Phil's World Pub Guides - Greater Manchester, UK

Pub Comments Location
ALTRINCHAM
Orange Tree This pleasant pub has a nice traditional multi-roomed interior, and serves excellent real ale.
Last visited April 2006.
Old Market Place
BOWDEN
Stamford Arms A nicely done out large low-ceilinged pub serving Boddingtons Bitter on hand pump.
Last visited December 2002.
Church Brow
BRYN
Oddfellows Arms A plain friendly two-bar local boozer, serving only plastic ale.
Last visited March 2007.
Downall Green Road / Medway Close
MANCHESTER
Beer House Sadly, no longer a pub, I'm told.
Under New Management said the sign, causing a moment of panic, but I needn't have worried as this small backstreet pub continues to provide a wide selection of cask conditioned ales in perfect condition. Ten different ones were on when I visited, as well as Hoegaarden Wit and other imports. Food - chile, sausage egg & chips etc - is lunchtimes only I think. On my most recent visit the range of real ales seemed to be slightly less, but with five or six to choose from who's complaining.
Last visited July 2003.
Angel Street
Bull's Head A regular haunt in my student days long ago, this pub then had two small bars plus a side room. More recently it has been knocked through and there is just one room with spoof antique decor. One thing hasn't changed, though - they serve a superb pint of Forshaw's Burtonwood Bitter.
Last visited May 2005.
London Road / Fairfield Street
Castle This well preserved antique city centre boozer has a small busy front bar plus a couple of more peaceful back rooms, one of which contains a piano. A range of Robinson's brews on hand pump.
Last visited April 2003.
66 Oldham Street
Hare & Hounds A well preserved pub with a main bar in the centre and two side rooms served from hatches. Beautiful tilework on the walls and leaded glass in the doors and above the bar. Tetley and Holts bitters on hand pump. Beware the very noisy karaoke on a Friday night.
Last visited December 2007.
Shudehill / Thomas Street
Lass O Gowrie A nice range of guest ales as well as their own brews in this traditionally styled wood floor and bare brick pub.
Last visited July 2002.
Charles Street / Donald Street
Lowry Centre Purple and orange decor and modern stylish furniture in this expensive bar in the Lowry Centre. There's some nice canalside tables outside.
Last visited July 2004.
 
Salisbury The plastic antique interior is fairly well done but a little grubby. A standard range of real ales including Directors, Old Peculier and Theakston's Best, in mediocre condition.
Last visited July 2002.
Leigh Street
Samuel Platt's A modern plastic construction overlooking the ship canal. The hand pump was serving pure vinegar when I visited. Good down-market food.
Last visited September 2002.
Wharf Road / Water's Reach
Waldorf Hotel A rather nice pub hidden in a back street, with a small selection of excellent ales. Function room upstairs (Where they do a fine dinner).
Last visited March 2006.
Gore Street
MANCHESTER AIRPORT
08 Bar A large flashy plastic airport bar, with no draught beers available on a Saturday afternoon.
Last visited December 2007.
Terminal 3, air side.
Bar des Voyages Keg Worthington in a large spacious plastic airport bar.
Last visited July 2005.
Terminal 1, air side
Donkey Stone Rather nice (fake) traditional pub decor, and your last chance for a decent pint before flying out, with hand-pulled Boddies, Bass and a guest. One would have thought that at these prices they could afford to replace the rather tatty carpet.
Last visited December 2005.
Terminal 1, land side.
Voyager A small bar counter hidden in a corner.
Last visited December 2007.
Terminal 3, air side.
ROMILEY
Railway This nicely decorated, partly knocked through traditional pub has a side room with comfortable sofas, and a pool room. A fine pint of Robinson's is served.
Last visited December 2003.
by the station
Romiley Arms A nicely done plastic pub with keg Tetley and Boddingtons, and I'm told that since my visit they've started serving a guest real ale. The tables outside are useful if you've just been to the chippy!
Last visited December 2003.
by the station
STALYBRIDGE
Q Inn This rather nice pub has two rooms partially knocked through. The decor is bare brick and bare floorboards. Five handpumps serve mainly Hydes brews, plus the rather nice house beer - Q X.S.B.
Last visited November 2002.
Ramsbottom Street / Hully Street
Station Buffet Bar I first visited this famous gem in 1980 and I've been going back as often as possible. Excellent real ales and you must try the black peas, a local delicacy. Their annual beer festival is well worth a visit.
Last visited December 2007.
Platform 1
WIGAN
Berkeley Square A large knocked-through pub with a dance floor to the rear and an enormous LSTV at the front. The very nice interior decor is well looked after. A choice of three excellent real ales was available.
Last visited March 2007.
Wallgate / Library Street
John Bull A rather splendid bare brick and beams interior in this small popular pub hidden in a back street behind Wetherspoons. As well as the main room on the ground floor there's a small lounge and a pool table upstairs. The juke box includes some excellent music!
Last visited April 2008.
The Wiend
Moon Under Water A nice interior includes a somewhat labyrinthine upstairs area. I visited this Wetherspoons pub early on a Saturday evening in 2002, during their "Halloween beer festival", but there was no real ale available at all, so after a quick pint of plastic John Smith's we moved elsewhere. I'm pleased to report that on more recent occasions there has been a good choice of beers. Wetherspoons' usual cheap and good food is available.
Last visited March 2008.
 
Old Pear Tree A pleasant olde-worlde interior in this friendly pub where the food smells good. Excellent real ale, Pedigree and Jennings' Cumberland on my most recent visit.
Nicely refurbished in early 2008, although I think it's lost a little of its character in the process.
Last visited April 2008.
44 Frog Lane
Orange House A large pleasant open food-oriented pub with plastic traditional decor. Only one real ale but the Old Speckeld Hen was good. LSTV for sports.
Last visited March 2003.
 
Raven A splendid traditional interior in this large town centre pub with one main room plus a small side room and a back room for food. Hand pulled Tetley Bitter in fine condition.
Last visited March 2003.
Mount Pleasant
Swan and Railway A very nicely preserved three-room pub with nice ceramics and a mosaic floor in the corridor, and a tremendous stained glass panel over the bar. Hand pulled ales include Banks's Bitter and Banks's Original. There's a large back room.
Sometimes referred to as The Stag over troubled Railway, or The Stag and Rainbow.
Last visited March 2007.
Across the road from North Western station

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