FLOWER POWER IS HERE

1:12pm Wednesday 23rd January 2008

As every eighteen year old whippersnapper would gladly tell you one of the scariest rites of passage other than kissing your granny on Christmas Day is the horrifying prospect of walking into a public house for the very first time and uttering those immortal words. "Can I have a pint of? (Fill in where applicable). The Viziers only advice would be always: 1) Take note of the beers on offer. As panic may set in as your knowledge of ale will be tested to the limit and could leave you exposed a charlatan of the highest order.

2) If you are eighteen or over and resemble Baby Face Nelson' always take suitable identification such as a driving licence, passport and piece of your flesh (always one to make a landlord happy, that one) 3) If there is one thing that gives a group of Virgin Drinker's away is when they arrive at the pub together as a group for the first time and stand in a long queue waiting to be served. Please note it is a bar not the school canteen. Spread your self out for crying out loud!

The one and only time that The Vizier' was refused service was in the year, that was 1988. There he was spruced up to nines wearing a tweed jacket, black slacks and a pencil thin tie, armed to the teeth with a winning smile and a sure nature. The Flower Pot Public House on Congleton Road was seen as the place to be, where the crème de la crème of Macclesfield's young cut and thrusting youth congregated to imbibe ale and talk the talk. The Vizier should have felt right at home, but without any identification all he ended doing was walking right back home, to sob underneath his A-Team duvet, with the words "You look like Baby Face Nelson, get out this pub at once!' ringing in his ears.

Well enough of this reminiscing malarkey it's time for the review, because we are only here for the cream crackers. The Flower Pot has the enviable distinction of being situated at the gateway to Macclesfield or the edge of the Weston Estate, which is very different from the Edge of Darkness' or the Brim of Oblivion'. For those who find Macclesfield to be the equivalent of the Minators maze the pub in the only landmark to been seen at the crossroads that is the top of Park Lane, the end of Congleton Road, Oxford Road and Ivy Lane. The pubs car park would rival the M25 at three o'clock in the morning, such is its vastness, which leads me to tell the tale in the far off past of a, now elderly patron who once ordered a taxi from the pool room to the main lounge because he could not be bothered to walk to the other side of the pub. Please be warned he was still charged £2.50 for the pleasure.

The beer garden has recently been downsized in favour of a road widening scheme, but in the summer what is left will still be filled with park benches for you to be able to spend long balmy days drinking and raising a glass to the passing traffic. The Flower Pot would be Hansel and Gretel's fairytale home so to speak with its cottage-like exterior and plume of smoke that drifts up from one of the chimneys that elevate into the sky. The entrance into the pub is a stone path with two long boxes of fauna and flora on either side, Alan Titmarsh would have a field day! In some pubs there is often not enough room to swing a cat but in the Flower Pot you could whirl Godzilla above your head with wild abandon. The carpet is a pathway of swirling colour that leads you to far off destinations, for you to sit, eat and drink to your hearts content. There is seating galore and a mixture of round, square and oblong wooden dining tables to cater for all size of parties.

If you fancy having a wander take time out to examine an ancient architects drawing of the pub which is situated in what is called The Oak Room', there are also old portraits dotted about, of various subjects fitted in garish golden frames.

As well as the general fantastic food menu there is a Specials Board above the first left hand fireplace and written in chalk are the names of delicacies to flip on the switch to your tongues senses. The sausage and onion baguette is a must! Please give thanks to Gail and her hardworking staff for their dedication to the mouth watering nosh.

The main fireplace area has been home to many forms of entertainment over the years. Krayzee Karaoke, Cheesy Disco and for what seems like eons is the popular Monday Night Fun' Quiz, hosted by non other than Alan Levitt, whose posers have been known to drive many a competitor to the brink of their sanity. It is a very good night and is attended by all manner of Macclesfield society.

But do spare a thought for the very much put upon score collector, who runs around the pub for nearly two hours to the brink of exhaustion, without any thought for himself. And does this selfless, man of the people get a beer out of it.Does Brad Pitt win ugly man competitions?

Now to the bar! The bar is so epic you almost make out Omar Sharif shimmering in the distance, drinking his daily tipple! The bar is mixture of wine cellar and tuck shop, the displays of exotic flavoured crisps and other confectionary are positioned in such a way as to lead you to the land of temptation and a recreation of Jack Duckworth's pigeon coop is home to the many bottles of wine.

Once you have mastered the ancient art of semaphore to attract a member of the well trained staff you must sample the pint that is called Unicorn. Again The Vizier points out those real ale drinkers often turn their noses up at said beer but when it is kept in such fabulous condition such as it is, it is pleasure to sup. All hail John Davies whom I have known for many years now and he is proud of his beer keeping achievements. For such a big bar it is a shame that no other Robinson's ales such as Flash Harry, Dizzy Blonde or Cumberland Way make an appearance but that is only a minor quibble. The usual suspects are also on show Strongbow, Guinness, Carling, Becks, Budweiser, and so on and so forth.

The games room is also a room of great size featuring what is now the customary IT' box. Half of the room is a shrine to the world of motorcycle racing especially to the legendary master of the throttle Franco Rossi, although it is a shame Street Hawk is nowhere to be seen. There are two televisions situated at either end and there is also a good sized pool table and a dart board which is the same size as any other dart board but there you go.

The smoking ban in public places has pushed mans capacity for the construction of covered facilities to the very limit. If you're the type to travel to various pubs you will come across facilities such as shadowy doorways, outdoor areas with heated magnificent multi-coloured awnings and then there is the Flower Pots offering. If anybody is looking for the last known work of Sir Christopher Wren then they should look no further than the Flower Pot's back yard... The large wooden erection is indeed homage to the man that gave us St Paul's Cathedral. Ok it is 2000 times smaller, but close your left eye and squint the right one and you will see the resemblance. Tables and chairs are provided along with heating and there is even room for choir in the cornerWell it's only a suggestion!

For those who like good food and sumptuous ale then head to the Flower Pot for the time of your life. And spare a thought for the baby faced score collector on the Monday night quiz!

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