Three Crowns - Vintage Inns

Beautiful Country Pubs
Cheshire &
Staffordshire

The Vintage Inns of Cheshire & Staffordshire Collection
Spanning two of the most resplendently green counties in rural England, the inns
that make up the Vintage Inns Cheshire & Staffordshire Collection are barometers
of good taste and hospitality in a part of
the country that sets high standards.
They take in historical hotbeds, panoramic vistas, natural landmarks
and some of our best preserved ancient settlements - and are very much a
destination in their own right.
Cheshire is probably England’s most affluent county and our inns grace some of
the prettiest and most desirable villages. The Honey Bee in prestigious Wilmslow
is surrounded by ‘timbered’ National Trust properties and close to the geological
beauty of Alderley Edge.
Two of ancient Chester’s most sought after hamlets are home to our Cheshire Cat
and Red Lion, with the former a colonial-style building on
a historic battlefield and the latter next to a medieval church and Norman castle.
Staffordshire is the creative county, so a trip to Stone and The Three Crowns
is best done by narrowboat along the scenic Trent & Mersey Canal, while The
Wolseley Arms just outside Stafford is flanked by the Area of Outstanding Beauty
that is Cannock Chase, and The Talbot at Biddulph offers remote moorlands
charm that harks back to a simpler and less structured way of life.
Wherever you wander, they all have carefully restored period features, log
burning fires, friendly staff and some even have cosy accommodation. They serve
traditional British favourites, blackboard specials and Sunday roasts, while the ales
are real cask conditioned and the wines are from around the world.
So, eat, drink and be merry whilst enjoying the very best of British!
Contents
Wolseley Arms – Stafford
Honey Bee – Wilmslow
The Talbot – Stoke
Three Crowns – Stone
Cheshire Cat – Chester
March Hare –Stockport
Bears Head – Sandbach
Red Lion – Chester
The Chimneys – Hooton
The Frozen Mop – Mobberley
Information Waterside walks Heritage sites National Trust sites Visitor attractions
Museums
Countryside walks

Vintage Inn Collection
Cheshire & Staffordshire
M62
Red Lion
M56
The Chimneys
Chester
Cheschire Cat
A41
A51
A525
M60
M6
A54
A518
Manchester
Honey Bee
A34
Frozen Mop
Bears Head
M6
March Hare
The Talbot
A34
Stoke-on-Trent
Three Crowns
Stafford
Wolseley Arms
M67
Peak
District
A523

Wolseley Arms
Wolseley Bridge, Stafford, ST17 0XS
Tel. 01889 883179
This old farmhouse-style inn nestles at the crossroads in the tiny hamlet of
Wolseley Bridge, south of the county town of Stafford.
The inn was formerly known as The Roebuck up until 1960 when it became
The Wolseley Arms. Originally it was used as a regular changing place for
coaches on long journeys before railways were introduced and at one time
over a hundred horses were kept at The Wolseley Arms for this purpose.
The Wolseley Arms is adjacent to the meandering River Trent
and Wolseley Park, along with Cannock Chase which is the smallest place to
be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in mainland Britain.
Consequently, visitors to the pub can take advantage of walking, cycling,
boating, or wildlife studies, along with retail therapy at the nearby garden
centre and the culture of Shugborough Hall.
And directly opposite is the recently opened Wolseley Centre, which is the
HQ of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and set in 26 acres of former landscape
gardens and the ancestral home of the Wolseley family. The site has three
lakes, a brook and a stretch of the River Trent, plus a number of easily
accessible walks which take in the lakes, riverside and planted woodland.
Slightly further afield, Blithfield Reservoir provides a stunning visual aspect
in a picturesque landscape. It’s a haven for wildlife and the surrounding
woodland is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, but also offers
a range of recreational and educational opportunities. And the nearby
medieval hamlet of Abbots Bromley with its triangular village green attracts
visitors worldwide with its unusual Horn Dance.
For information about The Wolseley Arms and just some of the many things to see and do in the Stafford area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thewolseleyarmswolseleybridge
Bridge the gap ...
• The Trent and Mersey Canal
is within 100 yards of the pub
car park for picturesque walks
both ways.
• Shugborough Hall Estate is a
must see, as is Cannock Chase, a
designated Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty.
• The Wolseley Arms is unrivalled in
the area for great food, real cask
ales, fine wines, roaring log fires and
a warm welcome.
1

