Category: High Peak, Tameside & North East Cheshire Branch News

Back in January 2024 we awarded the High Peak, Tameside and North East Cheshire Winter Pub of the Year award to the Northumberland Arms in Marple Bridge.  “The Thumb”, as it is known locally, was then shortlisted for our branch Pub of The Year 2024.  It was unanimously judged to be the best pub in our area by all the judges.  On the 27th April the pub was very busy as we presented our Pub of the Year certificate.

This was already a special pub in the branch area. It is the only community owned pub. Originally a Robinson’s house it was put up for sale in January 2017. It was successfully listed as an asset of community value. A Community Benefit Society was set up and raised enough money to buy the pub by the end of Sept 2017.

There are 5 handpumps serving 3 or more ales including Track Sonoma and Robinson’s Unicorn alongside other, generally local, ales and a dark beer.

The pub is small and still has multiple rooms so has character that has been lost in many pubs today. A quick look at the notice board will show you how many community events are based at the pub. Although they do not have a kitchen they regularly have mobile street food outlets on the car park at the front.  Football and sports are shown but do not dominate. There are plans to make further improvements to the building, create a community cafe and expand the small but perfectly formed beer garden.

While presenting the certificate, Peter Mitchell, branch secretary said 

“…the three judges were unanimous that this was the best of the shortlisted pubs we had in the area. The pub is very good all around.  It’s absolutely excellent on the community side.  It’s owned by the community,  it’s managed by the community and It’s totally engaged with the community, it couldn’t be more of a community pub.  So I’d like to congratulate everybody who’s involved with it,  the shareholders,  the people who put up the money to buy it,  the management committee who are unpaid and do a fantastic job and to Phil and all his staff who also do an excellent job and of course the community of drinkers who come in here and make it such a fantastic pub.”

The picture shows Peter Mitchell, branch secretary, presenting the award to the landlord, Phil Jarvis.

This is already a special pub in the High Peak, Tameside and North East Cheshire CAMRA branch area. It is the only community owned pub. Originally a Robinson’s house it was put up for sale in January 2017. It was successfully listed as an asset of community value. A Community Benefit Society was set up and raised enough money to buy the pub by the end of Sept 2017.

There are 5 handpumps serving 3 or more ales including Track Sonoma and Robinson’s Unicorn alongside other, generally local, ales and a dark beer.

The pub is small and still has multiple rooms so has character that has been lost in many pubs today. A quick look at the notice board will show you how many community events are based at the pub. Although they do not have a kitchen they regularly have mobile street food outlets on the car park at the front.  Football and sports are shown but do not dominate. There are plans to make further improvements to the building, create a community cafe and expand the small but perfectly formed beer garden.

It is a truly a community pub in every sense and has now been recognised as our branch Pub of the Season Winter 2024.  The picture shows Peter Mitchell, branch secretary, presenting the award to the landlord, Phil Jarvis.

The High Peak, Tameside and N.E. Cheshire CAMRA Pub of the Season for Summer 2023 is the Ale Stop on Chapel Street in Buxton.

This former converted wine shop was the first micropub in Buxton and opened nine years ago. The current owner, Richard Andrew, has been there six years and has continued its aim as a good community pub offering continually changing beers from microbreweries (both near and far) on four handpumps; also two or three boxed ciders. Richard’s objective is to bring to Buxton beers and ciders which are rarely seen in the town. The Ale Stop has always had a music theme which is reflected in the decor plus an eclectic choice of background music on vinyl is played, with live music events taking place on at least one Sunday each month.

On a wet Saturday in August, all too common this Summer, CAMRA members and local patrons met for the presentation, which was made to Richard Andrew by High Peak Branch member Geoff Williamson.

The High Peak, Tameside and North East Cheshire CAMRA Winter Pub of the Season award goes to Jake’s Ale House in Romiley.
This micropub continues to serve quality real ales from its 5 handpumps. The ales change constantly. They usually include a local ale, guests from around the country and a dark beer.

The bar is welcoming to all. As well as the cask beer, there are 5 keg lines, a gin bar and a selection of international bottled beers. This all fits into a fairly small bar area.  The original curved shop windows survive and draw you in as well as providing character.  Inside there is warmth provided by the use of wood and mostly booth seating. There is a smaller room at the back with a log burning stove which is open at the weekends or when busy. The bar is now owned and run by Cheryl Shaw. She has continued to run a great bar while making improvements to the decoration and appearance.
Pictured is Cheryl accepting the award from Peter Mitchell, Branch Secretary.

Submitting Beer Scores

Although the percentage of our Branch Members submitting scores is higher than the national average, we are keen to increase this further.  CAMRA have put together a couple of useful videos, each about 3 minutes long, one explaining why it is important to submit beer scores, and the other explaining how this is done. Members can view these by clicking on the links below.

Why submit beer scores – https://youtu.be/NBkd4–5pxo
How to submit a beer score – https://youtu.be/TSgRLWj7q20

Please can I encourage Members who try a variety of ales when visiting a pub to submit a score for each beer they try.