please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Caught out again, pretty much as before £4.90 for a pint of Kronenbourg - London prices for a bog standard provincial alehouse.
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Opposite Piccadilly station and the closest thing that resembles a pub to the station. It's okay - somewhere for a swift pint before the train but that's about it. Someone started chatting and asked where I was heading - when I said I was getting the train to London he mentioned how expensive it was - I'd just paid £4.70 here for a mediocre pint of Urquell. There are decent Manchester boozers selling ale at £2.50 a pint
anonymous - 5 Aug 2017 14:11 |
Pretty big room of a pub large U shape bar is quite a large part of the room. Ales on were- EPA by Marstons, Sunbeam by Banks's, Lancaster Bomber, Bulls Head Gold, Pedigree, Boondoggle by Ringwood- a decent beer but at a very pricey 3.85 a pint, and Jennings Cumberland. Bar maid was okay, didn't really seem to be any locals in here but mostly travellers about to go on a train or who had just got off one. A lot of beer clips are stuck on the wall behind the bar indicating what they have had on before. Music was playing in the background, fruit machine and a cash machine that barges you 1.79 for the pleasure (surely for the tourists who would not think to look in Piccadilly station where there are plenty of ones that let you take your money out for free). An okay place but as RealAleRobUK says, I won't be rushing back.
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Visited recently on a Saturday night. Fairly busy but managed to grab a table. There were 6 or so pumps featuring usuals from Marstons plus a couple of guests, one pump being off. I had a Boondoggle by Ringwood Brewery which was perfectly pleasant. Owd Rodger was available, which is a Marstons one I have not heard of before, but at over 7% I thought it best avoided if I was to stand a chance of making my way through the rest of the pubs we had planned for the night.
Wouldn't necessarily rush back but it's another pub ticked off and the pint was fine.
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Fairly pleasing Marstons pub with a satisfactory range of ales and a soothing traditional interior. Prices a little eye watering that reflect its location near the station, but my choices of libation were at least in good condition. The punters all seemed in a relaxed, cheerful pre-Christmas frame of mind which became more apparent as it filled up. Coupled with attentive bar service there ensured the kind of convivial atmosphere that goes a long way to make up for any shortfalls. A safe 7/10.
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Average city boozer handy for the station - ale quality was a bit iffy.
anonymous - 12 Aug 2014 18:30 |
Beware - another price increase. Pedigree £3.70 a pint. Sunbeam £3.60 a pint. Kronenburg £4.40 a pint. The regulars are voting with their feet.
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Tidy pub, well kept beer, food looks good, stocks Monster Munch, handy for Piccadilly station. I have friends who usually turn their noses up at Marton pubs (beer snobs) but they enjoyed this place when I took them in before our trains.
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As others have said, the absence of a decent bar at Manchester Piccadilly is more than made up for by this large Marstons city pub close to the lower entrance to the station. Well kept beer, spacious and busy (as you'd expect here).
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The Bulls Head used to sell average beer at top price, it now sells well-kept beer at top price. On balance, I'm a fan.
m_j_t - 12 Jan 2013 19:43 |
Visited several times last month.I like this Banks/Marstons pub.Range of bitters from the Marstons family plus Banks Original[mild],which apparently sells well.
Substantial lunch time meals.
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A real gem, in the shadow of Piccadilly Station. Excellent range of well kept beers from the Marston 'family'
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Reasonably big Marstons house on a corner below Piccadilly station. 5 beers were on yesterday - Jennings Cumberland Ale & Lakeland Stunner, Marstons Pedigree & Long Hop (third consecutive pub we'd found this one in!) & Ringwood Boondoggle. The interior has a high ceiling and feels like a typical city boozer. It's handy for the station, with only around 5 minutes needed to board a train from here.