Honey Bee
Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LT
Tel. 01625 526511
This distinctive and rather grand looking country inn stands proud just
outside the prestigious ‘Cheshire set’ town of Wilmslow.
It was previously known as Oversley House and was a private
home until the mid 20th century, but after a spell as a residential home for
the elderly it was appropriately transformed into Oversley House Hotel,
before becoming The Marmalade Cat pub, and finally The Honey Bee.
Wilmslow nestles in the valleys of the Rivers Bollin and Dean, among
the most picturesque parts of lowland Cheshire. It was originally a major
stagecoach-stop between London and Manchester, but the history of this
ancient parish dates back to the Iron Age period. Indeed, much about the
fascinating history of Wilmslow was uncovered with the discovery of
Lindow Man, in Lindow Moss. Preserved in the peat bogs for 2000 years,
Lindow Man is one of the most important Iron Age finds in the country – so
much so that he’s now been transferred to the British Museum in London.
Nearby Quarry Bank Mill & Styal Estate, however, can be viewed in all its
glory and is one of the best preserved and least altered factory estates of the
Industrial Revolution. The cotton mill is now a captivating museum with
the most powerful working waterwheel in Europe, but you can also explore
the restored Apprentice House where the unpaid child labourers lived, the
mill workers’ village and the country estate. The Mill owner’s private garden
is now open as well, while woodland and riverside walks also provide a
tranquil contrast.
There are four other National Trust properties in the local vicinity too, while
two prestigious golf courses are also within a mile of the inn.
For information about The Honey Bee and just some of the many things to see and do in the Wilmslow area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thehoneybeewilmslow
When buzzing around…
• The River Bollin is one of
the most placid tributaries of the
River Mersey and remarkably
unpolluted, so offers pleasant,
rambling walks in beautiful
countryside.
• Its not everyone’s cup of tea, but
Manchester Airport’s Aviation
Viewing Park is under a mile
away and offers a totally different
perspective on modern jet flight.
• Like bees to honey, local people
and visitors alike are drawn to our
inn because of its idyllic location
and gardens, but also consistently
good food, fine wines and cask
conditioned
real ales.
2

The Talbot
73 Grange Road, Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent, ST8 7RY
Tel. 01782 512608
This traditional inn rests in Biddulph, the garden town of Staffordshire and
set in the rural heartland north of Stoke-on-Trent and the Potteries.
It was first recorded in 1818, when Ralph Lowe was the publican, though
it probably predates even this time. During 1920-30 when John William
Barker occupied the inn, The Talbot was one of the few places in the area
to possess a telephone. Today, a beamed interior with three open fires,
including a double sided fireplace, still guarantees a warm welcome.
Biddulph is a town steeped in history and there are ancient burial mounds;
evidence of the English Civil War; the bubonic plague; Black Bull Colliery;
tombs of possible Crusader knights and an Iron Age fort. Its finest
monument is the parish Church of St Lawrence, which predates pre-
Norman times.
Mow Cop Castle is a familiar site to everyone who has lived locally in the
last 250 years, but some have suggested the Romans once built a watchtower
on this elevated site. Indeed, they did build a road through to Biddulph, via
the ‘Nick O’ Th Hill’, and this would have bought them very close to Mow
Cop. The castle, however, was built as a summerhouse in 1754 for Randle
Wilbraham of nearby Rode Hall – and it was designed to look like
a fort from a bygone era.
Biddulph Moor is on the other side of the valley and at 300 metres
above sea level enjoys extensive views over Staffordshire and Cheshire, while
even the Welsh mountains are visible on a clear day.
For information about The Talbot and just some of the many things to see and do in the Biddulph area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thetalbotbiddulph
We bid you a good day out...
• Biddulph Grange Garden is less
than 500 metres from the pub
and offers rare plants, Victorian
eccentricities and exotic architecture
that replicates all corners of
the globe.
• Consequently, its tunnels and
pathways lead the visitor on
a miniature tour of the world.
• The Talbot is far more predictable –
offering consistently good food,
best quality real cask ales and fine
wines to grace the table of
both a connoisseur and the
occasional enthusiast.
3

