It's wonderful to head out to a countryside pub for a cool drink on a sunny day - but for those without a car, public transport options are often quite limited in getting to some of the region's prettiest villages. But it's not something you have to worry about when heading to Mobberley in Cheshire - where there's a brilliant village pub right next to the train stop.
The Railway Inn (in a nod to its convenient location) has been widely acclaimed with both CAMRA beer awards in recent years, as well as with rave reviews from visitors on Tripadvisor.
Reviews from this year hail it as a "hidden gem" with its huge beer garden and brilliant play areas for kids. The pub also boasts its own bowling green.
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And, if that was not enough to keep visitors entertained, the pub sits so close to the runway at Manchester Airport that you can cast your eyes to the skies and plane spot to your heart's content here too.
In the beer garden itself, there are a whole host of play areas for kids to explore. When you first walk in you'll spot climbing frames and a mini adventure park as well as swings and a tricky tightrope walk.
Continue on across the sprawling lawn and you'll find the first of two train-themed adventure frames. It features ladders, slides and tunnels for young explorers to tackle.
Back towards the pub itself, and there's an older wooden train that kids will also love to explore and to pretend to drive. The beer garden sits surrounded by the lush countryside of the Cheshire village, looking across to Mobberley Brook and woodland.
Last year the pub was named CAMRA's "Pub of the Season" for Spring, thanks to its facilities and local ales including one from Dunham Massey in Altrincham. It has also won praise from visitors on public review website TripAdvisor.
Recent reviews include one from Richiebaby1987 who wrote: "Absolute hidden gem in Mobberley and great location near station! Came here for gorgeous Sunday dinner and the weather was beautiful so sat outside, the area outside is really big and good for kids."
Reviewer S2409 wrote from a visit two weeks ago: "We knew this pub had a beer garden but wow what a surprise we got. On entering there were outdoor caterers serving food and what a lovely beer garden.
"Plenty for the children to play on and on a lovely grass area." They concluded: "I wish we lived nearer it would be a lovely local."
Vicky Arrand wrote: "Lovely place for food and drink with the family." She added: "Gorgeous outside area for the kids. Visited as party of 8, 4 adults, 4 kids. Everyone enjoyed their food."
On the menu, think classic pub grub like scampi and chips for £13, Cumberland sausage with mash for £12.50 as well as "The Railway Breakfast" for £12.50. There's also a full menu of options for kids.
You can sit inside or outside to dine, and there's also a covered veranda of seating too. For those who like to explore a village further, there's plenty of other attractions in Mobberley for a village so small.
Just along the lane from the pub is the acclaimed Waugh Brow Farm Shop which also boasts a big free play area. It's famous for its cooked breakfasts as well as selling a range of local meats and produce.
Meanwhile around ten minutes down the lanes is the new Mobberley Ice Cream parlour which has been a hit with its "out there" flavours like purple potato and toast and jam.
How to get there
The Railway Inn is at 2 Station Rd, Mobberley, Knutsford with postcode WA16 6LA for sat nav. It is around 20 minutes by road from Manchester.
It is just a couple of minutes walk to the main line train station at Mobberley, just along Station Road. Trains here run every hour, and a return to Manchester costs from £6.40 off peak which takes 39 minutes.
The pub opens every day at 12noon, closing at 10pm Monday to Saturday, and at 9pm on Sundays.
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