Bishop Blaize, Stockport

Former Tetley house. The CAMRA pub guide "Viaducts & Vaults II" published in 1996 described the Gladstone thus: "A plaque on the exterior wall of the pub commemorates the life of William Ewart Gladstone, former Prime Minister and renowned statesman. However few people may realise that before it was the "Gladstone" it gloried under the name "Bishop Blaize" in honour of the patron saint of woolmakers. Not surprising then that a place such as this has a fair amount of history behind it - the famous Hillgate riots of 1852 started in the pub when an Irishman knocked a local's hat off (unforgivable in the hat-town of Stockport). The pub was refurbished in the 1920s, and the interior has remained largely unchanged since. One of the finest features of any pub in Stockport must be the bar here, with its sliding screens which are still in use. The leaded windows are worthy of note as well. The upper bar can be reached by one of two doors which are still labelled "Public Bar" and "Outdoor", the latter of which must have been tiny. The main lower bar, also fairly basically furnished, houses the piano and proper vinyl juke-box. The Smoke Room has evolved into the pool room, and the pub has an active pool team. After a while as a badly run, fairly neglected pub selling just Tetley Bitter, the Gladstone was acquired by Burtonwood a few years ago. With this came a new lease of life, and in addition to (mild aside) the whole Burtonwood range, seasonal brews are also offered. The pub is totally cosmopolitan with all walks life of alongside varlous groups and societies! One of the more memorable inns on well-pubbed Hillgate". Cask ales sold were: Burtonwood Bitter, James Forshaws, Top Hat, Buccaneer, and seasonals such as Almond's Stout Tom Thumper, and Hoppers.