Three Crowns
Lichfield Road, Stone, ST15 8QU
Tel. 01785 819516
This quaint, thatched white inn resides on the edge of the old market town
of Stone, seven miles either side of Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent in the valley
of the River Trent.
When first built it was used as a coaching inn, offering friendly hospitality
to weary travellers and providing them with refreshing pitchers of ale
and hearty bowls of broth. Cyclists in the 1940’s used the inn in a similar
fashion, stopping here for a refreshing break whilst cycling to the popular
day-trip village of Sandon.
Today it is frequented by diners from the local area or those using the
moorings on the nearby Trent and Mersey Canal.
Stone was the capital of early Mercia, a powerful Anglian kingdom that later
expanded over most of what is now the West Midlands, while Christianity
arrived via monks from Lindisfarne around the year 650. The church they
built eventually became an Augustinian Priory but was replaced by the
present St. Michael’s in 1758.
It was an important stopping-off point for coaches on a road turnpiked
in the 18th century and a directory for 1851 says no fewer than 38 stage
coaches passed through the town daily.
The main coaching route was the London to Holyhead route, via Watling
Street and as far as Lichfield.
The busy Trent & Mersey Canal opened in 1771 and is still visible today
with the old wharf, dry docks and warehouses. Indeed, the site of the
original company is still used by the country’s oldest, existing family-run
narrowboat hire company. Further along, one can see the former Joules
Brewery Warehouse with its high doors giving onto the canal, from where
they sent quality Stone ales as far away as Australia and California.
For information about The Three Crowns and just some of the many things to see and do in the Stone area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thethreecrownsstone
Stone’s crowning glory...
• The scenic Trent and Mersey Canal
is within easy reach of the pub for
picturesque walks both ways.
• Nearby Sandon Hall is a rare
survivor – an impressive country
house in the heart of Staffordshire
still lived in by the family who built
it in the 1850s.
• Just three good reasons for
visiting this thatched hostelry are –
consistently good food, fine wines
from around
the world and well kept real
cask ales.
4

Cheshire Cat
Whitchurch Road, Christleton, Chester, CH3 6AE
Tel. 01244 332200
This lovely white pub with rooms and spacious gardens is in the desirable
village of Christleton, just east of Chester city centre.
It is built on a site of much historic importance, the Battle of Rowton
Heath, fought between the Cavaliers and Roundheads. Originally
constructed in 1801, the building was seconded by the government as an
administration office in World War II, but was then left derelict until 1970
before being beautifully restored to reflect its long and interesting heritage.
The pub’s name is the subject of much debate – does it originate from the
grinning Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland, written by local author Lewis
Carroll, or is it a throwback to the Arms of the First Earl of Chester? The
Lions of England were always portrayed by heraldic carvers and artists
with their mouths curved upwards and this also gave the impression of a
wide grin.
The Shropshire Union Canal (originally Chester Canal) passes through
Christleton and there is also a large village pond widely known as
Christleton Pit which attracts visitors from miles around due to the
abundance of wildlife, swans, and ducks. Its history can be traced with
certainty to the Domesday Book, though there is even evidence of earlier
occupation.
Chester is a fine ancient walled city with important Roman remains, the
most complete cathedral in England, an impressive Norman castle that
dominates the skyline and watches over the Welsh border, plus a Victorian
heritage site to rival any of the other North West centres of the Industrial
Revolution. It also has the oldest racecourse still in use in Britain which
dates back to the early 16th century and still enjoys the same picturesque
setting on the River Dee.
For information about The Cheshire Cat and just some of the many things to see and do in the Chester area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thecheshirecatchristleton
The cat who got
all the cream...
• An extensive footpath network,
including the Shropshire Union
Canal towpath, makes Christleton
very popular with walkers.
• The Chester Boat River Cruises –
even in winter - are another fine
way to appreciate the beauty and
character of this ancient city.
• Curl up in front of our roaring log
fires after a pleasant day out, or rest
up a while after
an indulgent and relaxing meal – it
will surely put a smile on your face!
5

March Hare
Mill Lane, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, SK8 5PG
Tel. 01614 828638
This traditionally-styled country inn is a welcome oasis in urban Cheadle
Hulme and sits right next to the pretty Micker Brook River.
The March Hare is reputed to have originally been a barn with
an adjacent waterwheel, but it has recently been sympathetically and
completely refurbished and still offers a warm timbered interior with open
fireplaces. It’s also close to Manchester Airport.
Cheadle Hulme lies on the Lady Brook (Micker Brook), one of the
tributaries of the River Mersey, and is a settlement of great tradition and
heritage. The Old English place name Cheadle refers to ced “wood” as does
leah “clearing in a wood” and has been used since the 7th century. Viking
influence in the 9th century may have introduced Danish field names such
as hulm meaning “water meadow” which were used later in the modern
name.
Meanwhile, stone axes found just north of Cheadle Hulme around the
Mersey valley and tributaries show clear evidence of population in the New
Stone Age period, while there is suggestion of a Roman road from Cheadle
to Buxton, running along the modern Cheadle Road. Roman artifacts
(coins, bracelets) discovered at nearby Millington Hall and Hulme Hall
support this.
Bramall Hall, just over a mile away, is a superb example of Cheshire “black
and white” half-timbering, and one of the largest such houses in the
northwest. The core of the house was built in the 14th century, with Tudor
and Jacobean additions around a central courtyard, and there are also 16th
century wall paintings throughout. In addition, the later Victorian kitchen
and servants’ quarters have been restored, while the house is surrounded by 64
acres of lovely parks and gardens, including nature trails and woodland walks.
For information about The March Hare and just some of the many things to see and do in the Cheadle Hulme area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/themarchharecheadlehulme
Hare today and tomorrow...
• Pick up the Ladybrook Valley
Interest Trail along Micker Brook,
which runs to South Manchester
using suburban green waterside
corridors.
• You can also pass the Happy Valley
Nature Reserve, glimpse Poynton
Lake and cross the Macclesfield
Canal at nearby Middlewood.
• You’d be mad as a March hare not
to try us – so once you’re all walked
out, treat yourself to a rewarding
meal or liquid refreshments that
taste as good as they sound.
6

