The ever-regenerating face of Stockport continues to build a new and improved reputation for itself, as one of its local boozers has just been named among National Geographic’s list of 12 ‘perfect’ pubs in the UK — and it’s none other than old The Magnet.
While many of you might be familiar with the likes of the viral Chestergate pub right in the town centre, people not so familiar with the area may never have heard of The Magnet Freehouse before, but it’s actually been sat on Wellington Road since 1840.
Originally built as a coaching inn for people to rest up along the busy stretch of the A6, it eventually went on to become a Wilson’s Brewery, drifting into company pub ownership limbo and was at one point left derelict, before it was ultimately reopened and turned into a multi-beer freehouse in 2009.
Brought back to life by mother and son duo, Lesley and Lee Watts, The Magnet is now considered one of Stockport‘s best and not-so-hidden gems, with more and more punters popping in to see its evolution year on year — so much so that Nat Geo has even paid a fair few visits themselves, as it turns out.
All that being said, for those in the know, this latest piece of recognition won’t come as that big of a surprise whatsoever.
Not only was The Magnet voted the best pub in Stockport by CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale) back in 2011 but the family-run venture also won the same accolade at the Greater Manchester Beer Awards in 2017, as well as numerous other regional nods down the years.
Making a splash within the first 18 months of its resurrection, the pub has been plugging away at locals over time and post-pandemic, especially, it seems the number of regulars and new faces enjoying a tipple at the modern-day Magnet has increased — and so has the buzz around the place.
Take that from an SK native who knows a fair few people who have only recently taken their first steps in place over the past couple of years to see what all the fuss was about.
It also have a lovely outdoor space out back that’s the perfect suntrap in the summer. (Credit: The Magnet via Facebook)
With National Geographic insisting that “if everyone had a neighbourhood local like this, the world would be a better place”, they hail the no-frills watering hole for getting “all the basic things bang-on” and focusing on “crucially, the community”.
Now multi-award winning and offering up 14 different cask ales, 12 ever-changing craft kegs, as well as a wide selection of wine and spirits including craft gins, The Magnet Freehous has come along in the past decade and a half. They even have their own microbrewery and have done since 2014.
As well as live music and comedy nights, they also now boast everything from special events like ‘Cocktails ‘n’ Canvas’ and their hugely popular weekly pizza nights, where stonebaked slices are served up by fellow Stopfordian and artisan market regular, ‘The Pizza Maker’.
Stockport is becoming trendy — that’s just their words, they’re ours too and, at this point, just straight-up fact. There’s a reason it was voted Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture in 2023. Congratulations to The Magnet and whether you’re a local or not, make sure to stop in for a pint next time you’re in the area.
Featured Images — The Magnet Freehouse (via Facebook)
Food & Drink
Aldi has launched limited-edition gender reveal Cuthbert caterpillar cakes
Emily Sergeant
Is it a boy or a girl? No it’s a limited-edition Cuthbert.
That’s right, in an ode to the ever-growing trend of gender reveal parties, and to coincide with September being the month that most babies are born in, Aldi has decided to give its iconic Cuthbert Cake a very special makeover for a limited time only.
Designed to offer expectant parents the ultimate way to reveal the gender of their child, this special Cuthbert is now available via an exclusive shopper competition.
The limited-edition cake will be completely free for those lucky enough to get their hands on it.
Decorated with blue and pink chocolate beans, the exclusive new cake has two versions of filling, just as you’d expect – one with pink buttercream icing (for a girl), and blue buttercream icing (for a boy).
The launch of the gender reveal Cuthberts comes after recent research from Aldi has revealed that 58% of millennial Brits have celebrated gender reveal moments, and 48% of Gen Z having attended an average of three gender reveal parties in the last five years – with cake found to be the most popular method of revealing a baby’s gender.
Cake was found to be more popular than balloons, confetti, or fireworks, making it twice as popular much as any other gender reveal option.
And that’s not all either, as following the news that traditional baby names have been seeing a decline in popularity among expectant parents in favour of more unique options, 5% of Brits even admitted that they would consider naming their child Cuthbert after the budget supermarket retailer’s icon.
Aldi has launched limited-edition gender reveal Cuthbert caterpillar cakes / Credit: Aldi
Want to win a gender reveal Cuthbert then?
Shoppers just need to send an email detailing their full name, why they or a loved one would be the ideal recipient of this cake, the address of their closest Aldi store, and the gender of their baby to [email protected].
The competition will open until 11:59pm on 14September, and the lucky winners will be notified of their win via email by 28 September.
You can find further competition details, along with terms and conditions here.
Featured Image – Aldi
Food & Drink
Local brewery J.W. Lees is helping bring back Manchester’s beloved Boddingtons beer
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester, it’s time to rejoice in the return of a cask king, as Boddingtons is coming back in a big way and local brewery J.W. Lees is helping spearhead the revival.
The famous ‘Cream of Manchester’ has slowly dripped away over the decades, being found in fewer places by the year, though some holdouts have remained.
Fortunately, those who are truly passionate about Boddingtons and their love for the delicious golden ale haven’t waned over the years, helping keep it alive on keg in the few Manc pubs still serving it.
But while it was the Keg that kept Boddingtons alive, now, thanks to the native brewers, beer brand and pub chain, the popular beer is being given a fresh start back in its native home of a cask. By’eck – it’s back…
They’re hoping to make sights like this a thing of the past.More of this, please.(Credit: The Manc Eats)
Teaming up with the global Budweiser Brewing Group (BBG), which will now oversee the resurrection of the modern-day ‘Boddies’, J.W. Lees will be bringing the cask ale back to the masses.
Just in time for cosy, autumnal nights in the pub, no less.
Planning to reintroduce it in their pubs across the region, before hopefully taking on the North West and beyond, they’re promising to make it “smoother, creamier, and brewed closer to home than ever before.”
It seems fitting that Lees (founded in 1828) should be entrusted with one of our oldest beers in Boddingtons, which dates back to 1778 and went on to become not just one of the biggest beer brands in the UK but also one of the first to be canned and mass-produced on the shelves across the country.
To toast the return and impending supremacy of Boddies, J.W. Lees Albert Square pub, Founder’s Hall – which replaced the old Duttons when it opened last year – is even hosting a party to celebrate its comeback, featuring some of the very first of the new pints to be poured to the public on 23 September.
This isn’t just a reboot; the new and improved Boddies brand comes with a new 4.0% ABV recipe, looking to join the lineup of premium British ales.
William Lees-Jones, Managing Director J.W. Lees, said: “When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was ‘The Cream of Manchester’ and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution.
“We are planning to put Boddingtons back where it rightly deserves to be as one of the leading premium UK cask beers, particularly in our heartland of the North West.
“We also look forward to working with Budweiser Brewing Group with their portfolio of market-leading lagers and premium packaged beers in our pubs.”
Danny Jones -
17th January 2024 
