield. Landlady Catherine Higginbotham ensures that the pub has a friendly, welcoming and lively atmosphere and attracts a range of ages and types, many drawn by the good selection of up to 6 real ales, always including Bass and Caledonian Deuchar's IPA. By coincidence, on the evening of the award,a representative of Caledonian Brewery had just presented Catherine with a special handpump, only awarded to those licensees who sell more than 70 barrels of IPA a year.

		Pub of the Year 2002 and 2003 Beartown Tap, Congleton In an unprecedented decision, the prestigious award was made for the second consecutive year to the famous Beartown Tap in Congleton. Spiritual home of the Beartown Brewery, this friendly pub is deservedly popular with beer enthusiasts from far and wide, as evidenced by the wall full of awards. Not only can you find as many as five of the home brewery's ales on the bank of handpumps, but there is often a guest beer obtained by way of a swap scheme, and traditional cider on draught. With two rooms in addition to the bar, and a further room upstairs that can be made available for functions, there is room for everyone. The Tap is a jukebox-free zone, and the only sound is the contented hum of conversation. A regular entry in the Good Beer Guide, this is as close as we can get to giving a guarantee that you will find a good pint.

The Macclesfield and East Cheshire branch of CAMRA has voted the Poacher's Inn on Ingersley Road in Bollington as its 2001 Pub of the Year. Set is right on the edge of Bollington, it is overlooked by the Peak District National Park and is often overlooked by visitors too - but those who stop can enjoy the pleasures of a convivial pub selling exceptional real ale. The Poachers is now the only independent pub in Bollington, being family-owned and run by Rob and Helen Ellwood. It serves two guest beers supplemented by Timothy Taylor's Landlord and Boddingtons Bitter. There is always an interesting choice of real ales although Rob tries to have a local brewery as one of the guests. Rob, a member of CAMRA, is a keen real ale drinker with an interest in breweries and beers that goes beyond the merely professional. Most of the guest beers come from small breweries and he researches each one, often using the internet. The result is a folder in a corner of the pub containing as much information on each beer as he can gather. And for those people who want to know a little more about the beer Rob is always happy to chat. The Poachers is a much improved pub. It may not have the barrel turnover to rival some town pubs who offer a wider range of real ales, but its ever-changing selection of high quality ale mean that even the locals can go in with a sense of pleasant anticipation, wondering what is in store. The credit for keeping locals and visitors happy goes to Rob and Helen who run an excellent pub with obliging staff, thoroughly deserving to be Pub of the Year 2001.

East Cheshire Pub of the Year 2000 Hanging Gate Higher Sutton The award for the 2000 Pub of the Year was made to the Hanging Gate at Higher Sutton. The award is made to honour the landlord and staff of the pub, which in the view of members of the public and CAMRA has put a substantial effort into not only the keeping of fine beer but into the feeling of the pub itself. The winner is chosen from a field comprising the previous year’s four Pub of the Season award winners together with last year’s winner; all very worthy contenders. The McGrath family- Paul, Peter, Pat, and Becky- all throw themselves into the running of the pub with unbounded enthusiasm. This creates a very caring welcoming atmosphere, with personal attention to detail. The beers are from Manchester’s Hydes brewery and include their Bitter, Jekyll’s Gold and their excellent new seasonal range. On this occasion, it was “Down the Hatch”, a 4.2% ABV Bitter, and very tasty it was. Superb food at reasonable prices and real fires complete a great little pub for those dark winter evenings, while in summer, the food and drinks can be enjoyed in the garden and bottom bar, while admiring the panoramic views across the Cheshire hills and Plain. The pub was packed on the evening of the award with a good turnout from Hydes, local members of CAMRA and pub regulars. All the pub staff were there too, showing they are very much part of the team.

Pub of the Season Awards

Autumn Pub of the Season 2005 was the Crown Inn, Lower Peover. This is a traditional village pub, set on a bend in a country lane, with cobbles at the front. The first room the visitor will see on entering is a stone-floored vault, complete with dart board, and usually a good complement of locals. The bar itself boasts seven hand pumps, with a good range of real ales. Tim Taylor's Landlord and Deuchars IPA are amongst the regular beers, alongside Tetley Dark Mild. In addition, there is a regularly changing guest beer, often sourced from one of our Cheshire brewers. Landlady Anne West officiates in the kitchen, producing home-cooked food, using local produce wherever possible. Her son, Andy takes care of the cellar, with such skill that the Crown has been a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide.

