Pubs of Stockport

A look at the pubs of Stockport during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

Pub number 1 - The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. A lovely Art Deco building. We'd never seen it shuttered before the lockdown

We've spent some of our new-found outdoor exercise time during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown visiting the pubs of Stockport.

Pub number 73 - The Crown Inn on Heaton Lane in Stockport town centre

It's been interesting to see the variety of architecture, different signage, parts of the town we haven't been to for a long time and other parts of the area we've never been to. I've been documenting them on Instagram using the #StopfordianPubs tag.

Pub number 222 - The Bull's Head Hotel in High Lane, Stockport. Our daily walks around the town took us to the borough's canals on a number of occasions

This is us outside pub number 265 - The Nursery Inn in Heaton Norris on Friday 3rd July 2020.

At the 265th pub on our lockdown 'pub crawl'. Not a drop was drunk on our daily walks in April, May, June and July

It was the last of all the pubs in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport we visited on our daily outdoor exercise between Wednesday 1st April and before pubs were allowed to reopen with social distancing measures on Saturday 4th July.

Pub number 185 - The Crown in Hawk Green, Marple, a part of the borough we never knew existed before our walks began

We saw a real mixture of pubs, bars, club and social clubs, along with a few lost and closed pubs. There were also some new pubs getting ready to re-open post-lockdown.

Related blog posts:
- Pub
- Pubs
- Stockport
- Lockdown

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour update - June 2020

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic we were closing in on visiting the final 40 courses of the original 600 we set out to play in 2006. We're also very close to hitting 1,000 course visits overall.

Before the lockdown hit and our out-of-home putting was paused we'd visited 948 courses since September 2006.

We'd had a strong start to the year and visited 20 courses in the first 20 days of 2020.

We went to Wythenshawe Park just over the border in Manchester for our daily outdoor exercise on Sunday 21st June and revisited the Crazy Golf we first played in 2009. While there we also visited the currently closed Pitch & Putt Miniature Golf course. That became course visit 949 and the first new course since the pandemic hit.

During the lockdown I've been taking a look at minigolf and competitive socialising in the time of coronavirus and social distancing. You can read more in my post at 'The Coronavirus (Ham & Egger) Files'.

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour before and during the lockdown

Last new course played before the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown - CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf in King's Cross, London. 25th February 2020.

Last course played before the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown - Junkyard Golf at First Street in Manchester. 9th March 2020.

Last course visited before the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown - The Lost Valley Adventure Golf at Amazonia in the Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton. 14th March 2020.

First course we visited on a daily walk that we saw with social distancing measures - Bruntwood Pitch & Putt in Cheadle Hulme. 23rd May 2020.

First previously played course visited during the Coronavirus pandemic - Crazy Golf at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester. 21st June 2020.

First new course visited during the Coronavirus pandemic - Pitch & Putt at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester. 21st June 2020.

Social distancing minigolf

We're interested in seeing examples of Covid-19 social distancing at minigolf courses around the world - from signage to scorecards we'd like to see them and share them.

If you're a course owner, minigolf club or player please do get in touch with your examples.

New courses opening

It's been good to hear that new miniature golf courses are still being planned, designed and built ready for the future.

We've found out about the following developments during lockdown.

• Construction is underway on Adventure Golf courses at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham St Annes.
• Work is nearing completion on the Woodland Adventure Golf course at China Fleet Country Club in Saltash, Cornwall.
• The Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club has been created in Bristol, with online Putt at Home activities taking place ahead of the building of a new Crazy Golf course.
• A new Ghetto Golf course could be heading to Sheffield.
• A new indoor Mini Golf venue is opening Birmingham.
• A new Mini Golf course has been installed at Sea Acres Holiday Park at Kennack Sands in Cornwall.
• A new Roxy Ball Room is being created at Withy Grove in Manchester, it'll be home to a minigolf course.
• And a new Adventure Golf course could be built in Andover, Hampshire.

