Shady Oak, Tarporley

The Shady Oak has a fair bit going for it: canal side location, close to both walking and cycle paths, an adjoining campsite and an attractive historic building. These are the things that would bring you here but you may not stay for long. Inside it feels like an unloved junk shop with dusty bits and pieces, cardboard boxes, trinkets, old furniture all strewn around the place in a seemingly random fashion. This could add character if you felt the whole was clean and looked after. Many were attracted to the place for both the food and drink on our Sunday lunchtime visit including walkers,cyclists and boaters. The numbers rather overwhelmed the one waitress, who ran around spilling soup but remaining cheerful, and the friendly barman, who spent a fair amount of time making tea and coffee and changing barrels in between serving beer. Beers on were Jennings Cumberland, Thwaites Bomber and Black Sheep. The Cumberland was as lifeless and flabby as some of the middle-aged lycra clad cyclists and I switched to lager. I'd guess that this is owned by a pubco and that the tennants are gradually being squeezed and losing interest which is something of a shame given its obvious advantages. There was a sign in the loos apologising for their condition and stating that a refurbishment was scheduled for the, less busy, winter. As it turned out the loos were the best bit of the pub.