Here is the Talking Bull “Good Pub Guide” to Altrincham ahead of the Bank Holiday Monday fixture. Thanks, as always, to our resident fanzine Hereford Hophead – Ian Mann.
ALTRINCHAM, Monday 22nd April
Easter Monday should represent a good opportunity to savour the beery delights of Altrincham.
Costello’s Bar at 18 Goose Green, WA14 1DW is situated behind the new hospital and is the tap house for the nearby Dunham Massey brewery. Modern in feel it has seven hand-pumps dispensing beers from Dunham Massey’s diverse and extensive range, plus occasional guests. No food, but this sounds like a must for the discerning drinker. Reviews for the beer are consistently good.
The Jack in The Box is situated inside Altrincham’s Market Hall in Market Street, WA14 1SA. This is an outlet for the Blackjack brewery of Manchester, another brewery with a large and broad range of beers. The bar also stocks real cider plus guest ales from other local breweries such as Track and Squawk, also both of Manchester. Apparently, the casks are housed in a chilled ‘cellar’ behind the bar, which makes it sound a little like our own Beer in Hand. It all sounds very interesting and well worth checking out.
The Cheshire Tap at 36 Railway Street, WA14 2RE is a long, thin bar with modern, minimalist decoration. It has four hand-pumps dispensing ales from Cheshire breweries, among them Poynton, RedWillow and Robinson’s. Real cider is also available.
If you’re looking for something to eat; Pi at 18 Shaws Road, WA14 1QU sells Pieminister Pies with mash and peas. Those of you that have visited the Chequers in Leominster will be familiar with the range of pies on offer. As regards beer Pi offers Tatton Blonde alongside two other locally sourced beers from breweries such as First Chop and RedWillow and, from a little further away, Saltaire. The pub itself is small but has additional seating upstairs plus outside pavement seating if the weather is good.
Altrincham also has a Wetherspoons, the Unicorn at 1–7 Ashley Road, WA14 2DP. The reviews for this particular branch of Tim Martin’s empire are somewhat mixed and it wouldn’t appear to be up to the same standards as its counterparts in Spennymoor and Southport.
Plenty riding on the game for Altrincham and so it should be a competitive and enjoyable way to bring the curtain down on the away programme of an interesting, and sometimes divisive, season.
Ian Mann – THE HEREFORD HOPHEAD
