Crown Inn, Stockport

I must admit to not being as enamoured of this pub as many people. It does have a very good range of ales (only 7 on my Friday afternoon visit) but it is simply too full of middle aged beer bores. I know I probably fall into this category myself, but I don't want to be surrounded. John B has described the pub fully earlier, so I won't repeat any of it. It's still a good pub and maybe I caught it at a bad time on my last visit. I've been several times before and will no doubt be in again in the future, but it just doesn't tick all the boxes for me.

Positioned virtually under Stockport’s massive railway viaduct and only a short walk from the nearby railway station is The Crown Inn, a pub that really should be on everyone’s itinerary. It’s a striking location – not without good reason has a photograph of the pub with the viaduct in the background featured on the front cover of all editions of the local CAMRA guide – “Viaducts and Vaults”. Outside we see that it was a former Boddington’s house. Note also the etched windows denoting Bar Parlour and Vault. A small curved bar counter serves a large multi-roomed area which retains many original features. A more basic area on the right – is this where the snooker table once was? – is rather spartan and, for some reason, has several photographs of Laurel and Hardy and also Del and Rodney with the iconic yellow three wheeled van. On the left hand side of the bar are two small cosy snugs which feature banquette seating, bell pushes, old fireplaces and traditional tables and chairs. In one of the rooms are several items pertaining to the brewing process – for example a collection of brass barrel taps and a poster depicting the inside of a brewery in 1748. Of note also is a splendid mirror commemorating the 150th anniversary in 1990 of Wards Sheaf Brewery. The largest drinking area is a back room directly behind the bar ( note the former serving hatches now glassed in ). This is similar in style to the two snugs and is decorated with brewery posters and adverts and has a collection of bottles high up on shelves. Note the old Boddingtons mirror. Further at the back is a large outside drinking yard which is dominated by the railway viaduct towering above it, but, depending on the weather and the time of day can be a real suntrap. This yard has several small marquees and is used for occasional barbeques and live music events. However, with the busy M60 motorway virtually at the foot of the garden, the large lorries thundering past can make the overall experience a bit like sitting in a motorway lay by. On the way to the yard, the walls of the corridor have a number of interesting framed newspaper cuttings telling us the history of Stockport viaduct. We learn how it was completed in 1840 and subsequently widened in 1887. A wide variety of real ales are available at this CAMRA National Pub of the Year 2009 runner up. On my two late March visits, there was an average of 10 beers on from the 13 pumps. These included Bollington Brewery White Nancy, Blue Monkey Sanctuary, Hornbeam Black Coral Stout, Phoenix Monkey Town Mild, Dark Star Hophead and Oakham Citra. I also remember seeing beers from Abbeydale, Pictish, Kelham Island and Copper Dragon and a rare sighting of Youngs London Porter. As expected from a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular, all beers sampled were in excellent condition. It was also noticeable how the prices undercut those charged by local Robinsons and Hydes houses ) eg – Hophead - £ 2.30p, Oakham Citra - £ 2.40p ) This really is one pub not to be missed