CityLife

The Hillary Step

APTLY for something of a pioneer, the Hillary Step (so named after the famous 40ft spur of snow and ice on Everest) is geographically a little distant from those that follow (though altogether more hospitable than its namesake).
 

On the edge of Chorlton, nestled in a row of shops and takeaways that service an unassuming residential area, this bar has nonetheless blazed a trail for that new breed of good-food, good-beer, relaxed, folky bars that have sprung up in Whalley Range’s slightly more salubrious neighbour.
 

Rightly nominated for one of The Observer’s Best Bar In The North West awards in 2005, the Hillary Step is a new-style traditional pub up there with the best of them.
 

Brick walls, wooden floors, nicely sourced pew seating and an outdoor area – albeit for those that desire a little car exhaust flavour mixed in with their brand of smoke – and you could be nestled in some quiet little corner of the Peak.

But, lest we forget, this sort of heritage drinking experience is all the rage and few do it better.
 

A serious selection of malts that includes Japanese upstarts as well as Scotch classics; a Cask Marque member since 2005; CAMRA pub of the season in summer 2006; and back to back Beautiful Beer Awards in 2008/2009 prove that this place takes its booze seriously.

A rolling stock of up to 25 different guest ales a month marks this out as a pub for those that regard what’s in their glass as more important than what’s outside the window. Add artisan cheeses from Cheesman’s, decent olives and a selection of nuts and salamis and hell, we’d even forgive them doing a Jazz night.
 

But then, when the beer’s this good, who cares!
 

Hillary Step, 199 Upper Chorlton Road, Whalley Range, M16 0BH (0161 881 1978).

Tweet