Rode Heath is a small village by the section of the Trent & Mersey Canal colloquially known as 'Heartbreak Hill'. This is the long rise from Wheelock up to the summit level at Kidsgrove and Stoke, more properly known as the Cheshire Locks - just the 22 to work through.
Needless to say, it isn't a route we often take and, wjth the demise of the Romping Donkey at Hassall Green, The Broughton Arms offers welcome respite from the arduous passage and the first time we stopped there was at lunchtime on Saturday 4th September 1999.
We were heading down the locks and it provided a very pleasant lunch with some cooling Carling (or maybe a Foster's), perfect for a hot day. Inside it is quite a large pub with a large garden; a very popular spot on a summer's day.
Our next stop there was again at lunchtime on Friday 13th September 2002, this time heading up the locks.
The pub was largely unchanged, but several tables had appeared in the car park.
It wasn't long before we returned for another lunchtime session on Sunday 3rd September 2006.
Again largely unchanged and another very pleasant lunchtime stop. (The seating in the car park appeared to have disappeared again!)
We didn't travel this way again until the evening of Tuesday 16th August 2016, this time there were some changes.
Although the exterior had been given a complete makeover, inside it still felt the same as before as it successfully treads the fine line between being a pub and a restaurant. Although we didn't eat there, we did return for a few pints and a win in the quiz (on a tie break!) We did stay on for lunch the next day when the pub was packed again as it was a lovely sunny day.
We will very probably stop by next time we're passing...and the next time...and here's the link if you fancy a stop as well!
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