This pub is pretty close to Dunham Massey which makes it a convenient place to stop for lunch…read more Otherwise I would not recommend travelling to it because the food, whilst decent, was not outstanding and it's standard gastro pub quite pricey prices (£10 - 12 for a main, average). We really enjoyed our baked camembert starter (garlic was involved which was so right and so wrong) and were very impressed a small glass of red wine was only £2.65. The Sunday roast is very well presented with a great big Yorkshire pudding on top. The vegetables didn't taste great, especially the cabbage and the beef itself was a tad too well done for me, also it was impossible to cut through the fatty bits with my completely blunt knife. The battered fish looked quite impressive but my friend wasn't totally sold - the chips were also both weirdly massive and few in number. The pub is pleasantly decorated and the staff are nice. The food was not brought out very quickly so don't go if you're in a massive hurry.

With young children it's always great to hear of a pub with a decent play area for the kids ( they…read moreare few and far between in the M33 area!). It did have a nice play area. My food (the pork belly) was lovely, but we won't be back again. We went with another family. We ordered our food at the same time, but ours came out about 20 minutes after our friends - they'd basically finished before ours arrived, and I don't need to tell you that hungry kids watching their friends eat is maddening. When we'd ordered, the prices coming up on the till were different (more expensive) than those printed in the menu. Fortunately we spotted the error for them to correct. Our friends salmon salad (at about £10) was the size of a starter - so small he complained and replaced it for a Sunday roast. The kids play area is out of sight of the main building & garden, so parents can't take a moment to relax and watch them, they have to decamp and relocate at the children's area. Really not ideal. Prices very expensive for the food on offer too. Won't be returning soon, if ever.

I don't live too far away from this pub and would say it's the best in the area for Irlam and…read moreCadishead, a lot of money has been spent on the building making it a lovely place to go for a drink; rain or shine. They have a lovely duck pond, huge play area and open space for kids to run around. Last night me and the Mrs popped in for a bite to eat as we had heard that they had a new menu and chef. We went disappointed, I had a falafel burger (not my usually choice of food) and my wife had a steak. Both were lovely and cooked fresh. The prices range from £6.50 (light bite) to £16.00 (steak) for main meals and I believe we got our money's worth for ours. I would definitely recommend this pub for a meal or just for a drink. The staff are friendly and professional and clearly take pride in their work. Also they always have around 4-5 cask ales on which are always different.

I have driven past here a great many times, but last night was the first time I have had the…read moreopportunity to visit the pub itself. This was a local CAMRA meeting, so we were fairly confident of finding decent real ale. The pub has obviously had a major refurbishment recently, resulting in a magnificent community pub- almost large enough to be a community itself! The bar and restaurant areas are welcoming and uncluttered. There is a large conservatory-type extension at the back for functions, plus a wonderful function room which gives all the feelings of a medieval banquet hall! The outside areas comprise a more than ample car park, a beer garden which could seat forty plus and a superb children's playground area. All areas were extremely clean and well-looked-after the toilets being small but very modern and hygienic. All staff encountered seemed to be interested in serving and knowledgeable about their wares the landlord especially so. The only minus points for me were the fact that I had to drive to get there and back, hence I could only have a few tasters of the beers, and the price of said beers. When pubs nearer home are selling real ale for between £2.30 and £2.70 a pint, £2.95 seems a bit much for somewhere that is off the beaten track. That said, I am still going to recommend The Black Swan to any friends for a visit.

I love the UK and how you are driving in the middle of the countryside and there is always a…read morecountry pub nearby serving food. Good food at that. HOME is one such pub that we happened upon when we needed a lunchtime pit stop. I had a fish and chips, which was very nice. I washed that down with a lovely pint bottle of Magners in a glassful of ice. It was a nice day so we sat out front in the sun. Lush. Both me and the venue :)

The place is great for drinks. The food pictures was good. The duck rolls, meat pie, leek pie and…read morewatercress soup were all delicious. However, their Sunday roast was terrible. Over cooked, tasteless, bland. Not good at all. It was very disappointing after everything else we had eaten. Maybe it was just an off day.

This pub sits nicely at the end of Dunham Park so is perfect for a stop off during or at the end of…read morea walk there. I've never eaten here but I've heard good things about the food. It's got a great, cosy interior and a really good selection of drinks. There's also a decent amount of outside seating, useful if you are all wearing very muddy boots as we were yesterday! At busy times it's worth booking apparently to ensure you get a table for a meal inside. I really fancy trying it for food as the menu had some great dishes on it. I will try and get there for a meal and report back. For drinks it's perfect.

