On our date night a while ago, Emily and I ventured to Salt Bar in Macclesfield to try something…read moredifferent (I work in Macc so it's not like it was a trip for both of us) On entering Salt Bar it's quite minimal and small but pleasant. To start we shared the Smörgåsbord which was a large crispbread covered with various things including mackerel, prawns, beetroot and apple salad, ham, meatball, pickled veg and probably a few other things I can't remember. It was all very good and an excellent start to the meal. For mains we decided to share lamb with red cabbage and potatoes, and venison meatballs with liquorice sauce and fries. Both dishes were very tasty and very rich, although I have to say the meatballs were my slight preference. After eating all this (it was a lot of food) I had to dig deep to find room but sure enough we both did and ordered a chocolate and ginger trifle to share. This was quite decadent but not too sweet which was perfect for the end of the meal. Upon getting home we both laid on the sofa feeling sorry for ourselves but very content at the same time. The meal came to about £60 I think which isn't bad, not cheap but not too expensive either. I would definitely recommend people try it if they're in the area.

After an evening that included several beers and a thorough exploration of Macclesfield, we'd…read moredefinitely worked up a hunger. I was a bit worried that it'd be pushing our luck trying to find a decent place to eat at 7.30pm on a Saturday night with no reservation, and when we were both utterly clueless about what was available. Turns out I was wrong, and The Salt Bar was exactly what we were looking for. An independent bistro offering Scandinavian cuisine, with a fairly meat and fish orientated menu. It was small enough to feel intimate and cosy, yet large enough to feel relaxed and have two spare seats available at the last minute. The waitress was super friendly when we inquired about not having a booking and gave us a seat in the window. I ordered Kåldomar, which is a beefy-porky-cabbage wrapped dish and my OH ordered what can only be described as a sort of meatball bruschetta e.g. on toast. Now, my other half is a fan of what is officially termed "A square meal" whereas I'm all for picky bits - this meal satisfied both of us by serving two hearty main dishes with a few additional swedish pickled veg and garnishes on the side of our plates, nothing excessive, (think Wagamama style, when the menu states you get a few pickles) but these were a welcome and tasty surprise! Both dishes were very tasty and the meatballs were so heavenly, that I felt that my meat in the Kåldomar was slightly dry in comparison, it didn't ruin my meal but I did get major meatball lust. We stuck to beer and other than Swedish Åbro lager and Rekordelig, drinks-wise they've interestingly chosen to support local breweries instead of opting for Scandiavian. Stocking a wide selection of pales, ales, bitters and stouts from both Wincle and RedWillow. If I were to make any recommendations, it'd be about the music, The Salt Bar had a fantastic atmosphere and the ONLY thing that didn't feel right was the music - generic mellow poppy chart tosh, pretty sure I heard Taylor Swift at one point *shudder*. Now I'm not suggesting that they have to be overly themed, but if they're promoting Scandinavian cuisine then why not slap on some Scandi artists? Bit of Lykke Li, Neneh Cherry, The Cardigans, Peter Bjorn and John... etc. Would have been much more in keeping with the vibe in my opinion.

If you like to treat your tastebuds to some fine alcohol, Red Willow is the perfect spot…read more The first (hopefully of many) bar from the man behind the Red Willow Brewery, it has an excellent selection of beers and wines and boasts (at the moment) some 60 gins behind the bar. For these reasons alone, I'm a big fan. They offer regular meet the brewer events, tasting events and foodie nights. If you're ever in the area, stop by for a pint or two, chat to the great staff, grab yourself a platter.

You're really spoilt for choice with awesome drinks here. Lots of beer on keg and cask, and…read moreprosecco on tap which is fab. Some of our party moved on to spirits and enjoyed the selection including I believe a really nice Bourbon. As we'd just eaten (at a Spoons, of all places) we didn't sample any of the food but it looks like they have a limited but intriguing menu of pizzas and sharing platters. There's plenty of seating although a lot of it is large round tables, which unfortunately were mostly occupied by couples when we arrived. Drink prices were fairly reasonable - a glass of prosecco was £4.25 and beer prices ranged from fairly inexpensive for local session ales to quite pricey for more unusual or imported beers, as expected. Overall a really nice place, close to the train station in Macclesfield making it convenient for locals, visitors and commuters alike.

Ronnie's bar is a unique type of place situated in a courtyard off the main street in Macclesfield…read more It is not somewhere you would notice from just walking round if looking for it on a first visit, but everyone in the town knows it so ask anyone and they will point you in the right direction. Having since moved to Manchester it is probably one of the only night spots I would miss in Macclesfield, having spent many enjoyable evenings there. The bar is unique because of its situation. Its main bar is at the back of the courtyard and has plenty of tables for seating outside. After some success, the bar then expanded into a side unit too so there are a couple of seating areas inside and the main outdoor area where everyone congregates. In winter they have plenty of patio heaters so you don't have to freeze if you want to drink in the moonlight, or of course for smokers. Ronnie's Bar is also known as a good live music venue who also hold open mic nights if that is your thing. They also place a DJ in the outer area as well on occasion so there are often different vibes to the place depending when you go, which is a good thing for variety. They have also held movie nights in the past so as you can see, it has a lot of depth to what it can offer. Ronnie's decor is pleasant and well maintained and due to its unique lay out, makes it one of the more popular night spots to drink in Macclesfield, and rightly so.

