SHEFFIELD HATTER PUTS A COAT OVER THE SPEAKER IN THE CASTLE

December 2023. Macclesfield.

A busy schedule for the Old Codgers trip to Macclesfield, so a good job for some that all the pubs were next door to each other.

Actually, that was one of my minor issues with the day, no real chance to stretch the legs and visit the feral suburbs of Cheshire’s silk town.

But the cobbled streets always delight, and there’s few better approaches than the one to the Castle, even if it is one where I nearly emasculated myself a decade ago.

The Castle was newly re-opened 2 years ago but is now firmly on the GBG circuit,

and frankly ought to be in my Top 100 but under pub blog rules you’re only allowed 1,308 entries in a Top 100 so it’ll need to wait for one of the Wetherspoons in Hull to close.

Another minor gripe was the placement of the three hand pumps in the snug on the right as you enter, so that our 3 casketeers (I went straight for the seat and shouted “half a Squawk, Will”) faced the stares from the snug-dwellers as they stood with door open making tricky decisions.

But I can’t join in that criticism of the layout; I reckon the Castle is a design classic,

and that bench seating a joy. In 2021 we had to stand in the lane as the Castle was packed and still looks the young professionals pub of choice, even on a Tuesday lunchtime.

Handled jugs all round,

but the Squawk Pale was a cool, chewy 3.5, a score which Kentish Paul on his arrival (after the usual travails on the rail network) can hopefully confirm.

Will, who seemed to have a strop on, as we say in the North, complained bitterly about the volume of the soundtrack, but at least took matters into his own hands by draping his Joy Division rain mac over the speakers just as this came on;

First ever playing of “Pink Moon” in a pub ? Possibly.

First newspaper cutting containing the line “Handkerchiefs for Prince Charles in a pub ?” Definitely.

I love the head on the wall,

Almost as much as that head on the beer.

Anyway, you get the idea.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

11 thoughts on “SHEFFIELD HATTER PUTS A COAT OVER THE SPEAKER IN THE CASTLE”

      3. I think we somehow went all day without hearing anything, loud or not, from The Macc Lads who described themselves as the “rudest, crudest, lewdest, drunkest band in Christendom”.

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  2. Hi Martin, it’s Mark Crilley. Greatly enjoyed reading this, even if I was filled with envy throughout, wishing I could have been there.

    Thank goodness The Castle is still with us as a pub, heaven knows it all could have turned out differently. Here’s to the day I’m able to once again sup a pint or two there!

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  3. The Castle’s a lovely old pub but was the only one of nine that day only with unknown beers. That’s with us being a week two early as indicated by two full casks of Whim Black Christmas in a corridor.

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  4. While the current owners must be congratulated on bringing the Castle back to life, it remains a bit self-consciously “crafty”. It needs a Tetley’s pump and a couple of old boys in the corner talking about the racing.

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    1. I could go for that! Though the music would probably be loud enough to drown out my ill-informed mumblings about horse racing.

      Or you could just throw a coat over my head.

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