If you know of any other new minigolf courses opening or are planning to create one please do let us know.

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Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Newsletter archive and sign-up to receive future editions

Social distancing minigolf

Minigolf in the time of coronavirus and social distancing.

We're interested in seeing examples of Covid-19 social distancing at minigolf courses around the world - from signage to scorecards we'd like to see them and share them.

If you're a course owner, minigolf club or player please do get in touch with your examples.

Social distancing at minigolf courses

It'll be interesting to see the changes to how minigolf is played as lockdown restrictions ease and it becomes safer to get out and about a bit more.

I've been writing about social distancing and the impact of coronavirus on minigolf and competitive socialising venues. You can see more of my posts at 'The Coronavirus (Ham & Egger) Files'.

Social distancing Pitch & Putt

We don't have any adventure, crazy or mini golf courses in Stockport, but we do have a Pitch & Putt miniature golf course at Bruntwood Park in Cheadle Hulme. We saw the social distancing measures in place there while out on our daily exercise recently.

International minigolf on the Dull Men's Club blog

Check out the latest blog post on the Dull Men's Club website, it's about us and how we're coping in lockdown.

Minigolfers competing internationally from living room during lockdown — Richard and Emily Gottfried

At the North Bay Crazy Golf course in Scarborough last June. It was our 900th course visit. What a difference a year makes

Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club in Bristol

Information about the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club in Knowle West, Bristol.

A new home-based minigolf club has been created ahead of the building of a brand new minigolf course in Bristol.

Many thanks to our friend, minigolf rival and Midlands Minigolf Club team-mate Kevin Moseley for letting us know about the new minigolf club and course near him in Bristol.

The Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club has been set-up by artist Megan Clark-Bagnall to introduce fun and creativity during lockdown.

Members of the online Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club are putting together ideas and obstacles in the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club's Facebook Group. The new minigolf course will be opening at Filwood Community Centre later in the year.

It's brilliant to see another example of competitive isolation during the pandemic. We've loved seeing all of the different Putt At Home activities taking place around the world while people haven't been able to get out to play.

We're looking forward to following the progress of the club and playing the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club's Facebook Group and the Filwood Community Centre website for more information.

Social Distancing Minigolf

Seeing new signs at miniature golf courses.

While we're still in lockdown some outdoor minigolf courses have been allowed to reopen as long as they have put in place social distancing measures.

We've seen examples of these measures at our local Pitch & Putt course at Bruntwood Park in Cheadle Hulme.

While out on our daily outdoor exercise we've been photographing social media signs, posters and messages and logging them on Instagram as a record of the times we're living through.

We'd be interested to see the different Covid-19 / social distancing posters and signs at minigolf courses in the UK and around the world.

Take a look at the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Newsletter archive and sign-up to receive future editions

Social distancing at Cheadle Makers Market

We went to our first outdoor market during the coronavirus pandemic on Saturday morning.

It was an interesting experience indeed.

There was a lot of social distancing signage and a good range of stalls.

There were lots of people out and about too too. Unfortunately not everyone understands what arrows and warning signs mean.

We didn't stay there for too long, but did buy some nice gin and mixers from DS Artisan Food & Drink before we scarpered.

I've been posting snaps of the wide-range of social distancing posters and signs I see on my daily outdoor exercise during the time of coronavirus. You can see them here on the blog and on my Instagram. I've seen some interesting, colourful and clear ones. And some really terrible ones too.

Pubs of Stockport during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown

A look at Stockport's pubs during the lockdown.

I've been photographing the pubs of Stockport while out on my daily exercise.

This is No. 131 - The Jolly Sailor in Davenport.

The Jolly Sailor is the first of the pubs we've seen open during lockdown, albeit in a very limited manner. They are serving takeaway coffee and cakes.

Here are the social distancing signs and measures they have put in place.

You can see more of my Stopfordian Pub photos on Instagram.

We're looking forward to when pubs reopen and it's safe to visit them again.

