George & Dragon, Heaton Chapel, Stockport

Official site of the George & Dragon - www.greeneking.co.uk

Official site of the George & Dragon - www.greeneking.co.uk

I missed a train from Heaton Chapel; never mind, they're every 15 minutes. The next one was cancelled, leaving me a half hour wait in near zero temperatures. Never mind, the Heaton Hops is open from 4pm and only five minutes from the station. Except that it wasn't open, and the next pub was this one at the crossroads. Four hand pumps, with three ciders on one, plus Abbot, GK IPA on the next and Old Golden Hen on the third. But "coming soon" was written beneath all except the 3.4% "IPA", so I started perusing the back shelves, settling for a Remy Martin to make me feel better. I'm sure this is a very nice pub, and there were a dozen regulars here at 5pm having a chat, with some quiet music in the background. But not for me, not today. (No rating given, to be fair.)

The George & Dragon is a large L-shaped Greene King pub with a central L-shaped serving counter that supports standard keg alongside Peroni and Madri as well as four hand pumps that were drawing their Scrum Down, IPA and Old Speckled Hen alongside Lilley’s Mango that was ‘coming soon’. High tables are found around the counter and some raised seating is situated in the central corner with standard seating up one side and a pool table the other. Citeh were playing in a Champions League match on the televisions throughout so it was busy during my recent Tuesday evening visit, but I was served promptly by a polite member of staff. This isn’t somewhere I’d make a special trip to revisit, but it’s perfectly acceptable as somewhere to watch the match.

Fine-looking Greene King pub in a prominent position on the crossroads, with plenty of interesting detailing on both facades. The multi-room interior has been remodelled and refurbished over the years, but the more traditional wood-panelled seating area to the left of the bar remains a feature. Apart from that, this appears to be a thriving local, offering food (from a standard menu) but also retaining a pool table, etc. Disappointingly, though, just Yardbird (£4.25) available from the five handpumps on a Friday evening, although reversed clips for IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Old Golden Hen and a guest Tribute were visible.

This is a massive pub. It's all one broken out room but with lots of different ares. There's a pool table, dartboard and lots of TV screens. There's a small function room to the left as you enter. Futher to the left is an outside beer patio which is a real sun trap. 6 handpumps on the bar, but only GK IPA, Robinsons Trooper & a real cider available. The Trooper was in decent nick. Quite busy on my Friday, late afternoon visit. Lots of high vis jackets and a large group of painters having a loud, post work drink. This is a workingmans local in a high income area.