Station House, Cheadle Hulme

As you enter from the car park entrance (adj to railway station), you are greeted by a reservation desk. This is for the restaurant area to the left of you, the rear of the building. If you enter via the steps off Station Road, then you go straight into the former pub vault, now styled as the Snug. With its real fire, it is cosy enough, but being so open, perhaps the Snug appellation is a misnomer. Dogs are welcome in this room too. Linking the restaurant and Snug is a comfortably appointed lounge that fronts Station Road. Furnished with high chairs around tables, this area can be used for informal dining as well as plain old drinking.The overall effect is one of a classy, slicky-run operation. Mirrors with foxed glass, half panelled walls, along with varied artworks, and the occasional period photo of the area in former times makes sure the decor is just the right level without feeling cluttered.

The bar is central to the pub with various handpumps located along its length dispensing Holts beers as well as one from Bootleg. There is also a small selection of bottled beers, mostly foreign. Outside the pub there is a dual-aspect terrace beer garden facing both the station and Station Rd. A large car park is at the rear. A most useful feature for people using public transport is a real-time departures screen for trains serving the station.