Spring Pub of the Season 2005 was the Plough at Prestbury Road, Macclesfield. This pub, on the old Prestbury Road (now a dead end), surrounded by red brick terraced housing, provides an outstanding range of up to five beers from a variety of breweries, and is well appreciated by the locals. On the presentation night, the Young's Bitter went down well, as did the offering from Moorhouses and all the beers were on good form. Mark has a passionate interest in the Titanic, and the walls are covered by a variety of posters and mementoes.

The Summer 2004 Pub of the Season was the Stag at Great Warford between Alderley Edge and Mobberley. Licensee Laurence Hobday is a local man and is passionate about good quality food and drink. The pub is part-tied to the Punch Taverns chain, but Laurence has a degree of freedom.The Stag serves cask ales, including guest beers from all over the country. Laurence says "I want to strike back against the big pub chains serving boil-in-the-bag food. I don't think people are getting enough quality, freshness and variety. I think all the big chain pubs look the same inside, and the catering industry is notorious for a fast turnover of staff. We pride ourselves in getting good staff and using local suppliers." Poultry comes from Wilmslow and meat from Chelford, with local free range eggs also being used. This pub has been in the care of Laurence Hobday since October 2002, and the award is considered a fitting recognition of the work he has put in to improve the general condition of the pub, the beer quality, and the food range. The Stag's Head stands on its own on the outskirts of Great Warford, near to the David Lewis Centre, many of whose staff use it as a local. There is a good early doors trade from a group of regulars, whilst casual trade is attracted for lunch and evening meals. Real Ales on offer are Boddingtons, very popular with the locals, Black Sheep Bitter and Taylor's Landlord (stronger beers are avoided as the vast majority of drinkers need to use cars to reach the pub). Why Pub of the Summer? Its situation means that summer evening drinks can be enjoyed in the attractive garden whilst looking out across open fields with grazing horses, with the added bonus of barbecues (not horse!) on Sunday lunchtimes.

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The Summer 2003 Pub of the Season award was made to the Ship at Wincle, during its August Beer Festival. Under energetic new management, it has undergone one major improvement with the installation of a permanent cask mild, in the feline form of Moorhouse's Black Cat, a former Champion Beer of Britain. In addition to the other regular real ales, a regularly changing guest beer adds variety. So impressed has the local CAMRA group been by the commitment of the licensees to the cause of good beer and good pubs, that the decision to make this prestigious award was made unanimously.

The Spring 2003 Pub of the Season award was made to the Waters Green Tavern in central Macclesfield. This is the only pub in nearly 5 years to have received the award more than once. It was the branch's first pub of the season in 1999 and followed this by becoming pub of the year. Macclesfield and East Cheshire Campaign for Real Ale covers a large area fom Wilmslow to Knutsford to Congleton, including Bollington and Rainow, so to win such an award in an area blessed with real ale pubs is an achievement. To do so twice demonstates the sustained quality of the beer at the Waters. The Waters Green Tavern, however, not only sells a large range of well kept beers, but also real cider and serves excellent food at lunchtimes. It is a real local, with many pub teams based in the pub. If you could sit in the Waters for a week, eventually you would probably see every real ale lover you know at the bar! In addition, CAMRA has made a unique 'Outstanding Contribution to Real Ale' award to the Waters Green Tavern. A previous recipient of both Pub of the Season and Pub of the Year awards, it was felt this pub, and Brian and Tracey, deserved recognition as the mecca for local real ale enthusiasts. A recent development has been the regular appearance of dark beers such as Bazen's Black Pig and Phoenix Black Bee honey porter- making an already outstanding pub…well, even more outstanding.

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The Winter 2002 Pub of the Season award was made to the Dolphin in Macclesfield.
The Dolphin is a fine example of a traditional pub serving the local community while making visitors welcome. There are 7 pub teams and we could only make the award on the chosen night because one of the darts teams was away and the other had a bye! The pub is known for the food offered on match nights. Since his arrival John has shown himself willing to do anything to help- one of his team members told us nothing is too much trouble for John. He has prevailed upon Robinsons to put on extra hand pumps, so there are now 5, meaning he can always keep a regular supply of beer, and he has extended the range of real ales. As a Winter pub, what more could you want; gleaming brass and copper, a real fire, a welcoming atmosphere, and OLD TOM!

