Mild Magic 2023

Friday 31st March to Sunday 14th May 2023

Mild is an endangered species!

Until 2015 the Manchester region could boast the enviable position of having all four local family brewers producing at least one mild. That is until Robinsons decided to terminate all production of mild. Thankfully Hydes still brews mild and has agreed to sponsor Mild Magic for 2023. Joseph Holt and J W Lees also still brew milds and both are featured on Mild Magic.
 

Join us in April and May on this six week long trail

Download a Mild Magic card here

Mild Magic Bus Tour

Saturday 29 April 2023

A saunter around Tameside taking in six Mild Magic pubs, all in different areas, so you will be able to fill half a sheet with stickers. We are also co-ordinating our arrival at the Angel in Dukinfield in time to join High Peak & North East Cheshire Branch at their presentation of Pub Of The Season. The times are targets, but with the 330 bus being every 12 minutes and the 346 every 20 minute until 5pm there is scope for some slippage.
 

Arrive	Leave	Pub
11:45	11:50	Little Egerton Street stop LE (Tiviot Dale end of Prince's Street) Map
11:50	12:20	Bus 330 Arrive Hyde Bus Station, Stand F
12:25	12:55	Cheshire Ring 72-74 Manchester Road, Hyde, SK14 2BJ
1:08	1:16	330 bus. Depart Hyde Bus Station, Stand F. Arrive Pickford Lane bus stop
1:18	2:02	Angel Inn 197 King Street, Dukinfield, SK16 4TH  Including - High Peak & North East Cheshire Branch's Pub Of The Season presentation ~ 13:30
2:04	2:11	330 bus. Pickford Lane bus stop to Ashton-Under-Lyne Stand M. Walk to Tapsters
2:20	2:45	Tapsters 31 Old Street, Ashton under Lyne, OL6 6LA
2:45	3:00	Walk to the Halfway House
3:00	3:25	Halfway House 123 Whiteacre Road, Ashton under Lyne, OL6 9PJ
3:25	3:45	Walk to the Ashton-Under-Lyne bus station
3:45	3:57	346 bus. Ashton-Under-Lyne Stand G to Albion Hotel bus stop
4:00	4:30	Wheatsheaf 41 Birch Lane, Dukinfield, SK16 4AJ
4:37	4:55	346 bus. Depart Albion Hotel to Hyde Bus Station Stand A
5:00	5:25	Jack's Bar 3 Hamnett Street, Hyde, SK14 2EX
5:35	6:03	330 bus. Hyde Bus Station stand E to Stockport Little Egerton Street stop LE

What does Mild Magic entail?

This CAMRA National award-winning event is at heart a simple ale trail. With no fewer than 100 pubs participating in the 2023 event, we don't ask you to do ALL of them!

"But what do we have to do?" I hear you saying.

The Mild Challenge can be completed on any one of four levels but with one overriding principle. When you visit a pub and consume a pint (or half) of cask-conditioned mild you request a sticker to attach to your Mild Magic card. No matter how many times you visit a pub, nor how many different milds you may consume, it is strictly one sticker only per pub.

To complete Mild Magic, you need to collect stickers from 12 different areas, eg Stockport East, Cheadle Hulme, Didsbury et cetera. Do plan your visits carefully to ensure 12 areas are visited. Achieving this entitles you to two 1/2 pint vouchers to be redeemed for a mild of your choice at the 2023 Stockport Beer and Cider Festival, (see below for this year's method of redeeming your tickets). In addition to the tickets you will also receive a Mild Magic T-shirt emblazoned with the Mild Magic logo.

Upping the achievement to complete Mild Magic Extra requires 24 different areas to be visited, i.e. twice as challenging as Mild Magic. This increases your number of 1/2 pint mild vouchers to three and the garment is elevated to a polo shirt, again emblazoned with the Mild Magic logo. This is the most popular target, achieved by around 50 people each year.

Now the stakes get higher – Mild Magic Super. This is even more challenging. Visit a minimum of 36 different areas (but there is nothing stopping you setting a personal target of 48 areas!) while collecting stickers from 48 different pubs. For this you will receive a Mild Magic sweatshirt and four 1/2 pint vouchers for a mild to be redeemed at the 2023 Stockport Beer and Cider Festival. We hope that this will encourage you to visit pubs new to you.

The ultimate challenge is Mild Magic Ultra. To achieve this you need to collect a sticker from all participating pubs. For this you will receive two Mild Magic shirts, both a polo shirt and a sweatshirt, plus six 1/2 pint mild vouchers to use at the 2023 Stockport Beer & Cider Festival.