Bears Head
Newcastle Road South, Brereton, Sandbach, CW11 1RS
Tel. 01477 544732
This resplendent ivy-clad and black and white timbered inn is located in the
village of Brereton, just north of Sandbach. This pub with rooms is tucked
off the main road and surrounded by fields.
Built in 1625 and originally known as The Boars Head, this inn has been
serving the community of Brereton for almost four hundred years. The Bears
Head was a popular posting house on the London to Liverpool turnpike,
becoming so busy that in the 18th century a new wing was built and a range
of stables constructed on the opposite side of the road. Roaring log fires
remain part of today’s offering.
The pub’s name comes from the muzzled bear that was the emblem of the
powerful Brereton family that used to own much of the village and to this
day the local council hosts The Brereton Bear Festival every summer –
although these days its to do with teddy bears rather than the big
brown version.
Sandbach, meanwhile, is a historic market town with a cobbled market
place that has a number of attractive buildings around its edge. The Trent
& Mersey Canal flows through it and gives it a pretty, waterside feel, but it’s
most famous for the two Sandbach Crosses, recognized as one of the finest
Saxon monuments in Britain. Containing the most intricate carving and also
impressive in scale, they were completed in the 9th century to commemorate
the advent of Christianity in the Kingdom of Mercia about 653 A.D.
A more unusual local attraction is the Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre, which
houses one of the biggest and most powerful Lovell radio telescopes in
the world.
For information about The Bears Head and just some of the many things to see and do in the Brereton area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thebearsheadbrereton
A head of the game...
• Brereton Heath Nature Reserve
nearby offers a variety of walks,
including an easy access trail
through the woodland with restful
views over the lake. Angling and
canoeing are also allowed.
• There are also bridleways adjacent
to the reserve and you can access
the Dane Valley Way that also links
with the Staffordshire Way, Trent
& Mersey Canal Walk and South
Cheshire Way.
• Don’t be a bear with a sore head
when it comes to dining out locally
– you can always rely on The Bears
Head in Brereton to deliver quality
pub fayre in pleasant surroundings
and with a smile!
7

Red Lion
Church Road, Dodleston, Chester, CH4 9NG
Tel. 01244 661636
This attractive, white stone inn with beautiful gardens resides in the small,
picturesque village of Dodleston, just west of Chester and close to the
Welsh border.
Eighteenth century manuscripts tell us it was established as far back as 1737,
though then it was known as ‘The Red Lyon’. And it has had a quiet and
peaceful history - except for the autumn of 1845 when the inn became the
scene of a bloody battle between angry Irish and English farm labourers.
More recently, it has won a Gold Award at the Chester Food and Drink
Festival Awards 2007 and 2008.
Dodleston parish is situated on the Flintshire side of the River Dee and
within its boundaries lie a Norman motte and bailey castle, the remains of
two 17th-century duck decoys, a large medieval moated site and four ancient
homesteads. Excavations reveal nearby Poulton as an important Bronze
Age site, while the entrance to Eaton Park Estate (once the home of mighty
Tudor/Stuart landowners, the Grosvenors) is now a popular public space.
St Mary’s Church, which is adjacent to the castle, has stood since at least
medieval times but only the base of its tower remains.
The remainder of the church was rebuilt in 1870 in perpendicular style and in
red sandstone – and on the exterior north wall of the tower are pitted marks
which are said to have been made by muskets fired during the Civil War.
Historic Chester is just four miles away and with the most complete city walls
in the country, has the reputation of being the archetypal English medieval
city. However, many of its buildings are from the Victorian era and the
Town Hall and Grosvenor Museums are just two fine examples of Industrial
Revolution architecture.
For information about The Red Lion and just some of the many things to see and do in the Dodleston area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/theredliondodleston
King of the local jungle...
• A pleasant circular walk to Lower
Kinnerton and back starts at the pub
and takes in Dodleston Hall and a
number of stiles through tranquil
countryside.
• During the walk you will cross
a footbridge over a drainage ditch
which is right on the historic
English/Welsh border.
• Why not start with a coffee or
refreshing drinks at The Red Lion
and reward yourself with a hearty
meal on your return. We’ll even treat
you like royalty!
8

