Campaign for Real Pubs: The Vine

The Vine, Dunham Woodhouses, Cheshire WA14 5RU

A Samuel Smith’s pub set back from the road in an attractive village close to the National Trust’s Dunham Massey estate. Despite the leafy setting, it’s surprisingly down to earth, with a strong core of regulars mingling with visitors eating meals. Possibly Sams’ famously low beer prices help keep its feet on the ground. The interior has a firmly traditional feel featuring much dark wood, with a variety of cosy areas rambling around the central bar. The pub is the building by the red car, not the one right behind the sign.

WHAT ARE REAL PUBS?

Real pubs are pubs whose primary function is still the original core purpose of pubs – for people to meet and socialise over a few drinks.

They may serve food, and very good food at that, but they don’t allow it to dominate to the exclusion of all else. They’ll probably have a strong core of regular customers, but still make casual drinkers welcome. They may well serve a good drop of real ale, but won’t be full of beer bores droning on about hop varieties and IBUs.

In many parts of the country they’re getting very hard to find. In recent years, the smoking ban, beer duty hikes, the demonisation of “one-drink driving” and the general anti-alcohol climate have all had their effect, but such pubs do still survive if you know where to look and deserve to be celebrated.

Although in many ways they are a laudable organisation, this blog is not connected with and does not in any way represent the Campaign for Real Ale.

The inclusion of a pub does not necessarily reflect a recent visit by myself, although often it does.

Campaign for Real Pubs

The Vine

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