No matter which of the above you undertake, here is a fun extra challenge, Mild Magic Scrabble. Each participating pub has an associated letter (see table below) randomly selected from A, C, D, G, I, L or M, which are the constituent letters of MILD MAGIC. The challenge is to collect enough stickers on a card to spell out MILD MAGIC (doesn't have to be in sequence but does have to be on the same card) and you will be rewarded with an an additional two 1/2 pint mild vouchers to be used at the 2023 Stockport Beer & Cider Festival (up to a maximum of 4 extra per entry). If you decide to participate in this extra challenge, we have helped you by spelling out MILD MAGIC on the first nine squares on your card. So when you bag a letter, stick it in the relevant square.

ADDITIONALLY FOR 2023
Everyone who participates also has the option of being entered into a draw to take up one of a limited number of invitations to tour a brewery. There are two trips on offer (but only one per person!) to either the Hydes Brewery or the Marble Brewery, both near to Media City. The visit to Hydes will take place from 11am on 7 July and will end mid-afternoon. It will include not only a visit, but a quiz about the tour afterwards, so take note at the back! The Marble Brewery visit will take place on Saturday 8 July in the afternoon, times to be confirmed. Full meet-up details will be provided along with your invitation, if successful.

What do I do when I have finished?

Post all your completed cards to this address: Mild Magic, 10 New Beech Road, Heaton Mersey, Stockport SK4 3DD [also given on the card] to arrive by the 24th of May, 2023 (only one submission per person). Receipt of the cards will be acknowledged electronically, so do remember to include an email address (or mobile phone if no email possessed).

Collecting your rewards

Garments and mild vouchers will all be dispensed at the Stockport & South Manchester Beer and Cider Festival from the CAMRA Shop. Make sure to bring along the electronic device upon which you received your confirmation, though assuming this is your mobile phone it probably never leaves your side! If you are unable to attend the Festival an alternative can be negotiated by consultation with the organiser via stockportmildmagic@gmail.com. All garments are graced by a bespoke version of the Mild Magic insignia.

Please do remember to include your size, but do bear with us as we can't control the manufacturer's interpretation of sizes, so if you are borderline, ie sometimes medium is a snug fit, it may be better to order judiciously.
 

Download a Mild Magic card here in PDF format

Holts Brewery have brought out a new mild especially to coincide with Mild Magic. Humm! I wonder what they will call it. According to the pump clip (photo left) it is Unmistakably Mild and has a strength of 4.3%ABV. What is especially welcome is the additional text across the bottom
"Brewed exclusively for CAMRA's Mild Magic".
So why not make an effort to pop in to a Holts pub to sample this special brew.

NOTE: Many other of the local breweries are also bringing out special brew's, so this section may grow!

For full details about an establishment, especially the opening times of those with restricted hours, click on the pub name and be directed to WhatPub.com which is CAMRA's database of (almost) all British drinking locations.
 