The Autumn 2002 Pub of the Season award was made to the Highwayman at Rainow. Since taking over Susan and Rob have swiftly had a positive impact taking an already good pub on to even better things. They have opened up a separate room as a restaurant serving an interesting selection of good quality food.
Without making any alterations to the pub they have increased trade enabling them to add another real ale. An excellent pint of Lancaster Bomber now supplements the enjoyable Thwaites bitter.
The Highwayman provides a timely reminder that rural pubs can still be successful if run by enterprising businessmen who want to run a successful pub, instead of people who want to run the pub down, turn it into a private home and make a fast buck. They have also illustrated that there is no need to make sweeping changes to the fabric of our lovely country pubs. They can be successful just as they are, selling good quality real ale. So thank you Susan and Rob and best wishes for many years to come.

The Summer Pub of the Season 2002 award was made by Macclesfield & East Cheshire CAMRA to the Dog Inn at Peover Heath, near Knutsford. The Dog is a large, comfortable, rambling building, part of a long row of 18th century cottages. Converted to the New Inn early this century as can be seen from the photograph in the front room, later renamed the Gay Dog and finally simply The Dog as a result of the modern slant on the former nomenclature! There are three main sections; the tap-room (with pool table and darts board) popular with younger clientele, the friendly lounge bar and an extensive eating area. In fact the demand for food has necessitated two evening "sittings" at weekends, so that booking is advisable. There are old beams and dried flowers throughout, some wonderful photos of old village life, and a real fire. Outside the front are wooden benches nestling amongst the justifiably famous array of flower tubs and hanging baskets. Entertainers feature monthly, and Steve hosts popular quiz nights on Thursdays and Sundays. There is a daily one hour supper licence extension on the bar. The dining areas are non-smoking. The Dog has featured in the Good Pub Food Guide. The meals are created from locally grown produce.
Weetwood Best Cask Bitter is now served to support a local brewery. This is a pub which replaced Boddingtons with a cask mild! Moorhouses Black Cat was selected to complement the Weetwood Old Dog which was sold at the time and has proved so popular that it has become a permanent feature. The third real beer is Manchester-brewed Hyde's Bitter. Often, a fourth cask beer is to be found, often in the shape of Copper Dragon. Unsurprisingly, the Dog is a Good Beer Guide regular and a Flagship entry in the Out Inn Cheshire local guide.
Since 2002, there has been a summer beer festival in a marquee in the car park. The Third Annual Dog Beer Festival will be over the weekend of 31 July and 1st August, 2004.

The Spring 2002 Pub of the Season award was made to the Beartown Tap, Willow Street Congleton. Set on the Buxton Road from the centre of Congleton, this is the home base of one of our favourite microbreweries. Typically, five of Beartown's ales will grace the hand pumps, and an additional guest beer and cask cider are usually to be found. All this, in a friendly atmosphere. A well-merited recognition!

The Jim Bowden Award

The Jim Bowden Award was made to the British Flag on Coare Street in Macclesfield in January 2004.

The 2002 Jim Bowden award was made to the Bull's Head, Kerridge in June 2002. The Bull's Head is a lovely traditional local in the Robinsons tradition, serving Robinsons Best Bitter and Hatters Mild. It provides real ale in a quiet atmosphere, where good conversation is valued above the noise of a juke box. Pub games are encouraged with several teams competing in local competitions. A homely, friendly atmosphere that welcomes all types of people and encourages them to mingle and exchange ideas. It is the sort of unsung, welcoming local pub that may not win any prestigious national awards, but is a home-from-home for many local people, and a few from further afield. The sort of pub very much appreciated and enjoyed by Jim Bowden.

Be careful when leaving since the steps are steep and more than one local CAMRA member has experienced an unpleasantly quick and painful descent!

The Castle on Churchwallgate in Macclesfield was given the Jim Bowden Award in 2001. This award is made annually in honour of a former local stalwart of the branch, and recognises the qualities he held so dear in a traditional pub; good real ale, friendly people and no extraneous music to spoil the pleasure of conversation. We learn that the Castle tenancy is up for sale. We fervently hope that this will not result in any change to , or heaven forbid, the closure of, this cracking town pub. Visit it while you can. We will bring you news as we hear it.

The Castle is an unspoilt gem, up the cobbled street behind Waters Green, and must be visited by anyone who likes pubs. In addition to the Courage Directors and the Theakston Best Bitter, they usually have Theakston Mild, but ironically when the award was made, the pub had been drunk dry of mild by visiting beer lovers from afar, in town for the Macclesfield Beer Festival.