Sun & Castle, Stockport

A good example of Holt’s traditional style of decor. A long vault, a large lounge and snug, an attractive bar, excellent use of dark wood and mirrors both on the walls and around the bar. A very clean and well upholstered house. Although there are two entrances, the pool room cum vault can now only be accessed from the corridor leading to the gents toilet. Sing-alongs are popular at weekends. Holts haven’t always owned the Sun & Castle, for many years it was a Tetley pub, and for a lot of those sold no cask beer. Holts are also responsible for replacing most of the original inter-war fittings with a mock Victorian interior and for once this really seems to fit the bill with pride of place going to a spectacular 1890s bar back. So what you have now is a warm interior with lots of dark wood plus red, brown and cream fixtures and fittings adding up to a classic “traditional pub” feel. To the right is a cosy lounge and behind that bigger rambling room complete with a small stage. To the left is a spacious and well used vault. Run by landlady, Ronnie and her husband Harry have been here on and off since 2000. She retired in 2012 but was tempted back for six weeks – and is still there! She has been in the trade for over 30 years and seems to have spent most of those on Hillgate as before coming to the Sun & Castle she had lengthy spells at the nearby, now closed Golden Lion, and Pack Horse. Harry looks after the cellar – the cask beers are Holts Bitter and the current seasonal – to such good effect that he’s entered in this year’s Best Kept Cellar competition being run by Holts. There’s no food here but plenty of entertainment. There’s the Karaoke League on Mondays (in which the pub has been very successful) and karaoke also features on Friday and Saturday. Darts are in the vault on Monday and Tuesday. NB. in the early part of the week, the pub may close early if trade is slack.