Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Here comes bride – with ball and chain

2/ 4/2008

GETTING married is like a ball and chain for real ale enthusiast Ian McGarry.

At least that’s the message guests will get when they sup an ale specially brewed for Ian’s wedding to Rachel Walton.

Old Glossop’s Howard Town brewery is supplying bottles of Ball and Chain beer with a picture of the Hadfield bride and groom on the label.

Political researcher Ian admitted that his idea was not every bride’s idea of the perfect wedding accessory.

"Rachel’s a member of CAMRA (the Campaign For Real Ale) and she is passionate about her beer," said Ian, 36, whose favourite pub is the Peel Arms in Hadfield.

"It seemed only right to have something like this for our wedding. Also, we didn’t want anything corny or cliched. We’re big fans of real ale and Howard Town especially, who are doing a great job in this area. And we’re supporting local business at the same time."

In keeping with the couple’s passion for fine ale, both the wedding ceremony and reception are taking place in a gastro pub, The White Hart in Lydgate, tomorrow (Friday). After the ceremony, Ian and Rachel, 32, who works as a Manchester University research associate, will be off on honeymoon to Morocco.

Both keen walkers, they have already done the West Highland Way – where Ian proposed – and Hadrian’s Wall and are planning another more beery journey.

"I’m often asked if Rachel had drunk too much beer on the night she agreed to marry me," said Ian. "I’ve since been coerced into agreeing to do the Pennine Way. Perhaps I should leave the spare bottles of Ball and Chain from the weddding in her wardrobe in the hope she necks them and forgets the promise!"