RedWillow, Buxton

Pick of the places in Buxton for me - something for everyone. Its in the Good Beer Guide 2021 and a showcase/taproom for the Red Willow Brewery. Their west coast IPA was very good. Also a Gin Bar - with several different varieties on display. The building is a former bank - with wooden panneling, a lovely little alcove with Chesterfields and a Mezzanine Floor. The service was exceptionally good in these allowed indoors covid times.

A bank conversion standing by the pelican crossing just before the roundabout, so handily placed for the railway station. We called in as our last Buxton pub before catching the train to Disley and New Mills, and were glad that we did. It's been very nicely repurposed by Red Willow brewery of Macclesfield, and by the looks of it they've left it pretty much as it would have been as a bank, with stylish wood panelling everywhere. Beers are listed on a video screen mounted on a chimney breast: four of their own beers on cask and one guest, plus numerous keg beers (see photos). My half of Red Willow Feckless was fine, and I would certainly make a point of coming here next time I'm in Buxton for a beer. Date of visit: 17th April 2019

Apparently opened in late 2017 in what used to be a branch of the RBS. It is mainly open plan on the ground floor with a the bar along the right hand wall as you enter. To the right of the bar is a small room which I was thinking would probably have been a snug in years gone by, until I remembered it used to be a bank so was then thinking perhaps a small office or meeting room. I had wanted to visit before but not had the chance when in Buxton previously as it doesn't open until 4pm Monday to Wednesday (Thursday is 3pm, Friday to Sunday is midday). I can't help thinking they are perhaps missing a trick in not opening for the lunch time trade in this busy town popular with tourists. The nearby Buxton Tap House was thriving at lunch time yesterday (Monday) whereas RedWillow Buxton just after 4pm only had a handful of customers. Anyway at the bar are five cask pumps, three of which had RedWillow ales on, the two guests being by Abbeydale and Bollington at the time of my visit. I had a half of Weightless at £1.70 which I think is pretty reasonable. There are plenty more beers on keg and an electronic beer board is displayed above the bar as the keg taps at the back of the bar did not appear to be labelled. There is an upstairs area that I did not investigate, but looks like it is a small-ish mezzanine level. Various bits of reading material were available in a rack to the left of the bar including beer related magazines and stuff of local interest. I am sure some of the wood panelling is original but I suspect some of it is newer and has been added in when the place was converted to a bar. All in all a pleasant place and worth a visit.