2023 Area Order

Area	Pub	Restricted Hours	Scrabble letter	Address
Adswood	Cross Keys		I	10 Adswood Road, Cheadle Hulme SK8 5QA
Altrincham North	Costello's Bar		M	18 Goose Green, Altrincham WA14 1DW
Altrincham South	Unicorn		I	1-7 Ashley Road, Altrincham WA14 2DP
Ashton-u-Lyne North	Halfway House	Restricted	I	123 Whiteacre Road, Ashton Under Lyne OL6 9PJ
Ashton-u-Lyne South	Ash Tree		A	9-11 Wellington Road, Ashton-U-Lyne OL6 6DA
	Tapsters	Restricted	M	31 Old Street, Ashton Under Lyne OL6 6LA
Bramhall	Ladybrook Hotel		D	Fir Road, Bramhall SK7 2NP
Bredbury East	Arden Arms	Restricted	I	Ashton Road, Bredbury SK6 2RY
Burnage	Reasons To Be Cheerful	Restricted	M	228 Fog Lane, Burnage M20 6EL
Chapel-en-le-Frith	Old Cell Ale Bar	Restricted	I	10-12 Market Place, Chapel-en-le-Frith SK23 0EN
Cheadle East	Wobbly Stamp	Restricted	D	130 Stockport Road, Cheadle SK8 2DP
Cheadle West	Crown		G	81 High Street, Cheadle SK8 1AA
	James Watts		A	13 High Street, Cheadle SK8 1AX
Cheadle Hulme	John Millington		L	67 Station Road, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7AA
	P5		G	47 Station Road, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7AA
Chorlton	Sedge Lynn		A	21A Manchester Road, Chorlton M21 9PN
Chorlton Green	Beech Inn		D	72 Beech Road, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy M21 9EG
	Horse & Jockey		G	9 Chorlton Green, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy M21 9HS
Clayton	Grove		M	652 Ashton New Road, Clayton M11 4SQ
Davenport	Milliner		D	179 Bramhall Lane, Davenport SK2 6JA
Didsbury North	Head of Steam	Restricted	L	653 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury M20 6QZ
Didsbury South	Famous Crown		A	770 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury M20 2DR
	Fletcher Moss		D	1 William Street, Didsbury M20 6RQ
Didsbury East	Gateway		I	882 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury M20 5PG
Didsbury West	Wine & Wallop		G	97 Lapwing Lane, Didsbury M20 6UR
Droylsden	Silly Country		M	121 Market Street, Droylsden M43 7AR
Dukinfield East	Wheatsheaf		I	41 Birch Lane, Dukinfield SK16 4AJ
Dukinfield West	Angel		M	197 King Street, Dukinfield SK16 4TH
Fallowfield	Friendship Inn		L	351 Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield M14 6XS
Gatley	Horse & Farrier		C	144 Gatley Road, Gatley SK8 4AB
Glossop North	Bar 2	Restricted	M	9 High Street East, Glossop SK13 8DA
Glossop South	Smithy Fold		G	Victoria Street, Glossop SK13 8HS
Gorton	Vale Cottage	Restricted	A	Kirk Street, Gorton M18 8UE
Hadfield	The Chieftain		I	Green Lane, Hadfield, Glossop SK13 2DT
Hazel Grove North	George & Dragon		D	14 London Road, Hazel Grove SK7 4AH
Hazel Grove South	Grove Alehouse	Restricted	A	145 London Road, Hazel Grove SK7 4HH
	Wilfred Wood		G	204 London Roar, Hazel Grove SK7 4DF
Heatons North	The Beer Shop	Restricted	A	1 Kingsleigh Road, Heaton Moor SK4 3QF
Heatons South	Moortop		C	172 Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor SK4 4DU
	Nursery Inn		A	258 Green Lane, Heaton Norris SK4 2NA
Heatons East	Crown	Restricted	L	98-100 Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor SK4 4NZ
	Heaton Hops	Restricted	C	7 School Lane, Heaton Chapel SK4 5DE
Heatons West	Griffin		G	552 Didsbury Road, Heaton Mersey SK4 3AJ
	The Heaton		L	474 Didsbury Road, Heaton Mersey SK4 3BS
Hyde East	Jack's Bar	Restricted	C	3 Hamnett Street, Hyde SK14 1LU
	Queens		I	23 Clarendon Street, Hyde SK14 2ND
Hyde West	Cheshire Ring	Restricted	M	72 Manchester Road, Hyde SK14 2BJ
Ladybarn	Ladybarn Social Club	Restricted	I	13 Green Street, Ladybarn M14 6TL
Lancashire Hill	Navigation		D	1 Manchester Road, Heaton Norris SK4 1TY
Levenshulme	Fred's Ale House	Restricted	L	843 Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 3PW
Manchester North	Ape & Apple		G	28 John Dalton Street, Manchester M2 6HQ
	City Arms	Restricted	I	48 Kennedy Street, Manchester M2 4BQ
	Waterhouse		A	71 Princess Street, Manchester M2 4EG
Manchester South	Grey Horse		L	80 Portland Street, Manchester M1 4QX
	Molly House		A	26 Richmond Street, Manchester M1 3NB
	Piccadilly Tap		C	Piccadilly Station Approach, Manchester M1 2GH
Manchester East	Crown & Anchor		G	6 Cateaton Street, Manchester M3 1SQ
	Lower Turks Head		D	36 Shudehill, Manchester M4 1EZ
	Smithfield Market Tavern		C	37 Swan Street, Manchester M4 5JZ
Manchester West	Britons Protection		L	50 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester M1 5LE
	Old Monkey		M	90 Portland Street, Manchester M1 4GX
	Paramount		D	33 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 4BH
Marple	Samuel Oldknow		G	22 Market Street, Marple SK6 7AD
Marple Bridge	Norfolk Arms		L	2 Town Street, Marple Bridge SK6 5DS
	Northumberland Arms	Restricted	A	64 Compstall Road, Marple Bridge SK6 5HD
Mossley - Top	Butchers Arms	Restricted	M	7 Stockport Road, Mossley OL5 0QX
Mossley - Bottom	Gillery	Restricted	I	1-3 Old Brow, Mossley OL5 0AD
New Mills	Beer Shed	Restricted	M	47B Market Street, New Mills SK22 4AA
New Mills Newtown	Chalkers Snooker Club	Restricted	I	Redmoor Mill, Buxton Road, New Mills Newtown SK22 3JT
Poynton	Poynton Royal British Legion	Restricted	M	Georges Road West, Poynton SK12 1JY
Reddish	Reddish Ale	Restricted	I	14 Broadstone Road, Reddish SK5 7AE
Romiley	Jake's Ale House	Restricted	C	27 Compstall Road, Romiley SK6 4BT
Rusholme	Ford Madox Brown		L	1 Wilmslow Pk, Wilmslow Road, Rusholme M14 5FT
Sale	JP Joule		A	2a Northenden Road, Sale M33 3BR
	Volunteer Hotel		I	81 Cross Street, Sale M33 7HH
Sale West	Old Plough		M	56 Green Lane, Sale M33 5PG
Salford	New Oxford		C	11 Bexley Square, Salford M3 6DB
Salford - Eccles	Eccles Cross		D	13 Regent Street, Eccles M30 0BP
	Lamb Hotel		M	33 Regent Street, Eccles M30 0BP
Salford - Monton	Park		I	142 Monton Road, Monton M30 9QD
Salford - Patricroft	Stanley Arms		I	295 Liverpool Road, Patricroft M30 0QN
Salford - Swinton	Morning Star		M	520 Manchester Road, Wardley M27 9QW
Stalybridge North	Station Buffet Bar		D	Railway Station, Stalybridge SK15 1RF
Stalybridge Centre	Q Inn		C	3 Market Street, Stalybridge SK15 2AL
	White House		I	1 Water Street, Stalybridge SK15 2AG
Stalybridge South	Bridge Beers	Restricted	M	55 Melbourne Street, Stalybridge SK15 2JJ
	Society Rooms		L	49-51 Grosvenor Street, Stalybridge SK15 2JN
Stockport East	Angel Inn	Restricted	G	20 Market Place, Stockport SK1 1EY
	Calverts Court		D	13 St Petersgate, Stockport SK1 1EB
	Cocked Hat		M	2 Market Place, Stockport SK1 1EW
Stockport West	Crown Inn		C	154 Heaton Lane, Stockport SK4 1AR
	Petersgate Tap	Restricted	G	19a St Petersgate, Stockport SK1 1EB
	Ye Olde Vic	Restricted	C	1 Chatham Street, Edgeley, Stockport SK3 9ED
Timperley	Quarry Bank		M	151 Bloomsbury Lane, Timperley WA15 6NY
Urmston North	Prairie Schooner		I	33 Flixton Road, Urmston M41 5AW
	Tim Bobbin		L	41 Flixton Road, Urmston M41 5AN
Urmston South	Lord Nelson		M	49 Stretford Road, Urmston M41 9LG
Whaley Bridge	Goyt Inn	Restricted	I	8 Bridge Street, Whaley Bridge SK23 7LR
Whitehough	Old Hall	Restricted	M	Whitehough, Chinley SK23 6EJ
Withington	Victoria		C	438 Wilmslow Road, Withington M20 3BW

