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Detail Pages
The Bate Hall, Macclesfield
Macclesfield
SK11 6BX
Pub Type
Town Centre Pub (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Bate Hall
I've walked past this pub a couple of times on previous trips to Macclesfield, but it was reading the review from ROB Camra below that prompted me to make a visit. Not because I like sour beer - I don't even like deliberately sour beer, never mind an iffy Pedigree. No, it was more a matter of facing a challenge. We now know what the pub is like, but can I hack the beer?
There were three hand pumps on the bar, one offering Wainwright Amber, one Ringwood Razorback and the middle one a Santa hat (see photo). I went for the Ringwood (or the no-longer-brewed-by-Ringwood - I guess we should be saying Banks's) while my drinking companion went for the other non-hat option. What he got was not Wainwright Amber - see his photo at https://retiredmartin.com/2023/12/08/macc-macc-will-tear-us-apart-again/ - it looks like a blonde to me. My Razor was NBSS 3. Martin said his Wain was "a comfortable NBSS 3", while I think mine needed a little shove to get across that line.
There's a smart dining room at the rear (empty on an early December Tuesday afternoon) and a pool room. It's good that they've spent some money to try to get people to use this pub, but I tend to agree with the previous reviewer about lost character and wonder if smartening the place up absolutely has to also remove it. I wonder if the present version of this pub will last long enough to develop some character of its own, or will it "need a refurb" two or three years down the line? Maybe I'll come back to see, but there are definitely better pubs in Macc than this, and they'll be my priority, I reckon.
Date of visit: 5th December 2023
On 24th December 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
ROB Camra left this review about The Bate Hall
Much of the character that this pub must once have had has been removed, although there are a few old bits knocking about. A split room at the front and a further area to the rear. Two Marstons beers on the bar and my pint of Pedigree was sour. The barmaid had disappeared, so I had to hang around the bar for a good 5 minutes to get my beer changed. The Banks's was in OK nick, if not great. A decent enough looking pub, but the beer is a bit iffy.
On 2nd November 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bate Hall
Venerable town-centre pub, with "Oliver Cromwell stayed here several times" being its claim to historical fame. Nowadays, though, it's a fairly basic town-centre boozer; and on a cold, wet Saturday afternoon, populated by older blokes watching the horse racing or playing darts. Apart from that, the two-part front area houses the main bar and a pool table, and a separate lounge bar can be found behind this and then a back room beyond. As a Marston's house, it was no surprise to find Pedigree on one of the three handpumps, but Banks's Amber (£3.00) was also available on another.
On 13th February 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Sam Hale left this review about The Bate Hall
Decent enough pub - clientele are a little rough but landlord runs a tight ship. Great location on main drag.
On 12th June 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Bate Hall
A pleasant enough town centre pub. A bar area at the front with 3 real ales on from Marston's. A passageway at the side of the bar leads to another drinking area. A patio at the rear for outside drinking.
On 15th July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Bate Hall
This pub is on a pedestrianised street in the centre of Macclesfield.
Once inside here the pub was quite smart and very busy, this is a Marstons tied house and there were two real ales on the bar i had a drink of marstons bitter and this was a decent drink the other beer was Pedigree.
Pub visited 23/9/2000
On 23rd September 2000
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]