The Vale Cottage, Gorton, Manchester

The Vale Cottage has the feel of an out-in-the-sticks country pub, but it’s a minute walk up a muddy path from the busy A57. This isn’t somewhere I would have stumbled across if I hadn’t been looking for it. The restrictive winter opening times are displayed in the entrance, best to check before visiting. I was lucky as my visit was just after the doors opened on a recent Tuesday evening. Current winter times are Mon/Wed/Thu: 12:00-16:00; Tue: 12:00-16:00 & 19:00-23:00; Fri-Sun: all day. The entrance leads to a small tartan carpeted seating area and to the left a couple of steps lead up to the bar area where a table sits in front of a front window. The bar counter up the left faces a log fireplace and more seating is found at the rear. The bar counter wraps around to the left where it faces a narrow corridor with some ledge seating. Standard keg was available alongside three hand pumps. TT Boltmaker was off, but their Landlord was available alongside Bridge Beers Brewery’s Dark Ruby Mild. The service was friendly. This place is worth a look if passing.