The Wobbly Stool, Salford

I'd tried to visit this micropub at its published opening time of 5pm on a Wednesday but arrived to find it closed. A message on their social media account indicated that they had decided to take Wednesday's off for the month of January. So, I returned the following day just after 5pm only to be fairly disappointed with what I found. Listed in the 2025 Good Beer Guide, the bar had just one cask ale, which was a passable Brightside Maverick. Two other handpulls were sat unclipped. Craft beers were Pomona Island Factotum, Seven Bro7hers Hazy MCR, Juicy IPA & Easy IPA, Thornbridge Green Mountain and something called Wobbly Stool Black Stool Stout. Given they don't appear to have their own brewery, I'm not sure of the origins of this unappealingly titled beer. A fizzy cider from Weston's was also on. The interior consists of a single room split by an archway. The front area has a narrow section of the bar with the 3 handpulls. There was also a wood burner on the left-hand side which was not lit. The keg pumps are on the longer section of bar to the rear. The very rear of the room has a couple of saloon-style swinging doors for access to the toilets. Pumpclips over the archway suggest that the ale range can improve at times. A happy hour was advertised for Tue-Thu 5-7pm with an offer of £3 for a pint of cask. Given they weren't open on a Tuesday or Wednesday and given there was only one cask ale, this wasn't exactly generous. I ordered a half and I'm not sure whether I got it for £1.50 or not. I certainly wasn't given a prompt to upgrade to a pint for £3. Various events take place, such as a book club on the second Wednesday each month. Music was playing, but a noisy dog was a bit of a distraction. Board games are available from behind the bar. For a micropub, I found this place a little disappointing. It has limited opening hours and with just one real ale, I'm surprised the local CAMRA branch allow it into the Good Beer Guide. Having said that, I found the pubs in Swinton to be a real disappointment. So, if they're given an allocation to use, this may be about the best of a bad bunch. The atmosphere and the temperatures were on the cold side and I just couldn't take to the place.

The Wobbly Stool is a micropub with an L-shaped bar counter in the rear right that faces seating to the front and to the left which is accessed through an arch that has a few old pump clips stuck to it. I couldn’t get into this area due to two guitarists spreading themselves out. Beer shelves run across the front windows either side of the central entrance. Some music equipment is set up in the front left window and on the left wall is a log burner in a fireplace. The chalkboard on the right wall next to the bar listed ten draught products, 5 IPAs, 2 lagers, a wheat beer, a cider and a porter. The latter was Mint Chocolate from Hophurst Brewery, quite nice. The staff were friendly so I would probably pop back in if passing.

Good Beer Guide 2022 Entry. A micro shop conversion that has been done well. You feel you are in a pub, once inside, with typical pub furniture, a decent sized bar and good music at a discreet level. Beer wise - normally three casks (only one on our visit - a perfect pale from Bank Top Brewery) and a number of kegs. All detailed on the chalkboard. Friendly locals/staff and a sense of community - quiz nights, game nights, regular dog walks and so on. Good visit - which you can tie in with the House of Hops along the road.... not detailed here, otherwise I would leave a gushing review of that place.

Facebook page of Wobbly Stool - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Wobbly Stool - www.facebook.com