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ONE PUB ONLY?
Borough Arms
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
The ground is near the station so head into town and work back from the Borough to the Crown and then the British Lion
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Borough Arms
|  |  Angel
2 Victoria Centre, CW1 2PU T 01270 212003
G John Hennessey
F Home - cooked English menu with specialities like mint pudding, steak pie and home made hot pot.
MP TV BM P
O 10 to 7 Mon - Fri, 10 to 10 Sun
Another rarity for this guide is to recommend a pub located in a newish shopping precinct. Hidden downstairs is a new outlet for Oakwell ales, rarely found beyond Yorkshire. This cellar bar is in a fairly typical split - level style with brick walls and bench seats. It has a separate area for a pool table, the rest of the pub being good for drinking and eating, i.e. not exclusive. I say this because the pub was busy serving ales to regulars and shoppers seeking a quiet meal away from the not so crowded shopping centre upstairs. The background music is likely to be of the sing-along Irish style. The pool table will prove popular to locals who enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the place. They obviously have a loyal bunch of regulars who are featured in great photo boards of manic pub activities. You get an instant feeling that the pub can be pretty lively when the occasion demands. Try it if you want to support a new pub, something a little different on the real ale circuit.
UPDATE; A big screen is now in place for those terrestrial big matches.
BWV 10.3.05 Oakwell Barnsley Bitter, Barnsley Old Tom
BWV 16.3.06: Oakwell Barnsley Bitter, Acorn lager, Oakwell lager | |  Borough Arms
33 Earle St, CW1 2BG T 01270 254999 W www.borougharmscrewe.co.uk
G John Webster
MP SK BM
O 7 to 11 Mon - Thu, 3 to 11 Fri, 12 to 4, 7 to 11 Sat, 12 to 3, 7 to 10.30 Sun
A breath of fresh air has blown into the Borough Arms and all is changing for the better. John has taken over and while continuing the brilliant beer policy he is also in the process of developing the massive potential of this renowned ale house. The plans are something very special and the entry of the Borough into the guide certainly shoots Crewe up the league table of real ale towns.
The pub was being redecorated when I visited but there is no intention to change the cosy nature of the place. It has small rooms off a central bar and a range of ales that Rachel, the bar supervisor, is quick to recommend. John, the Forest supporting landlord, has such enthusiasm and it was with great relish that he talked about opening the downstairs rooms so that the cellar and brewing plant could be seen by beer lovers as they tick away. My evening was spent with John, Henry, Kerry and Matt, talking about real ale, the Alex and how good the pub is. The quiz teams were due to arrive as I left; this is really a community local that will soon have a national reputation. Belgian ales are the next new offering to be found on the list The Never be Hinde is the first of the home pub brews, the name paying homage to the previous pub brewer.
BWV 16.3.06: Beartown White Admiral, Borough Arms Brewery Never be Hinde, Crouch Vale Snow Drop, O’Hanlon’s Firefly, Port Stout, Yellow Hammer, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby, Woodlands Bitter, Midnight Stout
Facebook page | |  British Lion
58 Nantwich Rd CW2 6AL T 01270 254999
G John Ruddock
SP TV BM P D
O 12 to 5, 7 to 11 Mon, 7 to 11 Tue - Thu, 12 to 11 Fri - Sat
Very occasionally you can find a decent ale pub close to the ground and the British Lion is one such example. You can expect the unexpected in terms of ales among the six a week on offer alongside the regular Tetley's. This recently redecorated single bar gets very busy on matchdays yet is welcoming to away fans who love their ales. Younger adults can find a space with parents in the rear of the pub leaving the regulars to chat beer and ale in the simple clean bar area. My lunchtime visit became a much longer session as we chatted over the merits of Dario’s management and the fun I have always had when visiting Crewe. As with many pubs the number of ales increases at the weekend when the footie trade means larger demand. The British Lion is also very convenient for the station making it ideal for the last pint before going home.
UPDATE: Jed, the footie fan barman, has moved on but the friendliness remains. It is open earlier on match days and has plans for an outside area for those who wish to smoke. The beer list continues to change every few days and often includes a mild.
BWV 10.3.05: Harviestoun Schiehallion, Hampshire Lionheart, Tetley’s Cask Bitter, Dark Mild
BWV 16.3.06: Black Sheep Bitter, Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Tetley’s Cask Bitter | |  Crown
25 Earle St, CW1 2BH T 01270 257295
G Maureen Aitken
MP TV JB P D
O 11 to 11 Sun to Thu, 11 to 12 Fri - Sat
Those real ale heads who seek out good pubs only to find a really grumpy brewer will often find heaven in the pub next door. This was my experience of the Crown where there was an instant welcome and an understanding of how footie fans like you and me help to make a pub what it is. This pub is spotless and has many quirky features that sell the love of good ale. The polished mirror tiles above the bar, the French railway prints, the frosted hotel windows; all suggest this is a place to cherish and protect through regular custom. This is my type of pub, even down to the crib aboard inviting you to enter into traditional pastimes while quaffing the quality Robinson’s ales. As with most of their pubs the variety is such that there isn’t a need to offer masses of guest ales. I really enjoyed my hour or so here and the barman was a mine of information on the rival real ale pubs. It has a traditional real ale clientele, generally being locals who know the value of a good friendly pub.
UPDATE: Plans include a conversion of a pleasant courtyard for al fresco drinking. The Crown remains as friendly as ever, a place to make new friends.
BWV 10.3.05: Robinson’s Enigma, Old Tom, Hatters Mild, Unicorn
BWV 16.3.06: Robinson’s Enigma, Hatters Mild, Old Tom, Unicorn | |  Waldron
Prince Albert St, CW1 2DJ T 01270 254608
G Simone Williams
F Good value, good quality pub grub 12 to 10
MP SK D
O 11 to 11 Mon - Thu, 11 to 12 Fri - Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun
The Waldron was the recommendation of locals who suggested that a new pub was trying to offer a real ale alternative to the many keg pubs in the town. Barracuda opened the pub in September 2005, converting the dole office into a spacious open plan tavern in the town centre big pub style. The conversion was extensive and includes televisions in every nook and cranny and also in the pub garden. They will be ahead of the game for the world cup games and you get a flavour of their intentions when you see the list of up and coming sports events. It has a good location, in an area undergoing regeneration and across the road from Earle St. The younger ale drinkers will like the pub but it has also already encouraged an own older clientele, being busy with lunchtime office workers and late evening party animals. The beer selection will doubtless expand. It will take some time to convince the traditional ale heads but that is always the case with new developments. John, the duty manager, was keen to stress the family nature of the pub, the welcome you will get and the fact that it is always a fun place to work. The afternoon was developing into a serious Cheltenham watching session when I left for the next pub. I look forward to returning next year to see how great plans come to fruition.
BWV 16.3.05: Archers Village, Flowers IPA |
| | Nige; Preece went to the Kings Arms, 56 Earle Street, almost opposite the Borough. It sold 2 decent beers from the beartown brewery from Congleton.e.g. Bruins Ruin and Black Bear mild (both 5%). | | | S CHESHIRE CAMRA | | 
ALEXANDRA STADIUM, GRESTY ROAD
LOCAL BREWERY
BOROUGH ARMS BREWERY
25 Earle St,
Crewe
CW1 2BH
T 01270 257295
www.borougharmscrewe.co.uk
| | WETHERSPOONS
Gaffers Row 48 Victoria Street Crewe CW1 2JE Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
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