Recently visited the Axe and Cleaver and was really surprised at how good it was. Six of us visted…read moremid afternoon on a Saturday. Our server Alison was very friendly, we had a laugh with her and she was great at her job. We had a mixture of different starters and mains, favourites being the ham and eggs, the steak pie and butchers block.Prices were very reasonable and food very tasty, I would definitely return a nice atmosphere too for a quiet Saturday late lunch.

Been to the Axe a few times now and will be going again next week for a Christmas meal (Dec 2009)…read moreSet in the beautiful country surrounds of Dunham Massey (Inc the National Trust park of the same name) this pub/restaurant is traditionally country and quaint essentially English.Although at the start of the year the new owners refurbished the place and added a bit of modernisation incorporating glass, which for me ruined the traditional and classic design a little, the pub still remains more traditional than most in the surrounding area and does still retain an element of tradition.With wood beams and an open fire, the setting is very relaxed.The pub itself is of a medium size and has outside seating both at the front and back for those summer days.There is a large carpark to the side.The food is lovely and has a home cooked feel about it, plus the bar is fully stocked with a great choice of drinks and snacks.Although not one of the cheapest pubs around it's very reasonable for the quality and the service for me always seems really good with staff being very friendly and helpful.The pub is surrounded by a couple of farms where you can purchase fresh produce and Dunham Massey park with it's roaming reindeer and gardens being a great day out for the family.The Axe is very much a country style pub but is only 5 mins by car from Altrincham town centre.Well worth a visit!

Held a CAMRA meeting here last night and we were all extremely impressed. It is in a wonderful…read moresetting next to the Bridgewater Canal and surrounded by wide open spaces. There is a fair-sized car park, guarded by a large owl and a bear, both carved from huge tree stumps. The pub itself looks as though it has been completely refurbished, with taste, a few days ago and it is friendly and welcoming. The drinks selection is superb with all the usual national brands and at least five quality real ales on offer. The food menu seems a little expensive until you see what is actually being served - we were lucky enough to sample complementary sandwiches and the best chips I have ever tasted. Those eating their main meals seemed more than happy with them and I was even tempted to order something even though it was only a couple of hours since having my main meal of the day at home! There are children's and pensioners' menus advertised and a Sunday Carvery. We will be back, with the family next time!

first thing very nice happy genuine staff second thing nice surroundings and thirdly ,food enjoyed…read morenot by me but by 14 peole ,and there from yorkshire and like to moan-but not one complaint.] what a relaxed place-time stands still and great drinks too

Having read some of the previous comments, I think I must live in a parallel universe, here is my,…read moreand my families thoughts, following a visit on 22/3/2025 FOOD: Exquisite, well cooked and presented. SERVICE: First class, pleasant and knowledgeable waitresses, warm welcome on arrival. Ambiance: Clean, warm, welcoming, vibrant, bright and striking. Overall experience: First case and Excellent

The place serves stellar food and it is within a nice venue. However, unorganised, terribly slow…read moreservice leaves me unable to review this establishment any higher than 3 stars.

Following the recent Didsbury Beer Festival and chancing upon a very decent ale whilst I was there,…read moreI wanted to find out where I could lay my hands on more of that particular 'amber nectar'. I was chuffed to find out that Dunham Massey Brewing Company were only five miles from where I live, so on a crisp, sunny weekday morning (I was on annual leave, not AWOL from the office) I hopped into the car and into the wilds of Altrincham. There's a half-mile single track road to get to it, so be careful when driving. The brewery and shop are both in the same building with the former on the ground floor and the latter upstairs via the side entrance. Their shop is really well stocked and the guy who served me was very welcoming. I picked up a case of 12 bottles of their 'Cheshire IPA' for less than £26 and left a very happy customer. So when you have something like this practically on your doorstep, cut out the middleman and buy straight from the source!

Everyone likes Deer and beer, don't they? I know I do. That's why I love visiting Dunham Massey,…read morenear Altrincham. Aside from a beautiful Manor House (run by the National Trust, an entry fee applies) and sprawling grounds with free roaming deer, it's also home to one of the North West's most exciting microbreweries. Dunham Massey beers are a fixture at many beer festivals and can be found in a handful of local pubs and restaurants, including The Fat Loaf. However, your best bet is to come here and buy them direct from the brewery shop. Believe me, they're worth it! My favourites are the Milk Stout, Choc Cherry Mild, Treacle Treat and Winter Warmer, all of which are available for between £2 and £2.50 per bottle. To my knowledge, they don't offer brewery tours here yet. But as soon as they do, I'll be first in the queue!