The Swinton Hop House
How Swinton’s best micro pub is going from strength to strength
Last year I wrote a short blog post about The House of Hops, a friendly, welcoming micro pub in my local area of Swinton. As someone who appreciates an eclectic beer line up paired with top tier atmosphere, I became very fond of the place. It is, after all, becoming harder and harder to find pubs that take the business of slingin’ pints seriously, at least in my experience.
It all comes down to the little things for me. Things that might seem unimportant to some. Perhaps it’s my years of experience in the pub trade that gives me something of heightened awareness of, or perhaps an aversion to, the little pet peeves that can quickly add up to downright annoyances. Is the music level just right? Is the vibe of the playlist just right? Is the light level correct? Are the toilets clean? Is the bar clean or sticky? All of this before even considering the lineup of beers on offer. It’s hard to find places that get all of this right.
This was why I was saddened to hear from owner Claire early this year that she and partner Scott were selling the pub. Another casualty of the post-pandemic ill fortune that has plagued the hospitality industry? This, in part, was true. At the very least, the ongoing pressures of the hospitality industry had killed the spark for Claire and Scott. However, I was heartened to hear that they had decided to sell to their friend, Ste, who would keep the place open as a micro pub, dedicated to the service of quality beer from regional and local brewers. In addition to making a few adjustments to the layout of the pub, I was delighted to learn that Ste would introduce cask ale to the bar, which had previously only served keg beer on draught. Excellent!
New beginnings
After an incredibly lively farewell party at the House of Hops (no keg was left unsupped), the doors were closed on the morning of Sunday16th February. Regulars were informed it would be at least a fortnight before the new pub, to be called The Swinton Hop House, would be ready to open.
A little over a month later, on Friday 21st March, the doors to the new pub were opened, an occasion I unfortunatelty missed due to being away on a work trip. It was well worth the wait, however…
Inside, I was impressed by the new colour scheme, extended bar layout and the addition of a new wall-bar table with stools opposite the main bar. The most exciting thing to see however was the arrival of four gleaming cask hand pulls in pride of place on the bar. Not only as a beer drinker who has always preferred cask, but as a former cellarman who took pride in the proper care and dispense of real ale, this would be the true test in my eyes.
“Marble’s traditional Manchester Bitter was spot on, with it’s familiar crisp bitterness and slightly zesty aroma.”
If memory serves, the opening lineup of casks was Marble Manchester Bitter, Brewsmith APA, Squak Mallard and Pomona Island Factotum. Upon this initial visit I decided to put the Marble Bitter through it’s paces and happily recieved this in a proper pint pot glass, in which was presented the beautiful clean body and proper head (exellently retained). Marble’s traditional Manchester Bitter was spot on, with it’s familiar crisp bitterness and slightly zesty aroma.
From there, in terms of cask ale, the rest is history. I have tried several casks in the Hop House now and I’m always impressed by the consistent quality. From the gleaming presentation of the freshly polished handpulls to the excellent taste and aroma of each new cask. Maintaining four casks in a suburban pub is no small feat and it’s clear that Ste is passionate about the art.
As with the previous incarnation, the Hop House continues the legacy of having an eclectic lineup of local and regional keg beers on offer. Seemingly, there’s always something for everyone. From sours to stouts, IPAs, DDH pale ales and more, plus the Hacker-Pschorr lager. On the odd occasion that I manage to resist the comfort of my favourite cask, I’m fond of sampling the latest keg offerings, perhaps with a third or a schooner measure, which happily are still served here. There’s also a well stocked fridge full of cans available, either for consumption on premise or to take away.
In terms of snacks… I always say there are two types of pubs. Those that sell crisps in matte finish packets, with flavours like chorizo and red pepper or cheese and chive, and those that sell crisps in shiny packets with flavours like salt and vinegar and cheese and onion. I’m happy to say that the Hop House falls into the latter category, complete with space raiders, scampi fries and pork scratchings on the back wall in the cardboard display.
Vibe & atmosphere
The attention to detail in terms of atmosphere at The Swinton Hop House remains something that greatly pleases the former pub operator in me. Empty glasses are swiftly cleared away, tables are constantly wiped, the light level is kept nice and candlelit of an evening, the bar is wiped down constantly and the music level is always just right for my taste. I could go on, but the key point is that Ste and team clearly take pride in the presentation of the venue and impact that has on the experience of the punters.
Then again I suppose that’s hardly surprising for a pub that is adorned with real hops above the front window, jars of hops on display atop the fridge, and has plans (I am reliably informed) to have hops all over the place before too long. Indeed, I understand that the look and feel of the pub is very much a work in progress, with plans for more bric a brac and points of interest to enhance the back room. It all sounds very impressive and I’m looking forward to seeing how the place evolves over the coming weeks and months.
There’s very much a lively community of regulars here, including many familiar faces from the House of Hops days, along with many new and passing punters. To me, in the short time I’ve lived in the area, it’s always seemed like a really friendly crowd. One with which it’s easy to strike up a conversation about beer, the weather or pretty much anything for that matter. Just a more-than-decent place to sup a pint and watch the world go by.
And so it is, with all this considered, that I have to say ‘well done’ to The Swinton Hop House for keeping the art of good pubcraft alive. It’s something that is mighty hard to come by in my experience. That’s what makes it all the more important to support good, independently run pubs wherever they may be found. As I am sure everyone knows, it’s still very much a tough time for the hospitality industry. It is partly for this reason that I am writing this blog post. It’s my way (besides supping beer) of lending support to people who take great pride in slingin’ quality pints.
I encourage you to stop in, next time you are in Swinton. Hopefully I’ll see you there!