Kings Ransom, Sale

The front entrance of the King’s Ransom, on the corner of Northenden Road and Britannia Road, leads down to a small mezzanine seating area and then down to the bar area. These stairs can be avoided by entering via the large car park at the rear. The pub is on the bank of the Bridgewater Canal so the impressive split level canal side decked seating area is a major draw. At the foot of the aforementioned stairs is some seating and beyond is the centrally located bar that faces seating that runs along the front of the pub on the canal side. To the left of the bar, by the entrance from the car park, is more seating in the Ticket Office and Lounge. Televisions are located throughout, muted Champions League was being shown whilst some background music played during a recent midweek evening visit. The bar supports a standard and premium keg range and I counted eight hand pumps. These were drawing TT Landlord (x2), Greene King IPA (x2), Wily Fox’s Karma Citra (x2), Bank Top’s Pavilion Pale Ale and Maverick APA. This is a Greene King run pub so their corporate food menu is available. I thought this pub was in a good location and I bet it’s lovely sitting outside in the summer.

Visited while in Sale yesterday. I was the only customer in at 11:45 but a few more appeared shortly before 12. This is a Greene King pub so despite having 8 hand pulls there isn't always anything to get excited about, or so was my experience on my last visit a couple of years ago. Thanfully yesterday was better, with two of the pumps off and the remainder offering Greene King IPA, Old SPeckled Hen, Wily Fox Karma Citra, Rosie's Pig Cider, Weetwood Cheshire Cat and something suspiciously labelled as Ransom's Bitter which the cynical side of me would assume to be some slop by Greene King re-badged. There are also a few taps on the back wall where I spotted Brewdog Punk IPA and Estrella, plus something else I couldn't make out. In addition to this there was the usual type keggy stuff on a font. The pub has a nice smart interior and has definitely improved since my last visit when I recall it looking a bit run down with holes ripped in the seating and tables left full of empty glasses (and that was by no means at peak time). It is quite a big sprawling pub with different sections, and indeed different levels if you are coming in from the street level entrance. Not bad at all for a Greene King place. I might be being over generous but it's an 8/10 from me. My Karma Citra was very pleasant and £1.80 for a half. The guest ales save this place on the beer front.