Old Hall Hotel, Sandbach

The Old Hall is a rather spectacular and historic building sitting alongside one of the main roads leading into Sandbach town centre. It is owned by the Brunning & Price chain. There is a fairly large car park to the front, but this was full when we arrived. The bar is in a room to the right as you enter, with room used mainly by diners to the left and even further to the right. Behind the bar itself is a further large dining space, also with access to the bar and with its own set of handpulls. This space is sub-divided into a number of different sections. Toilets are up a rather plush set of carpeted stairs (this is no Wetherspoon's) and when you see the strange angle of some of the woodwork, you question how much you've actually had to drink! Regular beers here are Brightside Brunning & Price Traditional Bitter & Timothy Taylor Boltmaker. Guests were Weetwood Sandbach Blonde, RedWillow Headless, Derby It Would Be Rudi Not To & Beartown Polar. There was no sign of a real cider, unless it was hidden in the rear bar. Another decent pub that is definitely worth a visit if you are ever in Sandbach.

Official site of Old Hall Hotel - www.brunningandprice.co.uk

Official site of Old Hall Hotel - www.brunningandprice.co.uk

Re-visited earlier this week. Still has the six hand pulls at the bar, although the ale selection seemed a bit more 'safe' than on my previous visit nearly four years ago. The line-up consisted of Weetwood Cheshire Cat, TT Landlord, Salopian Shropshire Gold, Coach House Gunpowder Mild, Castle Rock Harvest Pale and Thornbridge Jaipur. The Gunpowder Mild set me back £2.15 for a half and the card reader was automatically brought over, so not sure if they are taking cash these days. It feels upmarket yet retains an older worlde traditional feel both inside and out. It's dog friendly and dog snacks are available in a jar on entry, and board games are also available in this area. Worth a visit, though I think I was slightly less enamoured with the Old Hall on my most recent visit compared to previously.

Visited yesterday and ventured into the bar at the rear. Here were six hand pulls which I assume were duplicated in the front bar, though I did not venture in there to check. There were a couple of people in front of me at the bar, and another member of staff came from out the back to serve me. The bar area is quite small but you can't knock the efficiency of the service. Although it has a gastro pub feel to it, there are no issues going in for just a drink and it is a big sprawling building easily able to accommodate diners and drinkers. There is a big grassed area out the front with picnic tables, and a further enclosed beer garden to the rear which was a lovely sun trap at the time of my visit. Of the six cask ales on offer I remember Stanage Stout by Intrepid, Mobberley Brewhouse DBA Bitter, Brunning & Price Bitter and Tim Taylor Landlord. The other two were not big national brands but I can't remember what they were. I had a half of the Stanage which was £1.70 or £1.80 and a rather pleasant dry stout. The toilets are upstairs, where the floor is very creaky including in the gents. All part of the charm of an old building! I would recommend paying a visit; I was glad I did.