The Earl of Mercia, Macclesfield

The signage now says “of Mercia” in little letters so I think the name has changed back. Anyway a pretty unimpressive craft beer bar, I think with pool tables upstairs. Two T-Bars of craft and pseudo craft plus solos of a Beartown and a possibly genuine Latin Lager, the cask choice remains at two pulls of dodgy stuff from Beartown. Bare brick and cafe furniture, noise, p-poor bar staff; not one I’ll revisit.

The Earl is a small shop converted bar with fake exposed brick walls throughout. Seating is found in the front window and up the right opposite a staircase that leads up to two toilet cubicles and a games area with pool table and dartboard. Back downstairs, the bar counter found in the right rear faces a burner in the left rear. Premium and craft keg was available alongside Stowford Press cider and the two hand pumps were badged with Beartown Brewery’s Earl Pale (rebadged) and Skinful. Without prompt the friendly owner advised me that the Skinful was actually TT Landlord, and that he was in the process of finding the lost badge. I thought it was OK in here, but the cask choice doesn’t really put it on the map.

Now called The Earl. It's been reopened and reimagined by the guys who used to have the Wet Led Bar across the road. The steak restaurant has now been replaced by a pool table and a dartboard. The old fizz only bar now sports two handpumps, a rebadged Beartown beer and Salopian Darwin's Origin during out visit. The Salopian was in good nick. There's a small, multi levelled beer garden to the rear. We'll no doubt be calling in here again.

Facebook page of The Earl of Mercia - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Earl of Mercia - www.facebook.com