Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Jolly Sailor, Macclesfield
Macclesfield
SK11 6HN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about The Jolly Sailor
Traditional pub that’s yet another opened up into one big room but retaining discrete areas. To the right are two very different spaces, one with a kitchen table and comfy chairs, the only with an open fire and armchairs. The square servery sits towards the back left and presents six pulls and a Guinness fount on the front face, a low T-Bar of favourites on the right and an unadorned face at the back. A reasonable selection of Salopian Darwin’s Origin, Taylors Boltmaker, Wainwright and Bass. The red triangle appears on a mirror, an old advert and painted on the floor in the front left portion. It has a mad and extensive collection of stuff, mirrors, photos, books, old radios and tellys, not to mention the odd bits and pieces. I quite liked the place, shame about the grey plague.
On 13th February 2025
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Pub SignMan left this review about The Jolly Sailor
This is a pleasant town centre boozer with a nice traditional multiple room layout. You enter into a bare boarded area with a well presented lounge space immediately to the right and the bar further back to the left. The lounge has some leather armchairs around a lit fireplace, making it a very cosy spot on a freezing cold January evening. A grandfather clock in one corner adds to the traditional feel, as does the large collection of old photos on the back wall, the big brewery mirror above the fireplace and even the few golf clubs on the lintel above. An ancient TV stands on a shelf to the rear, but looks far too old to ever get any use. Over to the left is a more spartan seating area with some amazing, intricately carved pews around the front window bay and opposite the bar, centred around a modern looking fireplace with flowers on the hearth and a big whisky mirror above. More old paintings and maps line the walls and guitars, jugs, earthenware and other such bits round out the eclectic decor. The bar is on the left side of the room and has a tongue and groove counter and simple bar back, whilst the canopy is lined with old pump clips and there is a stunning old fashioned cash register at one end, although it looks too good to be true and may well just be a replica. The floorboards here have a highly scuffed Bass logo painted on them and to the right there is a snug of sorts, opposite the bar, with comfy benches and shelves full of board games. Further to the rear is a small lounge with similar seating and full height bookcases, whilst a corridor that runs past the toilets has been lined with local black and white photos, and emerges onto a rear beer patio, which I failed to properly explore.
Three handpulls were operational when I arrived, presenting me with a choice from Bass, Thwaites Wainwright and Theakston Bitter. I took a pint of the Wainwright, which was in good condition, and I thought the staff and the few locals I spoke to, were all lovely.
This was a bit of a last minute addition to my Macclesfield itinerary, having found myself with some spare time on my last evening in town, and I'm glad I gave the place a go. I thought it was a really nice place to settle down over a pint or two and perhaps only lacked a more diverse or interesting ale range for it to be one of the best in town. A successful wildcard and worth considering as part of a crawl around the town centre.
Date of visit - 17th January 2024
On 3rd June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Jolly Sailor
The Jolly Sailor has a seating area with armchairs and a log fire to the left of the entrance before a small U-shaped bar counter that comes out of the left wall. Behind the bar is another seating area and a large bookcase loaded with reading material. There is more seating to the right of the entrance where the walls are covered with old paraphernalia such as a Bakelite radio, grandfather clock, black and white television etc. In fact, most of the pub looks like a living room stuck in time. I didn’t spot a functioning television, but there was some background music playing.
The bar supports standard and premium keg and I counted five hand pumps, four of which were in operation drawing Bass, Well’s Bombardier, Wainwright and TT Boltmaker. I enjoyed having a nose around in here and the governor was extremely hospitable. This pub should certainly be part of any crawl of Maccy Town.
On 12th March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Jolly Sailor
A lovely little pub with a friendly greeting at the bar. Lots of paraphernalia around the place; breweriana with a Bass slant, many mirrored signs and some old bric-a-brac. Ostensibly a single room but has four distinct areas. Sensible level piped music, 60s classics was the afternoon’s choice. Four fairly mainstream casks (Landlord, Wainwright, Bombardier and Bass). My Bass was getting to barrel end but fine (NBSS 3). Took a seat by the roaring log fire on a Chesterfield overlooking the grandfather clock and enjoyed my stay. My favourite of the day.
On 28th February 2023
- rating: 8
[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 Jolly Sailor
Excellent side-street pub, with a mix of furniture and a very diverse selection of ephemera in the various seating areas around the servery located about halfway along one side. Pedigree, Bombardier, Wainwright and Bass (£3.60) available from four of the six handpumps.
On 5th July 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Sam Hodgkinson left this review about The Jolly Sailor
Cracking small, quaint pub. Pleasant staff. Bass is well kept. Function room upstairs available.
On 12th June 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 12 recommendations about 12 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Jolly Sailor
Well described by BF below and nothing much has changed in the intervening 2 years. It's still an interesting and pleasant pub. The barmaid during our Sunday night visit was excellent. Served everyone in turn, quickly and efficiently and also had time for a friendly chat during her few quiet moments. We both liked this pub, the beer was in good nick and with the excellent service we decided to stay for a second round.
On 18th September 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Jolly Sailor
This place has been more than well described below. I'd call the antiques bric-a-brac but not tat as some of it did look quite expensive. There were a few in on my early Tuesday afternoon visit. The six hand pumps had Exeter Ferryman, London Pride, Bass, Everard's Tiger, Doom Bore and Castle Rock Harvest Pale. I went for the Ferryman which was a victim of the hot weather and completely rank. The landlady took one sip and threw it down the sink. At least they turned the clip here unlike with the Beartown Kodak Gold in the JDW over the road. It was replaced with the Tiger (£3.40) which was in good nick.
This place is worth a look but there are better options in Macclesfield.
On 6th July 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Jolly Sailor
A street corner pub with a most attractive interior.It has a low ceiling and a charming series of different sections,a front snug full of Chesterfields,a mid pub seating booth and a back section behind the bar with a library.There are some fine pieces of furniture,a grand father clock and the whole feel is very authentic and most pleasing.A proper town centre boozer with some very good old photos of Macc.The sound system was playing a Blondie album which always gets my vote and the system can be turned off in various sections but still plays elsewhere,very clever.
No sign of food in the pub,but there is a steak restaurant at the rear of the building on the first floor ,but only open some evenings.
The three sided bar has 6 handpumps offering on my trip Bass ,CW Bombardier,Fullers London Pride,Castle Rock Harvest Pale and Exmoor Silver Stallion ,decent if a little cold.
Quite a mainstream ale selection of national brands,but worth a visit for the charming interior and calm atmosphere.
On 4th August 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Jolly Sailor
A respectable drinking establishment, which seems to attract the slightly older and sensible crowd. The interior of the pub is quite small, so it doesn't take much to fill the place. The main Antiques Road show features I liked was the Grandfather clock and the old cash register.
Four handpumps, serving up Bass, Everards Tiger, Harvest Pale and Old Speckled Hen. We went for the Everards, which was in fair condition.
On 14th August 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]