Kings Ransom, Sale

The cask offering has been much reduced since my last visit a few years ago, now down to just four hand pulls, offering Greene King and other fairly safe national brands: Greene King IPA, Deuchars IPA, Greene King Fireside, and TT Landlord. A half of Fireside set me back £2.50 and wasn't at all bad for a Greene King ale. If they hadn't have had that to try, I probably would have left it. The pub is split level and as you enter from the road there is a curious space that can be booked before you descend the stairs - but further investigation revealed this to be a small room with one table for maybe six or eight - perhaps thing cosy dining or office meeting rather than full on party zone. The pub looks like it may have had a makeover fairly recently, but nothing too radical. Toilets were modern and clean. Fairly quiet just after midday on Friday but a couple of tables were occupied, mainly diners. Not really somewhere to go if you're seeking out interesting cask beer these days.

Official site of Kings Ransom - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Official site of Kings Ransom - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Canal-side Greene King pub / restaurant retaining a little character despite the work of the corporate makeover artists... Anyway, it has a split-level interior as you move down from road to waterway level plus a sizeable beer garden with various shelters. The selection of real ales from a bank of eight handpumps comes as a bit of a surprise, since the IPA is supplemented by a pair of Timothy Taylor beers - Landlord and Boltmaker - Crafty Fox from Wilyfox and Tatton's Indian Summer (£4.05).