Happy Valley Tap, Macclesfield

I was the only customer late on a recent Monday evening, which I suppose is fair enough. Being the last pub on my jaunt around Macc I was just glad to find it open, although I was a little put off by the pub dog that was wandering around in a nappy. Premium keg was available and the two banks of three hand pumps were drawing GK Old Speckled Hen and Sharp’s Doom Bar. The England pre Euro 24 match had just finished so all the televisions were off, although I imagine the football was being shown as this pub was fully bedecked in Euro bunting. Out the back is a decent sized decked area that will be great for the football if the weather holds. The woman serving was very friendly, but the pint of Staropramen (I think) was awful undrinkable egg. How the hell do you mess up a pint of Star? This could be a decent pub, but if you can’t serve drinkable lager then you’ve got no chance.

Happy Valley brewery tap. Fairly modern interior, no customers, cold. Two of their cask on, my Sworn Secret was pump knackered (NBSS 2). Had a chat to the friendly barman. The owner later appeared and asked the lad 20 questions, didn’t think to ask the only damned customer in the pub anything though and didn’t seem to think that it was unusual being empty either judging by the demeanour. Happy Valley? Closer to the TV series, maybe.

This is a Marstons pub at present, but the landlord is in negotiations to buy the freehold, and if successful has plans for stocking beers from independent breweries, and offering en suite accommodation in the rooms above. Most of the ground floor rooms have been knocked into one, but there is a small room to the front left which houses a pool table. The bar, unusually, faces to the rear, with most tables and chairs in the long room to the right. On my visit there were just two Marstons beers doubled up on the four hand pumps: Single Hop and Burton Bitter. I made the usual joke to the landlord about there being room for another hop or two in this singularly bland beer. It's quite pleasant here, if a little lacking in character. Perhaps a change of ownership will be beneficial in this respect too.