Old Millstone, Macclesfield

Official site of Old Millstone - proper-pubs.com

Official site of Old Millstone - proper-pubs.com

Just me and 3 regulars at about 10 on a Sunday night. The landlady and the regulare were all eating chips at the bar, so not much of a welcome, more of a grudging "What would you like?". This is a Marstons house, so just a half of Burton Bitter was the answer. It's a very large pub with several separate areas including a games area with pool and darts. No music playing, no TVs turned on. It felt like I was intruding, so I left. Very poor.

The Old Millstone has an L-shaped bar counter that faces the entrance and some high tables before turning towards the left rear. There is a sunken seating area to the right and raised seating runs along the left wall. Steps at the rear lead up to a games area with a dartboard and pool table. All of the televisions throughout were off due to my recent midweek visit being after any football would have finished. There was some loud 1980’s music playing, not sure if it was off a jukebox. Standard and premium keg was available, as was warm crackling from a big container on the bar. I was tempted, but the thought of scratchings being heated up and then cooling down and then being heated up turns me off. The service was polite, but there are better pubs in the immediate area.

As I’d mis-timed the train I had 30 minutes to kill so in here I headed. A large ladz and laydeez circuit bar though it was just me and a couple of middle aged fellas watching the footy on a wet Tuesday night. Of passing interest was the middle-aged barmaid, who had more tattoos than a sailor. Both cask off. Must have been a Bermuda Triangle in here as my notes have disappeared and there’s no Untappd check-in either.

Marston's tied house with an internal layout on several different levels,two high sections up stairs from the bar,a lower area nominally for diners and a high pool room,with benches in a courtyard for supping outside.It all felt unloved and tacky with lots of pine furniture and sticky tables.Sky Sports was on mute ,while at the bar the choice was Doom Bar,Marstons EPA and Burton Bitter (faint tang).Food consisted mainly of pizzas and snacks. It had a laddish atmosphere and didn't feel inviting,I would swerve in future.