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ONE PUB ONLY?
The Railway
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Waters Green, Railway View and then 10 minutes walk on to the ground.
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Dolphin
CHANGES FROM GUIDE
Closed - Sun, Dolphin New
|  |  British Flag
42 Coare St, SK11 1DW T 01625 428118
G Lloyd Roberts
SP SK BM PD
O 5 - 10.30 Mon – Fri, 5 to 11 Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun
The British Flag doesn't open before the game so its entry here should tell you just how good it is. If you have the time after a game make a bee - line to Coare St where you are guaranteed great ale and a typically northern, warm and friendly welcome. It is a street terrace local with four small rooms that might all be described as snugs. One is devoted to Pool and a TV the others you will find occupied by groups of locals continuing conversations that have lasted from the previous evening. Lloyd will probably arrive at the same time having been to watch the game himself. This is a sports oriented community pub that includes a golf society among the usual darts and crib teams. In November the seasonal Robin is added to the excellent routine Robinson’s ales. I was lucky enough to have a bed and breakfast room booked at the end of the street so I was able to sample the pub at its very best as the locals returned for an evenings revelries to a time long after the game had finished. In a town of many good pubs the British Flag is a top local.
UPDATE: Still the same great local’s pub.
BWV 26.2.05: Robinson’s Unicorn, Hatters Mild
BWV 29.10.05: Robinson’s Unicorn, Hatters Mild | |  Prince of Wales
33 Roe St. SK11 6UT T 01625 424796
G Catherine Higginbottom
CP SK BM P D
O 11 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun
The first thing tp notice when you go to the bar is an impressive chalk board that shows the range of mostly national ales on offer. From this list five ales are always available by checking what is ticked to the left of the name.
This was my second visit to Porters and it left me wondering why I didn’t put it in last year. I had a lovely chat with Carol, “the Cats Mum” and a group of young local footie fans, interrupting their game of pool as I did so. The crowded early evening session was in full swing, a bubbly mix of young professionals and not so young regulars creating a buzz of chat over subdued background music. The rugby club tradition is less obvious now, being found only in Aussie shirts on the wall. I could easily imagine the big screen being useful during the world cup in either code. Lindsay and “dim bloke” Stuart were really enthusiastic about the friendliness of the pub as were their mates who equally cheekily dubbed me as “Ken Barlow” later in the evening. Such was the banter in the pub. The only odd aspect of the pub is found as one gazes from the gents into the bar through the fish tank, most disconcerting! This multi - sectioned single bar pub is a great addition to this guide, being as it is, part of the highly competitive Macclesfield real ale scene.
BWV 29.10.05: Brains SA Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Greene King Old Speckled Hen, Shepherd Neame Bishops Finger, Theakston’s Best Bitter | |  Railway View
1 Byron’s Way SK11 7JW T 01625 423657
G Brian Fisher and Zoe Houghton
F Bar snacks.
SP TV BM P D
O 7 to 11 weekdays, 12 to 11 w/e
The Railway View is back, the Chavs of previous visits have gone and real ale is again king. The changes are subtle; a new slate floor was in the process of being laid during my visit. The original charm will remain for the numerous groups of walkers, rail / canal fanatics, students and professionals who frequent the pub and give it a different feel on every visit. In mid winter the real fires will create the homeliness, in summer the cool found in the dark beamed room provide some relief.
My visit found proof of the gentle quirkiness. The “Go Grannies” had returned from a charity collection at the game, all Les Dawson drag and ale in hand. It was standing room only and the welcomed Labrador found it difficult to beg crisps without risking his toes being trodden. A good innovation is the beer clips next to the bar that announces yet more microbrew ales coming up, the list is ever changing. Beer mats cover the plastered walls, the locals inadvertently let you taste the ales (cheers Mike) and conversations of previous years were easily restarted as the footie washed away into alcohol induced insignificance. The only diversion was watching Middlesbrough thrash Man Utd on TV and chats with Paul and Gareth about the best alternatives in town.
