The Stoker's Arms in Didsbury Village, Manchester is the place to be on a Wednesday night, as we found out yesterday evening.
The Stoker's Arms
Didsbury Village is a very upmarket and pretty location, making the standard high for its local pubs; however The Stoker's Arms rises to the challenge with its value for money meals, large selection of ales, wines and spirits and friendly atmosphere.
When we arrived we were greeted by James who showed us to our table and got us some drinks. The pub was already filling up for the quiz, so it was a welcoming site as we settled in. The room was filled with comfy leather sofas and the exposed brick wall gave it a warm and welcoming feeling on a chilly February night.
The menu was very extensive and great for the vegetarians among us (me!). We enjoyed the burger deal- a burger and a drink for under £10. The handmade burgers; A West Country Beef Patty with Taw Valley cheddar, fries and house relish and the Lentil and Spinach Burger with Hummus and house fries were hearty meals indeed when they arrived- this is a menu choice for those with a big appetite! The only drawback was that I had to deconstruct my burger as it was too big to eat all at once.
Whatever dish you are having, I must insist you have a portion of the onion rings too, as these are the best I have ever had- smothered in herby goodness- they are the perfect accompaniment for any burger.
For dessert we had the Lemon Tart with Judes raspberry sorbet and the Raspberry and peach crumble with apple sorbet. They were again, very generous in portion size, and the sorbet, rather a custard or cream made them a refreshing palate cleanser after the meal and ideal if you suffer from lactose intolerance.
The quiz (entrance only £1) was a great way to take our minds off our days at work. Five rounds of questions on music, general knowledge, news and other tricky topics thrown in for good measure. We were too ashamed to hand in our paper as we did abysmally, however there was a prize of £56 up for grabs to the team who gained the most points. There was a bonus round too where each team had to make a paper aeroplane and the further they travelled, the more points they could score. A unique and incredibly fun way to end the night.
This pub took me back to my student days; I would certainly have frequented an establishment like this, because you are guaranteed good food, plenty of drink and a memorable evening with like-minded people. It made me envious in a way that I am no longer able to do this every night of the week!
If you are travelling from afar, there is no parking right outside of the pub, however, there is some in the side streets just past the frontage, with a mere 5 minute walk in and unlike the rest of Manchester- it's free.
Looking around- everyone seemed to enjoy the night's activities, which only filtered down to us.
The staff were lovely and made sure we were well stocked for food, accompaniments and drinks all night.
Despite visiting at night, it was apparent that this is a great place to stop off if you are visiting Didsbury during the day, as a place to get some lunch or a quick drink as respite from shopping in this delightful village.
A night we will never forget- thanks to James and the rest of the staff for making us feel young again!
655-657 Wilmslow Road,
Manchester,
M20 6RA
0161 448 7941