“Always jump on a bandwagon” is the best advice I can give any aspiring young pub blogger, and so it is that I find that the Mark E Smith mural I stumbled across looking for a Prestwich pub is big news.
Complete coincidence, Mappiman. There’s no sign to alert you to this masterwork-in- progress; it’s tucked away in the, er, bucolic back streets off the A56.
I was heading for the Church Inn, a very rare Prestwich new GBG entry in Mark’s hometown, best known in Guide terms for robust Holt pubs in the finest Salford tradition.
The Proper Pubs round here have fallen out of GBG favour of late, giving way to shop conversions called Malty Dog or Brunning & Price.
But the Church Inn, after which the building behind it is named, promises much with its John Smiths livery and Bombardier as the house beer.
The light, it was on, but no-one, no-one was home (MES, Hex Enduction Hour, 1982, probably), with no opening hours displayed as is the trendy way.
I phoned the number. I’d obviously been spotted loitering with intent to buy beer as the message that “We’re closed Mondays now” came back instantaneously. My first Opening Hours Fail of GBG19, but hopefully not the last as I know you love them.
Still, there was always the modern cafe bar to visit preemptively.
All the Shapes is very Monton, but also has a touch of Chiverton Tap to it, which is high praise. Mrs RM would have loved it, particularly the crafty keg/cake matching.
I’m impressed with two on cask, Track Sonoma (NBSS 3) and Squawk, but resist the calories.
Mark E Smith would, perhaps, have been less charitable.
Back soon for the Church, by which time that mural should be done.
retiredmartin 
If it wasn’t for the beer taps I’d have mistaken that for a tea room. I’m starting to understand why it is called the Good Beer Guide and not the Good Pub Guide.
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That one isn’t in the Beer Guide, Morten, it was just a gamble that it might get in some day with two handpumps. But there’s places just like that in the Guide. I appreciate all the variety.
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Cake doesn’t go with beer – period; as our American friends would say!
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Very sensible, Paul !
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Cakes and Ale – they probably got that idea from Somerset Maugham.
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The Church features in the legendary Pub Shaman of Prestwich post.
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“The Church Inn, after which the building behind it is named” reminds me that in Wales many churches were apparently built to give pubgoers somewhere to go when their pubs were closed.
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I don’t remember you saying that to me?
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I think I learnt that off you.
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?
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You jumping on that craft beer bandwagon. Don’t deny it.
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I had to jump on the craft beer bandwagon. I got fed up of waiting for the old school trad one to come along.
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You were only two minutes away from The Crooked Man. Although that is also closed on a Monday:)
https://www.thecrookedmanbar.com/
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EVERYTHING closes on Mondays, it seems, Did see Crooked Man on WhatPub; Prestwich certainly changing.
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“Murk” , up north? I had no idea.
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A Southern export…
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Any post with Mark E Smith in it is an absolute winner! 👍
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“Still, there was always the modern cafe bar to visit preemptively.”
Of course, while it might be considered to be a cafe or bar, it’s certainly no pub. 😉
“but resist the calories.”
Who eats desert with their beer? I know it’s done occasionally but for me they just don’t go together. It annoys my better half at times as I’ll have 3 pints of beer a day (on average) and stay trim, while she have salad for dinner and then have to ‘augment’ that with some desert later and then complain she can’t lost that last 5 pounds. (LOL)
Cheers
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