BWV 29.10.05: George Wright Cheeky Pheasant, Halifax Joker, Howard Town Snake Ale, Moorhouses Witchcraft, Phoenix Sinister, Copper Dragon Bitter
UPDATE 9.1.09 Brian and Zoe are the new landlord / landlady. Update to follow when I visit next, soon! | |  Waters Green Tavern DAFTS PUB OF THE YEAR 2008 - 09
96 Waters Green SK11 6LH T 01625 422653
G Brian McDermott. Tracey really runs the place
F Good value home cooked food from 12 to 2.
MP
JB
P Pool, darts, crib
D TV
S Spacious enclosed yard at the rear
O 12 to 3, 5.30 - 11 weekdays, 12 - 3, 7 - 11 weekends
You are guaranteed a quality selection of rarer ales as Brian is proud of finding beers that reflect his taste for micro - brews. My pre - match lunchtime visit was typical, as groups of home and away fans entered into pessimistic conversations as to the whole Macclesfield Town experience. On my return nothing had changed other than the people were different and the coal fire was being recharged ready for the evening customers. This is a top pub that relies on the assurance that you will get something different from when you last visited. Highly recommended is the home - prepared, fresh food that leaves an impression that, as with the beer, it is the wholesomeness that counts. “It’s got real chips!” Come here, mind your language and join in the love of what is good in this type of British pub. It has won numerous CAMRA awards. The secrets of the ale list needs to be discovered. You may have to tap your CAMRA card on the window if the front door is closed.
UPDATE This years visit found landlords from the other pubs and Brian (Mr. Sheep) enjoying the ale. This says it all. Dutch Ales and cider also made an appearance.
BWV 26.2.07: : There is always a selection of guest ales that include beers like those from Oakham, Pictish and Abbeydale. Some were available on my visit.
BWV 29.10.07: There is always a selection of guest ales that include beers like those from Kelham Island, Pictish and Rooster’s. Some were available on my visit.
BWV (G Privett) 4.9.10 7 ales all from different breweries, both local and further afield, together with 1 real cider | | Dolphin Inn
76 Windmill Street, Macclesfield SK11 7HS Telephone 01625 616 179
Guv’nor John Lythaby
Opening times 12:00 - 14:30, 17:00 - 23:00 weekdays 12:00 - 23:00 weekends
Food Small selection of quality hot pub food 12:00 - 14:30
Parking Street
Smoking Street out front
TV Sky inc. live football
Music None
Pub games Darts, crib, skittles
Disabled access No steps
John has just clocked up a decade at the Dolphin Inn, and it has been in the GBG every year since 2003. The Stockport family brewers Robinsons have a large estate of pubs stretching into Wales and up into the Lake District, and the general perception that Robinsons doesn’t travel very well, is way off the mark. As a Stockport County supporter, I was privileged to sample some of the best Robinsons I have experienced outside of Stockport here at the Dolphin Inn. There aren’t many Robinsons pubs (even in Stockport) that consistently keep the entire Robinsons range available, so it was a very pleasant surprise to find that this cosy 2 room pub in Macclesfield, with a real fire, does just that, not to mention stocking the entire range of bottled Old Tom, i.e. Ginger Tom, Chocolate Tom and the original Old Tom. The walls of the pub are adorned with interesting pictures of old Macclesfield, and this is a genuine alternative to the usual trip to the Railway View, particularly if you are part of a large travelling contingent, which is when the Railway View becomes uncomfortably busy, e.g. when Stockport County are in town.
Graham Privett
BWV 4/9/2010 Robinsons Dark Hatters (Mild), Dizzy Blonde, Unicorn Bitter, Bizzy Bee Seasonal (next up is Battering Ram), Old Tom October - April
Less than 5 minutes walk up Windmill Street, mid way between the Railway Station and the ground. 15 minute walk to the ground. | | | MACCLESFIELD CAMRA | | 
MOSS ROSE
| | LOCAL BREWERY
Beartown Brewery
Bromley House,
Spindle St
Congleton
CW12 1QN
Tel 01260 299964
www.beartownbrewery.co.uk
| | WETHERSPOONS
The Society Rooms Park Green Macclesfield SK11 7NA Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
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