Crewe Dog, Crewe

Inside the market hall it is one of those big spaces where you have various food and drink outlets ranged round the outside and various seating options in the middle. The Crewe Dog is on the right halfway down, an L shaped counter with five hand pulls on the short length and a Guinness solo and keg cocktail dispenser on the long side. Bottles and cans are in a fridge to the side with 15 keg taps on the back wall. Cask beers from Merlin, Tom’s Tap and a beer based on one in the film Mothers Pride. Ok for its type, the service was especially poor.

One of those indoor market venues that the North does very well - a selection of eateries and bars around a shared seated area. Admittedly I was in there at opening on a Friday but I had to have two walk around the stalls before I could find someone to serve me. There were four cask on - and to be honest, the Merlin Gold was a little ropey - hazy, separating head and bits floating in the bottom. Maybe should have gone for the keg Budvar. Lots of variety and probably worth another go.

A stall in the handsome covered food market – seemingly a North West speciality – and is located over to the right-hand side as you enter. Seating is as you’d expect from these places, utilitarian and often of the high tables/stools variety. Mix and match of cask, craft and bottles. My pint of cask Merlin Gold was in good nick (NBSS 3.5) and I was mildly surprised that the place isn’t GBG listed. All the staff in this market appear to be slim young ladies in yoga pants so there’s enhanced aesthetic appeal for the solo male drinker, as I discovered.

Fairly large bar in a market hall containing numerous eateries. The bar can be found about halfway along the right-hand wall as you enter. On our Saturday evening visit, it was well staffed and customers were adopting the annoying habit of queuing along the corridor. Real ales on were Tatton Gold & Red Hot Poker, Track Sonoma & Tom's Tap Mighty Stout. Lilley's Rhubarb Cider occupied a 5th handpull. Craft beers listed were Beartown Massachussetts Ski Club & Panama, Northern Monk Jesus Christ He Is Massive, Siren/Cycle Candour, Roosters Howl, Salt Hop A Salt, Phantom Brie Time Baby & Signature Roadie, alongside a few lagers and pilsners. Seating is by way of long tables and bench seating. It is shared with the numerous food stalls, with food options including pizzas, noodles and burgers. There was also a bottle shop a little further along the right-hand side that seemed to be connected to the Crewe Dog. Certainly a decent addition to the drinking scene in Crewe and not too far from the excellent Borough Arms.