The Chimneys
Hooton Green, Hooton, Ellesmere Port, CH66 5ND
Tel. 0151 327 5587
Set in an intriguing corner of Cheshire, The Chimneys at Hooton Green
offers grand surroundings in which to enjoy great food and sample fine
ales. The village of Hooton Green is every bit as charming as it sounds and
situated in an area full of country parks and a rich heritage waiting to be
discovered.
One look at the distinctive roofline of The Chimneys will confirm that it
is well named. And with so many chimney stacks, you can be sure of open
fires and the same warm welcome once enjoyed by the RAF pilots who were
billeted here during World War II. A fully functional Anderson Shelter at
the pub is a lasting reminder of its wartime legacy.
The roar of spitfires and hurricanes overhead may have long been silenced
but much remains of the nearby ex-610 Squadron Hooton Park airfield
which has played a vital role in British aviation since the early part of
the 20th century. The Hooton Park Trust is at the centre of the ongoing
preservation of the hangars which are home to historic aircraft exhibits and
classic motor vehicles.
There are many attractions within a very short drive, ranging from the ever
popular Chester Zoo, whose exotic residents will fascinate visitors of all ages,
to Wirral Country Park, which is home to badgers and foxes.
Home to over 1,000 species of birds, Rivacre Valley Nature Reserve covers
400 acres of woodlands and wildflower meadows around the Rivacre Brook.
Its oak and birch woods provide a haven for wildlife all year round.
Look out for foxes and weasels hunting through the brambles for wood
mice and frogs, and old hay meadows provide a spectacular sea of wild
flowers in summer.
Accommodation is available at the inn.
For details on more attractions around The Chimneys at Hooton Green and other ideas for days out in the area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thechimneyshooton
For a great day out,
why not...
• Take a look round the fascinating
historic Hooton Park Airfield
within walking distance of
the pub.
• Drop in for an early lunch
at The Chimneys.
• Suitably refreshed, while away the
day wandering around
the amazing exhibits at Chester
Zoo.
9

The Frozen Mop
Faulkners Lane, Mobberley, Knutsford, WA16 7AL
This fine old village pub is nestled in the scenic Cheshire town of Mobberley,
just a few miles from the dramatic sandstone scenery of Alderley Edge to the
East and the quaint cobbled streets of Knutsford to the West.
Ask locals how the pub got its unusual name and no two people will give
you the same answer. Some tell you the story of a cleaner who used to let
her lover know the coast was clear by leaving a mop outside at night. Others
claim a local rugby team used to jog past the same frozen mop week after
week in the winter, and soon started referring to their favourite pub as The
Frozen Mop.
Either way, it’s a beautiful old Cheshire pub set in a timeless village. Steeped
in history, Mobberley, or Motburlege as it was known then, is mentioned in
the Doomsday Book. These days, its most popular event is the Mobberley
Rose Queen Festival, which is held on the first Saturday in June every year.
The Festival was started by a schoolgirl in 1922 and gets the whole village
involved in dancing, fancy dress, the ever-popular Village Wedding and the
retinue for the Rose Queen.
The Frozen Mop is ideal for anyone who loves fine food, walking or
idyllic country retreats. It’s also a short drive from some of the area’s most
intriguing historic sites, including Tatton Park, Quarry Bank Mill and
Nether Alderley, a fascinating watermill dating from the 15th century, that’s
one of the National Trust’s smallest properties. Plus, if you’re a golfer, you’re
minutes from the 6,635 yards of fine parkland golf at Wilmslow Golf Club
For details on more attractions around The Frozen Mop at Mobberley and other ideas for days out in the area,
visit www.vintageinn.co.uk/thefrozenmopmobberley
Soak up the local area…
• Jump in the car and you’re just a
scenic drive away from some of the
area’s best historic sites, including
the glorious 19th century deer park
of Tatton and the industrial heritage
site of Quarry Bank Mill.
• If you love romantic scenery,
Alderley Edge’s red sandstone
escarpment has some of the area’s
most impressive views, as well as
being rich in ancient history and
local folklore.
• Golfers can tee off at the famous
Wilmslow Golf Club just a few
miles down the road. Founded in
1889, this fine parkland course
has hosted major professional
tournaments.
10