Rustic charm in the middle of suburbia
WALKING down Mill Lane you could think you were in the deepest countryside rather than deepest suburbia. The aspect is distinctly rural. Trees and birdsong surround you.
Right at the end you come to the attractive March Hare – looking very much like an old farmhouse with an added barn conversion. The rustic appearance is no accident – indeed when the pub was built in 1987 it was constructed to look like an old sawmill, complete with water wheel. Back then it was called the Old Mill and was badged as a Tetley pub. Today it is part of the Vintage Inns chain run by Mitchells and Butlers pub company.
Originally there was a lofty interior with beamed ceilings and lots of suitably rustic bric-a-brac. Today, several refurbishments later (the latest was in March) it’s much more cosy and intimate with lots of separate areas furnished and decorated in a ‘modern traditional’ style. Think more country cottage than working sawmill.
While the emphasis is on food, many of the tables are laid out for dining, there’s still room for you to just drop in and have a drink. This is largely due to the efforts of new manager Rachel Weaver who took over last November. Rachel told me that prior to then non-dining visitors had been rather discouraged and she wanted to change that – and has done so very successfully.
Rachel has been with Mitchells and Butlers for five years and has moved here from the Birmingham area. When she arrived the pub wasn’t in the best shape and she had to appoint most of the staff herself and now has a whole new team in place. She is full of praise for them too – ‘the team is great’ she tells me, ‘and so hard-working’. I must say the service and welcome when I arrived were second-to-none.
March’s refurbishment involved a make-over to the pub’s exterior while inside everything was lightened up while still retaining the traditional feel. It’s really classic ‘country dining pub’ and works very well. Food is a major part of the operation with the kitchen open from noon until 10pm every day. The menu is very wide ranging and covers all bases from starters and sharing plates, pub classics, burgers, pizzas, puddings and steaks. On Sundays, very popular with families Rachel tells me, there are classic roasts too. Add in a ‘Kids Menu’ and fixed price lunch and dinner offers and there’s something for everyone.
For liquid refreshment there’s a decent wine list and a selection of gins. As you may expect, though, I was more interested in the beer offer. In the fridge you’ll find BrewDog Punk IPA, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Camden Helles while I was pleasantly surprised to see RedWillow Wreckless on keg. On handpump there’s Weston’s Rosie’s Pig Cider and four beers. Sharp’s Doom is the regular and more often than not you’ll also see Black Sheep Best Bitter and Marston’s Wainwright. The fourth pump is for a changing guest.
This is an impressive operation and well worth a visit. The bus 368 will drop you on Ladybridge Road from where it’s a short walk down to the pub. »»March Hare, Mill Lane, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 5PG »»Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday noon – 11.30pm; Sunday and Monday noon – 10.30pm.