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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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The Silk Trader, Macclesfield
Macclesfield
SK11 7AD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
ROB Camra left this review about The Silk Trader
A Robbies pub with the modernised grey interior (Yawn). Multiple rooms, one large one and a couple of smaller ones. Unicorn and Dizzy on the bar, but my pint of Dizzy had definitely gone. Changed with good grace after the barmaid called the landlady, so I ended up with a Unicorn which was in good nick. It's a pleasant enough pub.
On 19th March 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Old Boots left this review about The Silk Trader
A little out of the town up the hill over the River Bollin and a main road, it’s apparently on the “Silk Road”, it’s a Robinsons pub that has been modernised so don’t expect interesting features. It’s a multi space offering with almost a separate room to the right on entering with the counter ahead and left where there’s a drinking area with a screen and a couple of tables plus a big one with space for 8 to 10 to get round it while watching darts players. At the back there’s a space with a pool table, everywhere seems to have a screen and possibly a machine as well. Crazy tiled floor in the front left, laminate elsewhere. There’s a nod here and there to the town’s former silk industry in the decor, mainly in the form of bobbins. Four handpulls with Unicorn and Cumbrian Way on, one reversed Old Tom and the other reversed Dizzy Blonde, two low T-Bars offer a rudimentary keg choice, Carling, Madri, Guinness, Stella, Coors and some version of Strongbow. A trio of more interesting kegs sits in the middle. Nice barmaid knew she needed to pull off a bit of Unicorn as she hadn’t sold any yet that afternoon.
On 13th February 2025
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Silk Trader
A modernised, some would say over-modernised, corner pub. It's been hugely opened out, with modern random-patterned tiles on the floors, plenty of grey paint (my favourite!) and low wattage light bulbs in the room away from the bar. My friends and I, nearing the end of our tour of Macclesfield pubs, asked if it was possible to turn the wattage up a little, but the staff either did not know how to do it or thought it was hilarious for a group of 60-something men to sit in the semi-dark, or both. This is a Robinsons pub and they are well known for doing what is right for the pub rather than preserving features that have stood the test of time, and of course they are always right. Bearing this in mind, I had decided that it was about time I tried their well-known Trooper, a beer developed in consultation with a heavy metal band and featured heavily (see what I did there?) on the cover of this year's Good Beer Guide. I must admit I hadn't realised it was 4.7%, a strength I usually try to avoid when on a pub crawl. It was actually in OK condition (NBSS 3.5) but I'm not sure I will be making a habit of drinking it.
On 13th January 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Silk Trader
The Silk Trader has a bar counter on the left rear wall that faces high tables and a dartboard at the front. This area was busy during a recent mid evening visit, I imagine it was Monday night darts league. There is a pool table in the right rear and a seating area in the front right that was empty. Muted football via Sky Sports was on the televisions. Standard and premium keg was available alongside Brixton Lager. This is a Robinson’s pub so the four hand pumps were drawing Trooper, Unicorn and Big Sur. This place was forgettable to the point that the only memory I have of visiting are my notes.
On 13th March 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5969 recommendations about 5935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Silk Trader
A Robbies pub they've vandalised. There's still a genuine multi-room layout but the gloomy lighting and snot green paint job (including the wood) is appalling. Three of theirs on, including a rare sighting of Old Tom which was a little flat but fine (NBSS 3). Of amusement value was the barman using the redundant handpump as a blue roll dispenser. The presence of a decent OT pushes it to 6.
On 28th February 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Silk Trader
Refurbished Robinson's pub with a mix of traditional and modern elements in the bar, side lounge and rear games area with a pool table and a few more tables. A beer garden is also advertised. With three of the four handpumps in use, I found Unicorn, Dizzy Blonde (£3.35) and Trooper being dispensed.
On 7th July 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Silk Trader
Robinsons have spent a lot of money on a refurb,but may have wished they hadn't.There is a fine late Georgian exterior but internally it has the vibe of a bar,lots of exposed brick,white tiles around the servery,a pool table,high tables near the bar and flatscreen above the fireplaces.The name has changed,but at least thats a nod to the towns history as is a wall decoration of various silk threads.
The bar has 4 handpumps but I and others were informed that both the Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde were off,but the clips were not reversed,very bad form.That just left hobsons choice of Trooper,a malt dominated brew not to my taste at £3.25.Even the St Miguel lager was off !
An all day drinker was making an arse of himself,the local lads were quaffing the lager that was on,and I couldn't wait to move on.
Nothing to see here.
On 4th August 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Boar Hound
This pub used to be called the Commercial Hotel.
The Boarhound is a back street pub that is fairly close to the train station but away from the town centre.
This is a Robinsons tied house that had been done up inside in the corporate Robinsons manner,this was quite smart and comfortable and there were two Robinsons beers on the bar i had a drink of Robinsons bitter and this was very nice the other beer was Robinsons mild.
Pub visited 31/5.1989
On 31st May 1989
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]