Body

Trent & Mersey Canal

(all locations are listed as though travelling from Shardlow to Preston Brook)

Pubs & Restaurants

Location What's there Comments Date

Fradley Junction The Swan Photogenic canal junction pub. The place is OK but lacks the character that you might expect. July 2007 (CA)

Salt, bridge 82 The Holly Bush Pub is only a pleasant 5 minute walk away. Good beers, excellent food, superb beer garden - well worth the walk. July 2007 (CA)

Burston, Bridge 86 Greyhound A very pleasant ten minute walk up a path, through the lovely little village of Burston to the Greyhound. Good beers, good food July 2007 (CA)

Stone, lockside, lock 27 La Bella Vita Excellent Italian food, generous portions. May 2005 (CH)

Tunstall Sneyd Arms Hotel Had a tremendous meal at the Sneyd Arms Hotel in the main square in Tunstall. It is a bit of an uphill walk to get there, but worth it just for the amazing collection of comical teapots which line the dining room as well as the giant Yorkshire puddings. April 2005 (PA)

Kidsgrove, lock 41 Blue Bell Inn Excellent choice of excellent beers. On Sunday evenings an informal folk band plays music (mostly in the Lindisfarne style) - good fun ! July 2006 (CA)

Hassall Green, Lock 57

Lock 57 Bistro Very nice - definitely recommend it. May 2005 (CH)

Romping Donkey Just behind the Bistro. Big gardens, big portions of the Sunday carvery and a couple of good beers. Very popular on Sunday daytime in the sun. July 2006 (CA)

Wheelock

Nags Head Locals pub with food and interesting beers July 2006 (CA)

Commercial This time warp pub used to have extremely limited opening hours and was a great place. It's now somewhat more "commercial" as it's open at the usual times - when we were there (Sat. night) there was Karaoke on in the back room. The pub's got plenty of other rooms though to soak up the atmosphere in. July 2006 (CA)

Old Mill (was an Italian restaurant until July '06). Good food, huge portions. September 2006 (CH)

Middlewich, lock 75 Newton Brewery Locals' pub selling good pint of Marstons - no obvious food. July 2005 (CA)

Middlewich, lock 75 Big Lock The pub is actually better on the inside than it looks from the outside. Beers are fine and menu looks reasonable. Plus raised level seating overlooking the lock. July 2005 (CA)

Marston, Bridge 193 Salt Barge Popular pub for eaters. We weren't eating and didn't really like the place. Nice sitting outside though with a pint waiting for the Lion Salt works opposite to fall over - just need to ignore the fast traffic.. July 2005 (CA)

Anderton, opp. Lift Stanley Arms Although not much to look at, this place serves good food at attractive prices. Bizarrely there's a fairly extensive menu if eating inside but if eating on the terrace overlooking the canal you can only pick from a limited "outside" menu. In our case I was allowed to eat steak & kidney pie outside but Kay could only eat her vegetarian sausage inside ! Limited selection of cask beers. July 2005 (CA)

Shopping & Facilities

Great Haywood, Bridge 74 Farm Shop Smashing bread April 2006 (MB)

Stone, lock 28 Shops Lock 28 is convenient for Somerfields supermarket. Stone is a lovely country town - attractive and good selection of shops. May 2005 (CH)

Wedgewood factory, Bridge 104 Factory tour, shop, café You have to be there by 3pm for the factory tour. The café was nice. May 2005 (CH)

Middlewich Shops The town itself is not up to much for shopping - although there is a Somerfields - about 1/2 mile walk from the Wardle Canal. Also a Tesco's Metro about to open at the end of May. May 2005 (CH)

Good & Bad Moorings

Trentham, south of bridge 104 Moorings for about 8 boats Pleasant spot although close to railway July 2007 (CA)

Westport Lake Big lake, wild birds Great spot to moor alongside lake. February 2007 (CA)

Kidsgrove, Harecastle Tunnel portal Quiet spot, occasional trains pass overhead There's room for about 6 boats here. Has had a reputation for vandalism but that all appears to be in the past. There's a couple of moorings by Hardings Wood Junction but they get taken early in the afternoon. July 2006 (CA)

Navigation Notes

Harecastle Tunnel: 2006 Opening Times 11 March - 7 May 2006: 8am to 5pm (To guarantee passage craft must arrive by 3pm)
8 May - 3 September 2006: 8am to 6pm (to guarantee passage craft must arrive by 4pm)
4 September - 3 November 2006: 8am to 5pm (to guarantee passage craft must arrive by 3pm)
4 November - March 2007: By Appointment Only : 48 hours notice required. Telephone Customer Services 01606 723800, between the times Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4pm, Saturday 8am to 1pm. Please Note: Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and every Sunday.
April 2006 www.waterscape.co.uk

Wheelock locks They fill fast and furiously September 06 (CH)

Preston Brook Tunnel Opening Times
Northbound: open on the hour, and remain open until 10 past the hour. Southbound: open half past the hour, and remain open until 20 to the hour. (Enquiries: 01606 723800)
April 2006 www.waterscape.co.uk

