With summer upon us (and seemingly having now left us) I have had chance to make a couple of whistle stop tours of country pubs.

One Sunday evening, Wee Fatha and I decided to drive over to Chapel-en-le Frith to enjoy a few of the area’s pubs. In the Square we visited the Roebuck, previously in the Good Beer Guide, which sells Tetley Dark and Bitter. We both opted for the Dark, which was in good nick and reasonably priced.

We next headed to Chinley, on the premise that “ there used to be this pub we went to “ there – I asked which decade this was in but there was no reply. Although there is a pub in Chinley, it was not the famed hostelry of old so we carried on to Buxworth. Here we visited the Navigation, to enjoy excellent Landlord and a Cottage beer, from their Whippet Series. Both beers were enjoyable, the Landlord probably being the better. On questioning, it transpired that my Dad last visited the pub in the 1980’s.

Back through Chinley and left under the railway to find “ the Royal Oak or something “, last visited in the 1970’s. Ignoring the Crown andMitre, I was assured that the pub in question was further on and we eventually came to the Lamb.

Originally on the bend of the road, the pub is now lower than the road on its own drive following straightening the road, and we almost drove straight past.

Now ostensibly a food pub, the landlord told us we’d have to be quick as he was closing at 22.00, so we just had time for halves of Pedigree. Not the best pint of Pedigree I ever tried but it had been a very hot day and at least the pub still offered real ale.

Our final stop was down the hill into Hayfield and the Royal Hotel, for excellent halves of Howard Town Bottoms Up and a seasonal beer from Facers of Salford. The Howard Town was probably the best beer of the night.

More recently, joined by Wee Keefy, we took a trip to Holmfirth. We chose a scenic route through Bradfield, Ewden and Midhopestones and out on to the Woodhead, turning off after some time to visit the Stanhope Arms at Dunford Bridge.

We had noticed the pub’s omissionfrom the GBG and had heard it was closed for refurbishment. Some bright spark had clearly reasoned that it didn’t want to be a silly old pub anymore and turned into Stanhope bar and restaurant with predictable results. The business is now up for sale.

Our second stop was to be the Farmers in Holmfirth although having struggled to work out where it was the pub was shut. There are new owners who are considering Friday Afternoon opening in the near future but no weekday lunchtimes for now.

Next we took a diversion over the hills via Gully and Paris to Jackson Bridge where we visited the GBG listed Red Lion. Here we all tried the Copper Dragon Best, and Deuchars and Tetley was also available. Over the Bridge the White Horse was another Wee Fatha 1960’s to 80’s haunt, which sells Tetleys and a guest, on this occasion Batemans Summer Breeze. It also appeared to be offering a hair cutting service. In both Jackson Bridge pubs the beer was in good condition. Up the Hill in Scholes we visited the Boot and Shoe. Encouraged by the Taylors sign on the wall we were notdisappointed with Landlord and Kelham Island Easy Rider on offer – both well priced and in good form.

As usual it was late before we managed to get food at a café in Holmfirth, before popping round to the Rose and Crown, or the Nook. I started with a pint of Moorhouses Black Cat and we also tried the Taylors bitter, Derwent Carlisle State Bitter and the Golcar Pennine Gold. The Nook still looks the same as I remembered it did in the 1990’s and they have maintained the beer range since the long serving landlord passed away, but the beer quality was poor to average with the exception of the Taylors. It will be interesting to see if this was an unlucky off day when we visited.

Our final stop was on the way home, the first time I have visited the Ladybower Inn. Here we tried Acorn Barnsley Gold and Bradfield Blonde which were in very good condition and a reasonable price. The pub sells four real ales.

All in all both trips were a welcome opportunity to revisit some favourite haunts and find some new ones, and it was good to see pubs that had served a decent pint many years ago still offering real ale now.

Wee Beefy