Stockport

The Chestergate pub in Stockport is at it again with some of the most wonderfully Manc scenes you’ll ever see

There's a reason this place is the stuff of legend.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 25th April 2024

The legendary Chestergate pub in Stockport is back with another belter of a video, following on from their viral belly-flashing clip of 2022.

The Mersey Square boozer has painted yet another quintessentially Northern depiction of UK pub culture with the latest Manc scenes they’ve captured around the karaoke machine.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of stumbling into The Chestergate in Stockport town centre, the long-standing boozer currently operated by publican chain Blind Tiger Inns, you’re seriously missing out.

While it might not be the flashiest of pubs, when it comes to entertainment, it always delivers.

Whether it’s stunts like renaming themselves ‘The Southgate’ whenever the Euros or World Cup rolls around, or the locals just genuinely having a whale of a time no matter what day of the week it is, it really sums up the best of pub culture.

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The Chestergate went viral for some of the most British footage ever caught on film back in 2022 and the videos saw a huge wave of love and support flooding in for the pub, as well as a healthy amount of chuckles. Safe to say we were chuffed to see them pop back up on our feed again recently.

Karaoke night at The Chestergate literally never disappoints.

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Forget ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ or ‘Champagne Supernova’ for karaoke songs – we’ll take a cacophony of inaudible throwback pop music, whilst another bloke and his hype man try and MC over a totally ill-fitting beat any day of the week.

And that’s handy because you’ll find those kinds of shenanigans happening at this place all the time.

Be it hens and stags, St George’s Day celebrations; a safe-cracking-themed competition, a ‘Texas Hold ‘Em Hoedown’ dance-off, or simply the matchday crowds when the footy’s on, there’s always something going on here.

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It’s simultaneously one of the most no-nonsense and somehow a non-stop shenanigan-filled paradise. They also look after their own and consider their regulars part of the family. Case and point: they threw their very own ‘Dancing Queen’ Molly a big bash for her 86th birthday and it’s such wholesome viewing.

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At this point, it’s worth flagging that we have nothing but envy for these folks and anyone who’s just out there having the time of their lives on any random weeknight.

Yes, it produced plenty of laughs for those watching online in recent times but this lot won’t mind one bit – not only is the pub seeing more and more new faces through the door but that’s the whole point of a pub, isn’t it? Going for a pint with your nearest and dearest and having a laugh.

Not only is it very Manchester but it’s Britain at its very best.

We hope to see you at The Chestergate pub in Stockport for a pint or two sometime soon and we’re making a bit of a prat of ourselves, don’t worry, we’re sure they’ll have the cameras ready for you.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Chestergate (via Facebook)

Stockport

Tawny Stores – Inside the stunning canalside restaurant that’s Stockport’s loveliest addition

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group

There’s a tiny little opening on the outskirts of Stockport that’s so charming, with such delicious food, that we’re going to have to insist you all rearrange your plans to visit immediately.

This is Tawny Stores, a restaurant, cafe and deli where you can do everything from having a romantic candlelit dinner to scoffing a morning pastry to grabbing a loaf of bread to take home.

With a pretty canalside location, and windows that look out over the water, it’s already proving a fantastic addition to Greater Manchester.

Tawny Stores is in Marple Bridge, a picturesque village at the foot of the Peak District hills (which feels a million miles from Stockport, but the name on the wheelie bins doesn’t lie).

It may be a total pain in the arse to get to, especially with every-other train being cancelled, but getting stuck out here is far from being the end of the world.

From their tiny kitchen they cook an ever-changing menu that’s technical, but simple.

By the time you read this the menu will probably have changed again, but here we go anyway.

Rabbit pie at Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group
Rabbit pie at Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group
A cheese toastie at Tawny Stores.
A cheese toastie at Tawny Stores. Credit: The Manc Group
Homemade crisps and a glass of wine. Credit: The Manc Group
Homemade crisps and a glass of wine. Credit: The Manc Group
Roast squash and lentils. Credit: The Manc Group
Roast squash and lentils at Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group

We had a wild rabbit, cider and tarragon pie, with a crust that could win awards and a generous dollop of silky smooth mash.

There was a simple cheese and onion toastie, elevated by some top-quality bread and homemade chutney on the side.

A warming pile of lentils was then topped with roasted squash and a zingy and herby green sauce to zap it (and you) back to life.

And then there’s homemade focaccia, which you can order with olive oil or have it as a sandwich, where fillings are currently festive and include squash and stuffing, crispy sprouts and aioli, and pork Milanese and cranberry.

Inside Tawny Stores, Marple Bridge, Stockport. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Tawny Stores, Marple Bridge, Stockport. Credit: The Manc Group
Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group
Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group

Before you head out, take a moment to browse the shelves full of produce (and the display unit filled with homemade cakes).

You can grab a hot drink to walk down the canal and burn off some of that fuel, or do it in reverse and come in here to warm your cockles after a brisk winter stroll.

Either way, it’s one to visit – and soon.

You can follow them on Instagram HERE for their latest menus.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Stockport

Stockport County’s viral Christmas dinner in a cup is back for 2024

Danny Jones Danny Jones Christmas dinner in a cup Stockport County 2024

The big day is literally just around the corner and while we’re looking forward to unwrapping our presents and diving face-first into a mountain of food, there’s one festive foodie gift we can’t stop thinking about: Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup.

Yes, the mother of all Sunday roasts is probably the best meal of the year but do you know the next best thing? A portable one that you can take with you to the game.

For the uninitiated, a couple of years ago Stockport County had the ingenious idea to level up matchday scran by swapping out the humble chips and gravy, Rollover hotdog or a simple pie to serve up an absolutely stuffed-to-bursting cup of the Christmas dinner with a bunch of trimmings.

No Yorkshire pudding just but we’re sure they’re working on it; maybe they can use that as the cup next time? Nevermind – check how good this looks:

As you can see, beyond just getting a bit of meat and carbs with some moisture (the bare minimum you want to consume inside the stadium), the Hatters are serving a fair few of your five a day, lovely roasted turkey, pigs in blankets and even stuffing to top off their festive special.

Since debuting back in 2022, the idea has been a rousing success and even those who might have raised an eyebrow at a mini portable roast, selling out pretty much every week during the previous holiday season too.

Now back for just the third year running, they’ve had 12 whole months to perfect the recipe and while the product may be even better this December, it will still only set you back just £4.50.

Absolutely unreal value for money, as we’re sure the Footy Scran admin would agree, especially given the cost of living these days.

Head Chef John Rose, who served us up a healthy tray of them in 2023 and the year prior, even managed to rope in right-back Macauley Southam-Hales to serve the first few portions up to the staff and players earlier this month.

At this point, County are becoming just as synonymous with the Christmas dinner in a cup as they are hats…

‘Macca’, now the second longest-serving player behind goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe, was understandably impressed with John’s no-spill cooking skills and given that this mobile meal delivers pretty much every food group a growing boy needs, we’re fairly sure he’s allowed this one the diet sheet.

Once again, this PCD (Portable Christmas Dinner) costs less than a fiver and is much healthier, both in portion size and actual nutritional value, than you’ll find at virtually any other football ground in Greater Manchester.

Available exclusively at the County Courtyard fan zone at Edgeley Park throughout the festive period, plenty of fans have already been lining their stomach with the Christmas dinner in a cup and with two home games left – counting the New Year’s Day fixture – you’ve still got chance to grab one.

Consider that your Merry Christmas from SCFC.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

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