Bakers Vaults, Stockport

My first visit for a number of years, and apart from being quieter than I remember, being a Monday rather than a football Saturday, it was much as I remember. Ten hand pumps with eight beers and a cider. Most of the beers were Robinsons, including a pretty good Old Tom (NBSS 3.5). Most of tables are high ones, with just a few comfortable places, so this would not be a must visit for me.

Bakers Vaults has an island bar with a U-shaped counter that faces the entrance and a tall back bar full of spirits. With the high ceiling it actually looks quite cool. The bar supports ten handpumps in two banks of five, but four handpumps were unused during a recent Tuesday afternoon visit. This left a cask ale option of 4T’s Wired, Titanic’s Plum Porter, and Weston’s Rosie’s Pig Cloudy Cider alongside Robinson’s Trooper, Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde. I had half a Titanic which set me back £2, which was a little annoying because I’d just paid £2.10 for a pint of it in the Spoons around the corner. The bar also supports eight premium keg fonts. There is wooden flooring throughout and beer shelves with stools run down the left and right walls. Seating is found under the central front leaded window and high tables around the entrance. Some sofa seating is located along a thin strip behind the island bar. There are no televisions, but there was some background music playing. Out the front are some picnic tables behind a waist high fence that demarks it from the passing Market Place. I thought it was good in here and the surroundings are certainly better than the Spoons, but was it twice as good? I think not.

Visited on Friday lunchtime. Much quieter than on the Saturday evening and no issue getting in or getting a seat! 3 of the 5 guest hand pulls were on, offering Titanic Plum Porter Grand Reserve, Titanic Iceberg, and Rosie's Pig cider. The Robinsons pulls also had 3 of 5 on, offering Trooper, Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde. The Plum Porter Grand Reserve was magnificent, and service was friendly. Recommended.

Tried to visit on Saturday evening but the bouncer said it was packed inside and suggested we go across to the Board Head for a drink then come back and try again in 20-30 minutes. Certainly busy and popular, as a lot of places in Stockport town centre seem to be on a Saturday evening. We ended up going elsewhere but will be happy to try again next time we are in Stockport.

I've been in a handful of times over recent years, the most recent being on Friday lunch time after discovering that nearby Remedy was not serving food. I can only reinforce the previous reviews - a nice old building done up in a pleasant modern style with a central pillar to break things up a bit. Service was friendly and welcoming. At the bar are ten hand pulls, split across two banks of five with the right hand bank offering the Robinsons ales and the left hand bank offering the guests. Just one of the guests was off, so a decent line up. Titanic Plum Porter seems to be a regular feature. I'm not a massive fan of Robinsons beers so the guest ales definitely make this place worth visiting in my opinion. In terms of food it's mainly burgers and hot dog sausages, but decent quality and filling. A Robinsons pub that's worth a visit even if, like me, you're not mad keen on Robinsons beers.