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18-09-2014, 12:09
Visit The Pub Curmudgeon site (http://pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2014/09/forever-amber.html)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfvLOuvJJXw/VBrKwWgZPFI/AAAAAAAADws/R8R60IG9oHU/s200/george%2Band%2Bdragon.jpg (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfvLOuvJJXw/VBrKwWgZPFI/AAAAAAAADws/R8R60IG9oHU/s1600/george%2Band%2Bdragon.jpg)
The George & Dragon is an imposing former coaching inn in the centre of Stockport’s satellite town of Cheadle. For many years a Greenall’s house, it closed down a few years ago and, as I said here (http://closedpubs.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/george-dragon.html), there didn’t seem to be much prospect of it ever reopening as a pub. However, it has now been taken over by Amber Taverns (http://www.ambertaverns.co.uk/), who specialise in reviving wet-led community pubs and, after a fairly thoroughgoing refurbishment, reopened its doors last week.
They’ve done a pretty good job of giving it a “pubby” atmosphere, with extensive bench seating, warm colours and much use of dark wood. It’s resolutely wet-only, with no food of any kind being served, which is a little surprising in a town-centre location. There’s also a strict over-18s only policy, so you won’t be bothered by noisy children running around. The interior is, however, dominated by numerous large screens for showing televised sport, and you can see it becoming the go-to location in the area to watch big matches. There’s an extensive ouside drinking area at the rear.
Although there have been reports of Fool Hardy beers being sold, on my visit the cask range consisted of Pedigree, Cumberland Ale, Hobgoblin and Deuchars IPA, which isn’t exactly going to encourage drinkers to go out of their way. The Pedigree was in decent nick, but at £3.20 a touch pricy for this kind of venue. There’s the usual range of kegs, but nothing of a remotely “craft” nature.
The old pub had an extensive car park, but for some reason they have decided to block this off. The excuse that they don’t want to encourage drink-driving doesn’t really hold water, and in a busy spot with no free on-street parking a car park does give you a competitive advantage. Maybe the longer-term objective is to sell it off for redevelopment. While I was in there, one group came in and asked about parking.
Given the dominance of TV sport, it’s unlikely to become a regular haunt of mine. But it will be interesting to see if Amber Taverns can buck the trend and make a success of an unashamedly down-to-earth, wet-only boozer. There’s an article about their business formula here (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9969848/People-still-want-a-pub-where-everybody-knows-your-name.html).
More... (http://pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2014/09/forever-amber.html)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfvLOuvJJXw/VBrKwWgZPFI/AAAAAAAADws/R8R60IG9oHU/s200/george%2Band%2Bdragon.jpg (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfvLOuvJJXw/VBrKwWgZPFI/AAAAAAAADws/R8R60IG9oHU/s1600/george%2Band%2Bdragon.jpg)
The George & Dragon is an imposing former coaching inn in the centre of Stockport’s satellite town of Cheadle. For many years a Greenall’s house, it closed down a few years ago and, as I said here (http://closedpubs.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/george-dragon.html), there didn’t seem to be much prospect of it ever reopening as a pub. However, it has now been taken over by Amber Taverns (http://www.ambertaverns.co.uk/), who specialise in reviving wet-led community pubs and, after a fairly thoroughgoing refurbishment, reopened its doors last week.
They’ve done a pretty good job of giving it a “pubby” atmosphere, with extensive bench seating, warm colours and much use of dark wood. It’s resolutely wet-only, with no food of any kind being served, which is a little surprising in a town-centre location. There’s also a strict over-18s only policy, so you won’t be bothered by noisy children running around. The interior is, however, dominated by numerous large screens for showing televised sport, and you can see it becoming the go-to location in the area to watch big matches. There’s an extensive ouside drinking area at the rear.
Although there have been reports of Fool Hardy beers being sold, on my visit the cask range consisted of Pedigree, Cumberland Ale, Hobgoblin and Deuchars IPA, which isn’t exactly going to encourage drinkers to go out of their way. The Pedigree was in decent nick, but at £3.20 a touch pricy for this kind of venue. There’s the usual range of kegs, but nothing of a remotely “craft” nature.
The old pub had an extensive car park, but for some reason they have decided to block this off. The excuse that they don’t want to encourage drink-driving doesn’t really hold water, and in a busy spot with no free on-street parking a car park does give you a competitive advantage. Maybe the longer-term objective is to sell it off for redevelopment. While I was in there, one group came in and asked about parking.
Given the dominance of TV sport, it’s unlikely to become a regular haunt of mine. But it will be interesting to see if Amber Taverns can buck the trend and make a success of an unashamedly down-to-earth, wet-only boozer. There’s an article about their business formula here (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9969848/People-still-want-a-pub-where-everybody-knows-your-name.html).
More... (http://pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2014/09/forever-amber.html)