To help you find all the participating pubs, please use this interactive Google map. On the map, pubs in the same local area are shown in the same colour, and those with restricted opening hours should be designated by a 'top hat' pin.

View Mild Magic Map in a new window.

Stockport Beer & Cider Festival

A right fine bash in the middle of June!

Initial tentative planning is well underway for the 2023 Stockport Beer and Cider Festival.

Where will it be held?

This year the Festival has moved to the Guildhall at 169 Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK1 3UA.This is located opposite Stockport College and with a bus stop right outside the front door — it couldn't be more convenient!

When is it held?

Because of the various Bank Holidays at the beginning of June, Late May Bank Holiday and Coronation Weekend, this year the Festival is scheduled from 3pm on Thursday 22 June plus noon while 11pm on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 June.

What does the Festival offer?

First and foremost a wide selection of fine cask ales sourced from around Britain. We try to keep at least two examples of all endangered beer styles eg mild, stout and et cetera available for drinking at all times so there should be something to tickle your fancy.

Secondly (but this does not mean second class) an overwhelming range of ciders and perrys. This year we had in excess of 50 varieties available, ranging from pleasantly sweet to astonishingly dry. Who says Magners is the pinnacle of cider, and as for cidré, don't get us going. Cider makers are starting to spring up all over the British Isles, even "up eer int' North" so why not come along and try a Cheshire?

Is it just about drinking?

No! We can also sell you a souvenir T-shirt, a variety of books or you could even join CAMRA and get complimentary free beer on us. Why not have a go on our tombola, plenty of beery prizes to be won. Our charity also bring along a complementary selection of goods.

So it's all about buying?

No! All sessions have accompanying musical entertainment ranging, in the last few years, from a 25/30 piece ladies choir to heavy rock bands with blues, folk jazz and everything else in between. The music suit is situated on the ground floor to the rear of the building.

Who runs this worthy event?

Primarily members of the Stockport and South Manchester Branch of CAMRA together with assistance from the High Peak and other nearby branches. All the people you will see slaving away at the festival [and in the week running up to opening] are all volunteers and work for the enjoyment (and a couple of pints of beer) so please make sure you thank them. New members of staff are always very welcome, for more information contact Pete Farrand at staffing@stockportfestival.org.uk.
 

Want to know more?

Visit the dedicated website at www.stockportfestival.org.uk