Buxton is only 12 miles from our hometown and literally a single hilly and very windy road. As there would be a little alcohol involved (a little… who am I kidding!), today’s transport would be the bus. For the bargain price of £4.50 return per adult – I was free as I hid in Mum’s bag – we took the High Peak bus from Macclesfield Bus Station to Buxton Market Place. The plan was Buxton Brewery Tap House for lunch… a mooch around Buxton and then to Red Willow Buxton, sister bar to one of our favourite Macclesfield haunts.
So to the tap house first then. It was a different menu from the last few times we’d been, with what is now a permanent kitchen takeover by 53 Degrees North and it didn’t disappoint. Dad says start the day as you mean to go on and that was with pint of 6.8% Axe Edge, which certainly starts to numb your face after a few. He had the Reuben sandwich to eat and Mum had German sausages served with potatoes and sauerkraut. Very tasty all round. Mum couldn’t resist the cocktails, so also had a “Dark & Stormy” (that could have been named after Dad!) which was kraken & ginger wine, topped up with ginger beer. Slurp!
In resistance to Dad’s demand to go straight to Red Willow, Mum wanted a little breather so we took in the Palm House at the Pavilion Gardens… I say “we” as Dad stayed outside in a sulk. The Axe Edge had melted his brain as well. The Palm House is full of tropical plants from around the world, plus a fish pond full of Mum’s favourite fish, Koi Carp. Mum also bought a plant for our kitchen, which she would try her best to keep alive. Let’s just say she hasn’t got very green fingers and there is normally a competition between Mum and the cats to see who can kill any new plant first.
Culture done for the day and back to drinking. Woohoo! Red Willow Buxton opened in late 2017 and is located within a converted RBS bank in the centre of Buxton. Most of the interior has been refitted, but there remains a few original etched glass windows and an original mahogany and glass office space with additional seating and service hatch to the left of the bar. It still feels a bit like a bank! In addition to the cask Red Willow beers and a guest beer on handpump, there are a further 15 on offer as craft keg beers, together with a selection of bottled beers from across the UK and abroad, gins, various cocktails and wine on tap. Something for everyone then. A little more chilled than its sister pub in Macclesfield, but definitely a nice place for a few pints.