Canal Pub
Ye Olde Kings Head
Byrons Ln, Macclesfield SK11 0HD.
Canal Pub
#1 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Completed in 1831, the Macclesfield Canal was one of Britain’s last canals, built just as railways were emerging. After decades of proposals since 1765, it was finally approved in the 1820s, with Thomas Telford endorsing the route in 1824. The 26.1-mile canal runs from Marple Junction to Hall Green, passing through Macclesfield and Congleton. Built mostly straight using Telford’s “cut and fill” method, it was constructed by William Crosley for £320,000. The canal’s twelve locks are all at Bosley, raising the waterway by 118 feet. Sold to a railway company in 1846, the canal continued commercial traffic until 1954 and is home to Britain’s oldest canal cruising club, founded in 1943. Today, the Macclesfield Canal is an important part of the Cheshire Ring, offering a peaceful journey through scenic countryside and villages.
Eating and drinking by UK canals is a classic British pleasure, blending scenic views with great food. Towpaths along 2,000 miles of waterways are lined with historic pubs—many once serving boatmen—offering hearty meals, Sunday roasts, and local ales, with moorings for narrowboats. The waterways now also feature independent cafés, tea rooms, and restaurants in converted warehouses, especially in areas like London’s Grand Union Canal and the Kennet & Avon Canal. Popular venues such as The Rowbarge at Woolhampton and The Dundas Arms at Kintbury attract visitors with outdoor terraces, seasonal menus, and regular events. Whether stopping during a towpath walk or arriving by boat, canalside eateries provide a peaceful setting to enjoy local flavors, wildlife, and Britain’s waterway heritage.
Macclesfield Canal's Best Eating and Drinking in 2026
Canal Pub
#2 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Canal Pub, Chandlery and Day Boat Hire
#3 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Canal Pub, Chandlery and Day Boat Hire
Bailey’s Trading Post
Lord Vernon's Wharf, Lyme Rd, Higher Poynton, Poynton, Stockport SK12 1TH.
Canal Pub
#4 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Canal Pub
#5 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Accommodation and Canal Pub
#6 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Canal Pub
#7 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Canal Pub
The Rising Sun Country Pub and Restaurant
Station Rd, Scholar Green, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 3JT.
Canal Pub
#8 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Canal Pub
#9 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Macclesfield Canal
Canal Pub