Location	What's there	Comments	Date
Fradley Junction	The Swan	Photogenic canal junction pub. The place is OK but lacks the character that you might expect.	July 2007 (CA)
Salt, bridge 82	The Holly Bush	Pub is only a pleasant 5 minute walk away. Good beers, excellent food, superb beer garden - well worth the walk.	July 2007 (CA)
Burston, Bridge 86	Greyhound	A very pleasant ten minute walk up a path, through the lovely little village of Burston to the Greyhound. Good beers, good food	July 2007 (CA)
Stone, lockside, lock 27	La Bella Vita	Excellent Italian food, generous portions.	May 2005 (CH)
Tunstall	Sneyd Arms Hotel	Had a tremendous meal at the Sneyd Arms Hotel in the main square in Tunstall. It is a bit of an uphill walk to get there, but worth it just for the amazing collection of comical teapots which line the dining room as well as the giant Yorkshire puddings.	April 2005 (PA)
Kidsgrove, lock 41	Blue Bell Inn	Excellent choice of excellent beers. On Sunday evenings an informal folk band plays music (mostly in the Lindisfarne style) - good fun !	July 2006 (CA)
Hassall Green, Lock 57	Lock 57 Bistro	Very nice - definitely recommend it.	May 2005 (CH)
Hassall Green, Lock 57	Romping Donkey	Just behind the Bistro. Big gardens, big portions of the Sunday carvery and a couple of good beers. Very popular on Sunday daytime in the sun.	July 2006 (CA)
Wheelock	Nags Head	Locals pub with food and interesting beers	July 2006 (CA)
	Commercial	This time warp pub used to have extremely limited opening hours and was a great place. It's now somewhat more "commercial" as it's open at the usual times - when we were there (Sat. night) there was Karaoke on in the back room. The pub's got plenty of other rooms though to soak up the atmosphere in.	July 2006 (CA)
	Old Mill (was an Italian restaurant until July '06).	Good food, huge portions.	September 2006 (CH)
Middlewich, lock 75	Newton Brewery	Locals' pub selling good pint of Marstons - no obvious food.	July 2005 (CA)
Middlewich, lock 75	Big Lock	The pub is actually better on the inside than it looks from the outside. Beers are fine and menu looks reasonable. Plus raised level seating overlooking the lock.	July 2005 (CA)
Marston, Bridge 193	Salt Barge	Popular pub for eaters. We weren't eating and didn't really like the place. Nice sitting outside though with a pint waiting for the Lion Salt works opposite to fall over - just need to ignore the fast traffic..	July 2005 (CA)
Anderton, opp. Lift	Stanley Arms	Although not much to look at, this place serves good food at attractive prices. Bizarrely there's a fairly extensive menu if eating inside but if eating on the terrace overlooking the canal you can only pick from a limited "outside" menu. In our case I was allowed to eat steak & kidney pie outside but Kay could only eat her vegetarian sausage inside ! Limited selection of cask beers.	July 2005 (CA)
Shopping & Facilities
Great Haywood, Bridge 74	Farm Shop	Smashing bread	April 2006 (MB)
Stone, lock 28	Shops	Lock 28 is convenient for Somerfields supermarket. Stone is a lovely country town - attractive and good selection of shops.	May 2005 (CH)
Wedgewood factory, Bridge 104	Factory tour, shop, café	You have to be there by 3pm for the factory tour. The café was nice.	May 2005 (CH)
Middlewich	Shops	The town itself is not up to much for shopping - although there is a Somerfields - about 1/2 mile walk from the Wardle Canal. Also a Tesco's Metro about to open at the end of May.	May 2005 (CH)
Good & Bad Moorings
Trentham, south of bridge 104	Moorings for about 8 boats	Pleasant spot although close to railway	July 2007 (CA)
Westport Lake	Big lake, wild birds	Great spot to moor alongside lake.	February 2007 (CA)
Kidsgrove, Harecastle Tunnel portal	Quiet spot, occasional trains pass overhead	There's room for about 6 boats here. Has had a reputation for vandalism but that all appears to be in the past. There's a couple of moorings by Hardings Wood Junction but they get taken early in the afternoon.	July 2006 (CA)
Navigation Notes
Harecastle Tunnel: 2006 Opening Times		11 March - 7 May 2006: 8am to 5pm (To guarantee passage craft must arrive by 3pm) 8 May - 3 September 2006: 8am to 6pm (to guarantee passage craft must arrive by 4pm) 4 September - 3 November 2006: 8am to 5pm (to guarantee passage craft must arrive by 3pm) 4 November - March 2007: By Appointment Only : 48 hours notice required. Telephone Customer Services 01606 723800, between the times Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4pm, Saturday 8am to 1pm. Please Note: Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and every Sunday.	April 2006 www.waterscape.co.uk
Wheelock locks		They fill fast and furiously	September 06 (CH)
Preston Brook Tunnel		Opening Times Northbound: open on the hour, and remain open until 10 past the hour. Southbound: open half past the hour, and remain open until 20 to the hour. (Enquiries: 01606 723800)	April 2006 www.waterscape.co.uk