Red Bull, Stockport

The bar of the Red Bull faces the front entrance whilst supporting four hand pumps that were drawing Robinson’s ales. There’s also nine keg fonts with a selection of premium keg alongside Carling and Strongbow. Directly to the left of the entrance is a small flagstone floored banquette seating area with a log burner in fireplace, that I suppose could be called a snug. To the right is a room with a pool table and dartboard. In the front left corner is a sunken seating area and up the left wall is a mix of seating. The transition between the old on the right and new on the left is very evident. I didn’t spot any televisions, but there was some background music playing. My visit was just before 22:00 on a recent Tuesday when the pub was closing up, thankfully I just made the last bell.

What appears to have once been a tiny pub seems to have spread out into the buildings either side. It's got some steep and worn steps leading inside where the bar is at the back of the central part. The whole place seems to be split into two levels with areas in each of the three buildings at both levels. It was fairly quiet on my Thursday early afternoon visit. There are five hand pumps but with two unused there was a choice of Unicorn, Trooper or Blonde James Blonde. I went for the Unicorn (£3.40) which was in good nick. I thought this place was pleasant enough.

I first came in here years ago when it was a small, neat pub. It isn't anymore, it's been broken through into the building next door and is now a large pub with several small areas, in what is really one big room. It's been done very well and is now a very smart looking pub. The first thing I thought as I entered was that it stank of sewers. I thought it may have been the nicotine bouncer in the entrance, but the smell pervaded the whole pub. I have no idea how the many people who were eating dealt with it. I wouldn't have ordered food, the smell was that bad. This is supposed to be Robinsons flagship pub, so it was rather disappointing to find that only 3 ales were available on their 5 handpumps. Just to add to the confusion, the 2 that weren't on hadn't had their pump clips turned round. The Hartleys XB was a decent pint though. As a flagship pub, it should be so much better than it is I'm afraid.

This isn't a small pub anymore. A Robinsons with the usual suspects. The layout is the bar as you enter then different drinking areas left or right. Its a good pub