May 2026. Congleton.
I’d walked east from Congleton station, along the canal, west along the disused railway line, and now after Bass in the Throstle’s Nest it was a walk past the cemetery into town.
I must stop reading gravestones;
to have all three children predecease you is unimaginable.
Congleton is a quaint Cheshire working town that seemed too quiet on post-COVID trips,
and clearly the answer to revitalising a Cheshire market town is to stick a food court in an old market area (their pic).
Not quite as busy as the Mackie Mayors of Altrincham and Manchester,
but I am here mid-afternoon on Thursday before the “girls who wine” and mums and children arrive.
R & Gs’s Taphouse is the craft flagship, and if its craft is of the household name variety (Floc, Left Handed Giant, Track Sonoma) I don’t think Comgleton will be too upset.
I have a Floc Whisper I can’t finish (never craft after cask), mispronounce the name of the Indo-Pakistani Twist hut,
and suddenly realise there’s an actual cask brewery tap (Bollington’s Foundry) hiding round the back.
It’s all a bit too much in the heat, though the Bollington is pretty good, and the superb Butter Chicken Curry bowl might even have won over the Americans.
But really, I’d come back to Congleton for Bass in the Throstles Nest.
retiredmartin 
I don’t remember a Market Quarter, or any other fraction, when we were in Congleton during February 2020.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a post-COVID development, Paul. I remember a cheap pub lunch and Bass on the High Street that day, not sure about now.
LikeLike
Yes, Bass in the Old Kings Arms.
LikeLike
Does PUKHT rhyme with bucket ??
These old iron and grass market halls reborn as food halks is really taking off. The Derby one looked good on my last visit (but the queue at the deli stall for a pork pie was too long, i’d have missed my pre train half at the Brunswick, and that will never do)
Stockports is kinda half food places, half stalls, so the best of both worlds.
Curry looks great, I’ll add these all to my list, thanks.
Ps Mackie Mayor’s in Mcr poor WiFi and online booking system just doesn’t work on my android phone, so is a rather frustrating place to visit…
LikeLiked by 2 people
The waiting staff have T-shirts with “Get Pukht” printed on the back.
😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
I remember the Derby one now you mention it, Rich. Only Chesterfield to go !
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Does PUKHT rhyme with bucket ??”
Or the Thailand city of Phuket ?
LikeLike
Well, I very much hope that it isn’t pronounce “puked”, Paul…
LikeLike
Re gravestone – I know a Barber man born in and still living in Cheshire. Maybe it is a popular name in those parts.
LikeLike