We've missed going to the pub for pub quizzes, but have been doing quite a few during lockdown.

Social distancing and Covid-19 signs

Have you seen any particularly good, bad, or downright ugly social distancing signage during the pandemic?

I think the signs at Stockport bus station are nice and clear.

It's going to be interesting to see how social distancing signs change and develop over time and as more places reopen.

Recording the signs

I've been snapping signs I see during my daily outdoor exercise and logging them on Instagram.

Social distancing minigolf

The first social distancing signs at a miniature golf course we've seen in person were at Bruntwood Park's Pitch & Putt course last month.

Our plans for 2020

While our out-of-home putting has been paused by the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown we've been putting at home.

Stay alert. Control the virus

I was alert on my government mandated outdoor exercise time today.

Merseyway Comic Con in Stockport

There should've been a comic con at the Merseyway shopping centre in Stockport today.

Another casualty of the coronavirus.

Here's a snap of me on a Star Wars speeder bike at the Merseyway's first comic con last September.

Having fun in Stockport last year

Hopefully there'll be a return of retailtainment events in the future.

There was going to be a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man at the Merseyway comic con.

I'm so glad I went to Urmston last October!

South Park Miniature Railway in Cheadle Hulme

Revisiting the Miniature Railway at South Park in Cheadle Hulme.

We took part of our outdoor daily exercise at South Park in Cheadle Hulme and had a look at the excellent miniature railway there.

South Park is home to Stockport & District Society of Model Engineers

It's a real treat to ride the model railway and I highly recommend a visit in the future when it is once again safe to do so.

To the trains

Old arrows at the entrance - they look well spaced out in the times of social distancing

The turntable

A view of the loop

A pair of park benches with a fine view of the miniature railway

We first found out about it back in May 2017, a year after we moved up here! 

End of the line

The Metropolitan Borough of Stockport is home to three miniature railways - the one at South Park, Brookside Miniature Railway at the Garden Centre in Poynton and the Dragon Miniature Railway at the Garden Centre in Marple.

Related blog posts:

• Miniature Railways
• Cheadle Hulme

Link:

• Stockport & District Society of Model Engineers

Finding a lost Golf Centre in Stockport

We found a lost golf centre yesterday!

We went to Heaton Mersey for our daily exercise and while having a wander we took a turn into a side road we hadn't been down before.

Half way along it we spotted a gate with the word GOLF on it so had to take a closer look.

Cranford Golf Centre was a golf driving range. It closed down on the 31st October 2014.

Looking online there were plans for the area to be turned into housing.

It's amazing how much we've still got to explore of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport.

Bladerunner 2009

Finding a futuristic barbers in Stockport.

On our daily exercise in the Reddish area of Stockport yesterday we spotted a fun shop sign.

Blade Runner is set in dystopian Los Angeles in the year 2019. It's crazy to think we're living through our own dystopian times with the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing lockdown.

I wonder what life will be like in 2049...?

Bridgehall BMX Track in Stockport

I found a BMX track on my daily walk yesterday.

It's only 5 minutes away from my house too!

Amazing.

It's hidden in plain sight if you know where to look.

And there's me thinking I'd explored all of my local area!

Pub quizzes during lockdown

Have you played a virtual pub quiz during lockdown?

Is anyone else missing that Friday feeling at their local as we all stay home?🍺🍻

Are any Stockport pubs hosting online pub quizzes? @TheVirtualPubQ1 are hosting an online pub quiz tomorrow evening: https://t.co/xA1JVtPqpy

📸@putting_gott pic.twitter.com/F762opT4rc

— Stockport Council (@StockportMBC) May 1, 2020

Our local The Micker Brook in Cheadle Hulme has been running a weekly online quiz with the excellent Mike Prince since lockdown began.

The Micker Brook in Cheadle Hulme

It's brilliant fun.

I've been taking snaps of the pubs of Stockport I pass while out on my daily exercise. You can see more on my Instagram.