Greyhound in Ashley is 2026 Summer Branch Pub of the season

The Greyhound Inn is what most people visualise when they imagine the archetypal Cheshire country pub. Nestled in the heart of a small village, with Tatton Park on its doorstep, the Greyhound draws admirers from near and far.

Blessed with a lovely, large beer garden and a chocolate-box-pretty façade, replete with hanging baskets, the pub hits all the right notes. Inside, there is a separate restaurant room (that leads out to the aforementioned garden), though you may also eat in the bar – either at the front or the quieter area near the back. The food is a major draw here, with an extensive menu available with a host of pub favourites, all very well made and served and they won’t make your wallet cry either.

Being run as a managed house by the well-regarded Middleton brewer, JW Lees, for a dozen plus years, a great assortment of drinks is guaranteed. A fine wine list, plus a mixture of international and Lees’s own beers on tap is complimented with great spirits and soft drinks – you can even get a cocktail! For the beer connoisseur though, it is the cask offering that is front and centre. Despite having an above ground cellar (the original – haunted – underground cellar had to be mostly tanked out due to severe water ingress related to the famous local salt geology), these are always well kept.

JW Lees flagship bitter is always available and unsurprisingly is the pubs biggest seller. This is complimented by Manchester Pale Ale, a lighter and easy drinking pint that always sells well in the summer. Lastly, the Greyhound also stocks a seasonal beer from the JW Lees range, or one of their standards. Currently this is Founders Ale, a premium bitter that goes great with the fantastic Sunday roasts that are served. A firm fixture over Christmastime is the return of Plum Pudding, which has caused many a burnt turkey at Yuletide!

Despite the focus on dining, the snug layout, centred around a traditional bar counter, gives a proper “pubby” feel to the Greyhound. Everyone is welcome, even those with furry paws who are provided with treats, blankets and usually a flurry of pats from staff and customers. People and pets are often found propping up the bar on the pretext of “walking the dog”! Children are also welcome with their “owners” and have a menu section of their own. The pub has a happy band of regulars, your author amongst them, who may be found propping up the bar on their way home in the evening, or appear mysteriously after the diners have departed, to enjoy the quieter and more convivial atmosphere then prevailing.

Overseeing all of this is Emily Edwards, a ten-year veteran of the Brewery, who came into the hospitality “by accident” spending six years working at the Boathouse in Chester (one of JW Lees hotels), joining straight from the University of Chester. Emily has now been mine host at the Greyhound for four and a half years and has firmly put her stamp on the pub, keeping a keen eye on quality and making the Greyhound much more dog friendly. The latter is no doubt influenced by her owning the “pub dog”, the gorgeous Hallie, who you may come across later in the evening.

Backing up Emily are a fantastic team, some visible, and others beavering away in the background. The Greyhound must be a happy ship, as many of the staff have worked there for some time, and the regulars most definitely appreciate their skills and dedication. So, in summary, the Greyhound is a great pub, with great staff and great beer – what’s not to like? Please do come along to help us celebrate the well-deserved awarding of the prestigious Pub of the Season award with us at 1PM on the 11th of July.

https://camra.org.uk/pubs/greyhound-ashley-130008

The pub is close (280 metres) to Ashley railway station on the Manchester – Chester (via Altrincham) line. The service is hourly M-Sa & two hourly Su. There is no bus service to Ashley. The nearest buses are Bee Network services 283/284 stop Ashley Road / opp Park Road, 1.5 miles away.