A mate of mine is taking over a pub and wants to have a drive round and look at some other places for ideas, can anyone reccomend some pubs in the Cheshire/Lancs area that have been modernised yet kept as a traditional country pub, if that makes sense?

Thanks in advance.

Black Swan, Hollins Green and Rope and Anchor Dunham near Lymm.

Decent foody pubs and both recently had more than a few bob spent on them. Also close together 10 mins drive across Warbie Bridge

Stretton Fox is a decent pub for food, drink and pleasant surroundings.... The Cheshire Cat, just outside Chester, is another similar pub, also The Kilton, just past High Legh and on the road to Knutsford is a good place to visit.

Chetwode Arms on the A49

The Greenwood down Greenwood Crescent is pretty good. The Jolly Tanner and Falstaff are both classics as well. About five minutes apart at best as well.

The Centurion , on St Helens Road , in Leigh .

the three pigeons near the halliwell

good beer as well

what!

Thanks, I think Centurion and Pigeons go top of the list!

THe Manor at Thelwall.

Gansons , i knew you would appreciate the Centurion , as your a closet Leyther

Horseshoe at Croft

Oh yee of short memory Roddy. How can you have forgotten the Warrington equivalent of London's The Garrick or The Ivy. Yes, I give you The Spa Brook (RIP). They used to do a lovely broken leg of lamb.

You wiped your feet on the way out of there.

I once walked past, and saw an alsatian with a stick in it's mouth. You know when pubs are rough, when you see "tooled-up" dogs (that's the four legged type of dog, not the type who wear size 20 leggings and have their hair scrawped backwards, and live on Densham)