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Reopened outside in April 21 after long closure, the pub is slowly being refurbished and the bar and adjacent room together with the outside are now open. Excellent views from the terrace. Pizzas available on Friday & Saturday. Check Facebook for updates.
Dogs are only welcome outside the pub, table service available if you don't want to leave dog alone outside.
The Hanging Gate is a fascinating pub, dating from 1621 and its name is believed to be a combination of the Scandinavian "gata", meaning pathway, and the fact that Royal Macclesfield Forest poachers were hanged here. Earlier this century it was also called "Tom Steels" after a one-armed landlord! It is on the old Roman salt route.
Bare stonework peeps through the whitewash all over the pub, adding to its historical charm. It is a superbly refurbished hillside building, with four small rooms on several levels as you progress down the hillside. You enter through a porch into a tiny hall, with an intimate snug containing a lovely, open fire and main bar ahead. To the right is the first of a number of stepped rooms, clinging onto the hillside. This contains a small bar, an old wood-burning stove with surrounding coach lights and a rack with the daily papers. Travelling down the stone steps we pass a cosy side room containing dried flowers and watercolours by a local artist. The lower room also houses a fire adorned with a replica Civil War breastplate and a large bay window with ample seating and a wonderful panorama of the surrounding countryside. Low ceilings and beams afford a trap for the unwary tall amongst us. There is a witches circle in the top room, whilst the bottom room commands a magnificent panoramic view over the Cheshire plain and Welsh hills, which reputedly includes the Liver Building (probably the beer helps!).
The pub ghost is either a sheep rustler hung outside, or an early landlord, according to choice. The cellar is built into the rock and is always 10C - ideal for beer! The inner man and woman are catered for by simple home-made pub food, much of it locally produced, which is served every lunch and evening. Walkers are welcome, and this is good walking country.
The nearest public transport is the 14A Macclesfield to Langley bus. It is a 1.8 mile walk along roads from Langley but there are also several public footpaths in the area.
Dating from 1621, this remote hillside pub went through a few ownerships in the early 1950s and a newspaper cutting on the wall dated 1955 details a number of refurbishments to bring the pub 'up to standard'. To the left of the entrance porch is the snug which incorporates a former pantry for making and storing cheese, some remnants of which can still be ascertained. The distinctive bar counter does look like it could date from the 1950s and some of the bar back shelves are of glass which became popular in around 1960. This tiny room has an original stone-flagged floor and a Victorian fireplace.
The middle bar has been enlarged at some time in the past by the removal of a side corridor - you can see the markings in the ceiling. This very small room has a small quarter circle 1950s counter entered via a split door, another stone-flagged floor under the carpet and fine old beams. The rest of the corridor survives and off to its left is a cosy parlour, again with excellent beams but nothing else of note.
Steps lead down to the cellar which was the extent of the original building. Then in the late 1960s the cowshed was converted into a dining room and contains nothing of interest. In 2006 it was further extended in conservatory style to double the size of the room. Outside gents' and ladies'. The PVC windows are no doubt very practical in this exposed position but are architecturally unfortunate.
Dating from 1621, this remote hillside pub went through a few ownerships in the early 1950s and a newspaper cutting on the wall dated 1955 details a number of refurbishments to bring the pub 'up to standard'. To the left of the entrance porch is the snug which incorporates a former pantry for making and storing cheese, some remnants of which can still be ascertained. The distinctive bar counter does look like it could date from the 1950s and some of the bar back shelves are of glass which became popular in around 1960. This tiny room has an original stone-flagged floor and a Victorian fireplace.
The middle bar has been enlarged at some time in the past by the removal of a side corridor - you can see the markings in the ceiling. This very small room has a small quarter circle 1950s counter entered via a split door, another stone-flagged floor under the carpet and fine old beams. The rest of the corridor survives and off to its left is a cosy parlour, again with excellent beams but nothing else of note.
Steps lead down to the cellar which was the extent of the original building. Then in the late 1960s the cowshed was converted into a dining room and contains nothing of interest. In 2006 it was further extended in conservatory style to double the size of the room. Outside gents' and ladies'. The PVC windows are no doubt very practical in this exposed position but are architecturally unfortunate.
This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 0 regular beers.
Hanging Gate, Higher Sutton
Garden
Family Friendly
Parking
Real Fire
Smoking
Wi Fi
Real Ale
Real Cider
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