Probably the liveliest bar in Macclesfield. Now known as Mandarina, this bar is very popular on a…read moreFriday night for after work drinks. It has a decent food menu with various deals on during the week. It has good drinks deals at peak drinking times, such as two cocktails for £7. I've been here twice; the first time the bar was full of workers and the second time later on in the evening the bar was host to a lot of well made-up older clientele out to impress. Due to its central location the Manadarina is a good choice for after work drinks, but i wouldn't come here otherwise.

One of the few fairly decent places in Macclesfield to go for a drink. Nice decor and ambience -…read moreexcept when they run theme nights, and then it can be pretty dire! They have a nice outside area at the front, which is great in summer, although fairly small so the tables a can get taken pretty quickly!! They have a great cocktail menu, however, not all the staff are great at making cocktails!!

Well... Erm how do I describe this one...Kitsch is probably the most appropriate word. It seems…read morethat I find myself at mash towards the end of most nights in macclesfield, a bar that serves good beer and opens late. Live music is occasionally on the bill and I reckon the owner must be related to Iggy pop. Weird décor but it all adds to the character of this little bar down a little cobbled street

Fantastic beers that are hard to find, cool interior, good music, and a friendly owner. Come here…read moreif you're a beer lover!

Pub was renovated a few years ago and is now a cosy multi roomed place, open most of the day,…read moreserving some good value tapas. Draught beers from Robinsons. Beer garden on the side of the hill. Definitely worth a visit.

I don't normally bother reviewing chains because they're all the same but this Botanist stood out…read morefor 1) Charming service 2) Excellent live piano player 3) Nice seating in a conservatory-like space at the rear (where there were also a couple of hilarious novice teenage dates going on) 4) Delicious main of gnocchi with roast butternut squash, Tenderstem broccoli, candied walnuts, garlic chips, rocket and walnut pesto - tasty and unusual combo of textures and flavours

Our group ventured in for predinner drinks. While most selected local beers, a few of us enjoyed…read morecocktails. To start, I have to say I was impressed with the cocktail list. Not only did it have a lot of variety, but it also seemed to mix in local, seasonal fruits into the drinks. I selected the Melon & Basil Smash. It was fresh, but not very strong. In fact, I noticed very little alcohol being added. Also, it had a lot of ice. Still, a great tasting drink. I liked the atmosphere - the whole look and feel of the place. The service was prompt and prices were good. Next trip to Alderley will include a visit!

We visited here tonight with 6 lively children for a birthday catch up. Despite adhd child and an…read moreactive toddler the staff couldn't have been more lovely. We did try to keeep the little ones from other early visitors but the whole ambiance of the place welcomes all. Also went to the quiz night recently which was a top night out. Big kudos to the new management and amazing staff there.

Excellent food , fantastic selection of real ale, which changes weekly so always trying new beers…read more The staff are very welcoming and friendly, it's at the top of my best local pubs list. It's clean and welcoming, decor tastefully , clientele is respectable Hurray football no longer shown here, so all hooligans sling your hook!

Vale Inn has a great selection of Bollington beers of which my bf strongly approves. I on the other…read morehand, had to intervene to stop them selling me Coke from a soda stream, which is disgusting. The only alternative was a 200ml glass bottle so basically don't come here for the soft drinks. We both got to Sunday roast, unfortunately only one pork belly was left (this was around 2.30pm) but bf liked the chicken anyway. We were both unimpressed with the sight of a new potato and the roast potatoes were rock hard on the outside. The rest of the vegetables were pretty nondescript, lots of cauliflower which is never the most exciting option unless doused in cheese or roasted with coriander or something. None of it was terrible, and the meat itself although far from the best pork belly I've had was decent, but overall I wouldn't recommend. Bf comes here all the time for lunch and says the fish and chips were great. There's also a lot of outdoor seating, some of it overlooking the attractive cricket pitch (inside was less appealing). On any other day it probably would have been 4* but Sunday lunch didn't quite cut it.

We got to the pub at 3pm on the Saturday of the first May bank holiday. Street parking was easy,…read moreright outside the restaurant. The space was moderately full of chatter and the servers seemed quite friendly. We were seated promptly and were recommended the Bollington Best ales to start the meal. Plenty of choices, given they brew themselves. The ribs are a must order if you're into meat on bone swimming in decadence. The sauce, of which, I've also posted a photo was an OTT creation by the chef, who came out and spoke to us and after we over complimented him on the sauce- he even gave us the recipe. The fish was a generous sized haddock, beer batter fried with a look of love, came with well cooked chips. The Bollington Best meat pie was delicious, succulent pieces of meat baked into the bread with fresh vegetables. Definitely stop by if you're in the area looking for decent pub fare.