December 2023. Macclesfield.
One of the inevitabilities of an Old Codger’s Day Out is that at some point we’ll see a schism between trad men and crafties, and only two pubs into Macclesfield we saw a break from the Official Itinerary.
Actually, that schedule had assumed a split due to the competing luncheon attractions of Alfred’s and the Black Jack tap, but it was rude for me to desert Kentish Paul so soon after his arrival so apologies Paul.
But I needed the fresh air and the steps and the view of St. Michaels,
and a chance to assess a changing Cheshire market town.
Too quiet, really, and the appeal of buildings like Ye Olde Shop rather diminished by their modern “upgrades”.
But pedestrianised Chestergate revealed a little gem neither Will or I had been in before,
and reports of a sour Pedigree were all we needed to justify a bonus stop.
Old Marston’s sign, new Marston’s interior,
a little reminiscent of that floral Stafford hotel bar Will and I escaped to this year, though in the Bate Hall the sumptuous dining hall sat empty.
“A beautifully decorated disaster” say my notes, reflecting the lack of any decent seating, but in fairness there was a good mix of custom, shoppers and tradesmen, and the Wainwright Gold was a comfortable NBSS 3. The top seller was Strongbow though.
The 60s pop was even louder here, and I mistook Cliff Bennett for Cliff Michelmore of Holiday fame, to Will’s disgust.
I couldn’t do anything right today.
retiredmartin 
I’ll have to ask my friend if he’s been to the Bate Hall. Though based on your review I’m not sure he should go out of his way! Can’t say I approve of those drinking glasses— they look like they were intended for a tall glass of orange juice. 😉 Thanks for allowing me this virtual visit to Macclesfield! ~Mark
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I assume that the report of a sour Pedgree was from me on my Pubs Galore review. :-))
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Yes, we were going on the basis of lightning not striking twice in the same place. Not very scientific, I know. We each had one of the two beers on offer but luckily they were both in the region of NBSS 3.
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Cask beer lottery mate !
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Is it me or did the Bate Hall interior look like someone had been to a pub knick-knacks warehouse blindfolded.
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Ha ! Very good description. Some old people like that look (see also : Poynton).
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Forgot to sign in.
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I wouldn’t mind being blindfolded where there’s a “Let it snow” cushion.
Or maybe they could turn the lights off like in another Macc pub.
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No apologies necessary, Martin. I know you find it difficult to remain in the same place for more than a few minutes!
I honestly wasn’t expecting to see you at all, as I don’t recall seeing any input from you, on the Tapatalk thread, apart from the one, posted that morning, advising you’d been stood down (better than being stood up??)
Was good to see you, all the same!
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Yes I only got the standing-down that morning and ran to the station ! Your journey was rather more exacting than mine.
I think if you hadn’t been to Alfreds (?) before it was worth you doing that rather than the food court style of the Picturedome to be fair, and you’d have seen a bit of central Macclesfield as well. I must read your post now.
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I’ve finally got around to writing up my review of this one on Pubs Galore. https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/3672/
Hope you don’t mind that I’ve linked to your blog and quoted your beer score. If either of these is going to upset you even as much as one nostril hair out of place, please let me know and I will edit it. (Not the nostril hair, the review.)
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