Getting around by public transport
Half the fun of a good pub is getting there and back with friends, and when going by bus or train nobody has to be the designated driver! Here is how to reach our pubs, breweries and socials across South Cheshire without the car.
Using the bus and the train is one of the best things you can do for your local. It keeps our rural pubs on the map, cuts the carbon, and means everyone in the group can enjoy a proper pint. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) encourages pub-goers to travel by public transport and campaigns for better services to reach pubs; read more on the CAMRA public transport page.
Plan your journey
The quickest way to find door-to-door times and fares is to use one of these:
Traveline
The best all-in-one planner: put in where you are and where you are heading, and it works out the buses and trains together.
Plan a journey →National Rail
Train times, fares and live running for every station in the branch and beyond.
Check the trains →Cheshire East buses
Bus timetables and journey planning for routes across Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Alsager and Middlewich.
See bus timetables →D&G Bus
The main local bus operator across South Cheshire, with routes, timetables and maps for most of our towns and villages.
See bus routes →By train
Most of our towns are on the rail network, with Crewe as the gateway. From there, local lines fan out across the branch.
Crewe
One of Britain’s great railway junctions, with direct trains from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Chester and far beyond. The natural starting point for a day out in the branch, and the home of our Crewe Rail Ale Trail.
Nantwich
On the Crewe to Shrewsbury line, one stop from Crewe, and the start and finish of our Nantwich Rail Ale Trail.
Wrenbury
Further along the Crewe to Shrewsbury line, serving the villages in the south of the branch.
Sandbach
On the Crewe to Manchester line. The station sits at Elworth, a little outside the town centre, so check onward buses or allow for the walk.
Alsager
On the line running east from Crewe towards Kidsgrove and Stoke-on-Trent.
Winsford
On the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe. The station is on the eastern edge of the town, so allow for a walk or bus into the centre.
Middlewich
Middlewich has no railway station of its own, so the bus is the way in for now; local buses link it with Crewe, Sandbach and Winsford. Local campaigners are pressing for passenger trains to return to the Mid Cheshire line through the town.
By bus
Crewe bus station is the main hub, with services out to Nantwich, Sandbach, Middlewich, Alsager and the surrounding villages, and Nantwich bus station serves the south of the branch. D&G Bus runs most of the local network, with Stagecoach, First and Mikro Coaches running some routes too.
Bus routes and times do change, so rather than list them here we point you to Traveline or the operators for the current picture. If you are planning a rural trip, it is always worth checking the last bus home before you set off.
Where known, we aim to record the bus routes and nearest stop for every pub in our branch area. That information is shared on the CAMRA pub finder and shown in the pub details on our own interactive Branch Map.
Travel help on our site
Public transport is built into the rest of our site too:
Branch Map
Tap any pub or brewery and choose Get me there for public transport directions in Google Maps, or use the locate-me button to see the pubs nearest you.
Open the Branch Map →Crewe Rail Ale Trail
A walking trail of pubs starting from Crewe station, with bus links to the pubs further out.
See the Crewe trail →Crewe Rail Ale Festival
Our festival at Crewe Heritage Centre is walkable from both Crewe railway station and Crewe bus station; the festival page has train, bus and walking directions.
Festival travel details →Many of our branch socials are planned around the train and the bus, so you can relax and enjoy the beer. Check venues in the branch diary, and if you are unsure how to reach one without a car, get in touch and we will happily help you plan the trip. However, some of our pubs are in rural areas and away from public transport routes. If you do need to visit by car, consider car sharing or a taxi, and please, don’t drink and drive.