Old Market Tavern, Altrincham

Steps lead up to the front entrance where a public bar housing a pool table and two dartboards can be found to the right. The main bar is found on the right wall and it faces a couple of seating areas up the left. At the left rear is another area that was set up with band instruments, live music is a regular event here. There is another area in the right rear behind the bar, but I didn’t investigate. The bar supports eleven hand pumps, but only JW Lees MPA and Cross Bay Zenith IPA were available. There was a bit of line cleaning going on so I will mention that Stockport Brewing’s Cascade and Storm Brewing’s Isobar IPA were also named on the ale chalk board. A limited standard and premium keg range was also available. The Old Market Tavern has the feel of a music pub with a distressed lived in feel. I’m not one for live music so I would probably walk past if in the area again.

The Old Market Tavern is still open, but sadly has gone right downhill and is currently a shadow of its former self. 11 hand pulls at the bar, with a paltry one in use last night, offering up Jennings Cumberland. Even my mate who is a lager drinker struggled to find something to drink and eventually settled on the Grolsch, which was not obviously available as the tap had a hand written sticker over it. There was no atmosphere at all, though that said it was a Tuesday evening so not prime drinking time, though there was a small group of what I would assume to be regulars round the far end of the bar. Overall it just feels a bit neglected. Lights with bulbs blown, others with bulbs that are cool white in the same fitting as warm white bulbs, and the furniture just didn't seem to fit in with what is an old traditional building. In the raised area the TV had been taken off the wall but just left propped up on its end against the wall. There was a broken curtain pole with tape round it propped up. One table had a dusty bowl half filled with pot pourri. In its current form the pub just oozes sadness. There is a lot of potential here to make it a great pub in a lovely old building.

This is a former coaching house, and I assume where Spoons nicked the name for their dull house from. The interior has been knocked through so it is effectively a U-shaped open room, in brick, purple and white. One area had live music, which was heavy rock/metal and was pretty good. Another, raised area, where we were, had a TV (not on), a brick fireplace, and sold a few second hand books. They do food, but i didn't eat and, as Malden man says, it was very reasonable. Service was good considering the place was busy with the music fans. Beer: there were 11 real ales on, however, I couldn't see them all (there is a board). I had a good Dunham Massey Porter. A great pub and best choice of the day. A must.