Grapes, Stockport

The Grapes is a Robinsons pub with a farmhouse feel that I imagine was once multi-roomed, but the walls have now been knocked through. The bar is found to the left where a wooden serving counter faces raised seating along the front left windows. A dartboard is squeezed in between the counter and the left-hand wall. The four hand pumps were doubled up with Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde, be warned, there is a minimum card spend of £5. To the right of the entrance is a good sized seating area and in the right rear is a pool table. There was some background music playing and live entertainment is advertised for every weekend when no chavwear is permitted after 20:00. I though the service was friendly, and although knocked through the interior does still retain some character and a degree of separation. I though this was a decent pub for the area.

Although this pub is still listed on Camra's inventory of heritage pub interiors, it is now marked as "Not a historic pub interior of any importance", which I can't recall having seen before. The photo there shows a 1960s counter which may have been of some interest, but it is no longer there, the pub having clearly had a recent refurbishment. Quite honestly, and I say this as one who likes to see a historic interior, this is probably a change for the better for all users of the pub, as it's looking quite smart and feels comfortable. Still a Robinsons pub, there were four hand pumps with Unicorn (x2), Trooper and Dizzy. My note made at the time say that the Unicorn was in "top condition", meaning that it was as good as it gets. It was only after I had sat down that I saw a notice about "dress code", which had things like no track suit bottoms or shorts or baseball caps (oops). I apologised to the woman behind the bar as I returned my empty glass, but she admitted that she hadn't even noticed what was on my head when I entered.

Very pleasant Robbie's pub with multiple rooms including a function/meeting room which can be hired. There's a main lounge which is split into 3 areas by wooden dividers. To the left there's an area with a dartboard and to the right there's a pool table, there's also a jukebox. There's a slightly neglected looking room to the right with pinholes all over the walls. There's a patio and car parking to the rear. 2 handpumps, but only Unicorn actually available which was in decent nick. This is a neat locals pub and I'd be happy to calli in again.