Words by Alex, Photos by Butty & Bern
Crew: El Pres, Butty, Bern, Stunt
Pub: Dunc
Route: Meet Prestbury Church Porch, Chelford road to the Wizard, Down through Alderley Edge Village, out on Brook lane to the Oakwood, Knutsford road for the Bird in Hand, and the Roebuck and Bulls Head.
Conditions: Cool & dry, rain post pub
Notes:
Another wet & windy week! the thought of a third TNR restricted to the rocky trails of the forest triggers some lateral thinking…staying low on the road with plenty of refreshment!
The small crew available (numbers down due the draw of the Alps, and the reach of the lurgy) are all in agreement…a plan is hatched.
We keep it simple and manageable..five pubs by 9pm then food.
A mini Wobberly Mobberly inspired route is planned by Stunt (using commuting and old RAI training ride knowledge)
A new meeting point in Prestbury works well (although Butty is sad that the public toilets have been demolished..new car park coming apparently)
We do some actual work climbing out of the village and up to the Wizard, the water on the roads pretty manageable with only one full road width puddle to negotiate by Hare Hill entrance.
Fine Wizards Bear is sampled, in nice surroundings…but there is a timetable to keep so once finished back on the bikes. Stunt warns of potholes on the descent in the Alderley Edge..and he’s not wrong..Bern and Butty make light work of them with big tyres, El Pres and Stunt are more circumspect on crossers.
Leaving the bright lights, shiny cars and fond memories of the bubble room behind, a left turn takes us out, over the bypass and then with some sudden braking we are at the Oakwood (formerly Loch Fyne). Nicely done out inside, but the beer maybe less impressive (although Butty enjoys his lager!)
Now for the longest leg of the journey, past Chorley village hall, into the countryside proper before houses reappear and then the floodlit front of the Bird in Hand. None of your pretentious interiors here, a proper old no nonsense pub with any beer you like..as long as its Sam Smiths! Real fires, and amusing no swearing policy, and pannelled benches suit us perfectly.
No rest for the wicked, but its a mere half mile to the last two, we order food at the Bulls Head before walking over the road to the Roebuck. It’s been redone since we were last here..very atmospheric in an upmarket way, Buck beer not half bad, and take away scrolls of the menu to take back to WAGS 😉
Four down, and now rolling back across the road for the final stop.
Superb food..Butty can’t believe his eyes when there is a whole lamb chop embedded in his shepherds pie, the wobby ale pie is a pastry masterpiece, and the Irish themed specials not bad either. Beer may let the side down though, and the Cheshire cat is not taken up for a second pint, and the Rambler is not on top form either.
Dunc’s joins us having done a slightly circuitous route which means he’s actually ridden further than we have!
Bern goes for a pudding (not sure he earned it), and finished off with a red wine, as we settle into our snug corner very nicely. Plenty of nice things to look at (pictures of dogs drinking beer amongst them…sold in bottles at £1.95). Plenty of topics of conversation with the unisex toilets, and large collection of whisky bottle packaging amongst them. No not fear some token ribaldry was also engaged in 😉
Dunc and Butty go for a Wee Laddie to finish, and it’s time to prepare for what is now a long and wet ride home.
Stunt immediately discovers that one of those half’s has not agreed with him, and has a few moments on the way back where a hedgerow might get redecorated!
Route back avoided the big climb back past the wiard, in favour of the longer but less huey inducing slog back through Mottram.
Bollin valley super slippy on the field.
A fine night and vive la difference! One week to the spring equinox…