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This pub is immaculate. I treat it as a station bar since Manchester is lacking a decent station bar unlike say Huddersfield, Stalybridge, Dewsbury, Sheffield, Cleethorpes and many more these days. So I compare the prices with the rubbish bars in the station and don't think they are too bad. Friendly and attentive staff, no wifi but staff happy to check train times on their work laptop. Mixed clientele, decent range of beers, a lovely bar. Just a good all round pub. A solid 8/10
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Forgot to mention the only downside - �3.00 a pint!! Well over the top for Manchester.
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It's a long time since I was last in thhis pub,so the change of layout and ownership was a pleasant surprise. Marston's range of beers which included Wychwood,Ringwood and Jennings (the Golden Host was very tasty). Chatty staff and a nice atmosphere and,of course,so handy for Piccadilly station. Good t see this place back to form.
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Nice pub, good range of beers, but overpriced for real ales.
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Popped in a few times this weekend while up in Manchester. Really nice traditional boozer, gaffer and bar staff very friendly and helpful, beer good (Jennings/Marstons and all well kept) and the sausage and bacon baps just what the Doctor ordered. Will happily put in on my list for future visits to Manchester.
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Was in on a Tuesday lunchtime and there was all of 8 people in the whole 2 hours i was there.I would have expected a few more office workers in considering the area.I have to agree with previous posters on the prices here,�3 for a pint of bitter from the Marstons stable of beers is taking the p somewhat.I shan't bother with this place again.
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Incomprehensible pricing - �3.60 for a pint of bitter and a packet of peanuts. The landlord is obviously labouring under the misapprehension the pub is situated 160 miles south. I stayed for one then made my excuses, and will not be returning under any circumstance. I suspect that the landlord is content with passing trade and has no desire to nurture return business.
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I agree with Mr Boswell, great pub, but HORRENDOUSLY overpriced. Mind you, someone's gotta pay for the landlord's regular monthly jaunts to the far flung corners of the earth........
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Poor old Keith and his whiskey master Dave. The staff would have you believe that it is Marston's who demand so much money per pint not the landlord, but I don't think I believe this excuse any more. It used to be a great pub; full of wonderful beer served by wonderful staff surrounded by wonderful locals. Elano Blumer, Vincent Kompany and Martin Petrov have all worked there at some point whilst training at Eastlands but unfortunately, what used to be my local and second home has become so overly expensive that neither me nor my cronies can no longer afford to drink there. It is unfortunate that if you earn under �42,000 per annum you can't afford to drink here but I wish it all the best; especially with it's new wealthy 'toff' regulars. Keith, I am disappointed I can no longer wind you up about your beer, good luck Dave.
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City-centre pub that is the nearest to Piccadilly (excluding the dreary station bars). On the corner of two busy thoroughfares and roughly wedge-shaped, It has the old Burtonwood signage and leaded windows signifying 'Smoke room', 'bar room' etc- a nice touch, however they are relevant no longer as the pub is opened up- one room , with a few raised areas but nothing more.
The range of real ales has been steadily increasing, 4-5 pumps now dispense a range from the Jennings/Marstons/Banks' stable. Pumpclips above the bar imply that an occasional microbrewery guest is available but that wasn't the case on my visit. Cocker Hoop was pretty good on my visit.
As noted, the clientele is transient which can detract from the atmosphere, and the pub never really seems busy.
Would agree with most comments- I don't mind this place, It's a decent bet for a pint as its infinitely superior to the bars in the station and the real ale is more than passable. However for atmosphere, you may wish to head for the Jolly Angler in the opposite direction.
Not really a Manchester must.
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Traditional green tiling on the outside, dark wood interior, good staff and a minimum of four handpulls from the Marstons/Jennings range on the inside - there's very little to dislike about this pub. Prices aren't too outrageous (about �2.80/pint) and the transient nature of many of the drinkers is understandable, given that Piccadilly station is just over the road. A solid 7/10.
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Very nice pub, excellent beer. Location is superb, but prices do put people off staying for long periods of time.
I suspect a fair bit of trade comes from the one or two pints before me train trade, so hence the higher prices.
Still well worth a visit if you like your real ales. Food aint bad either
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A wonderful old British style boozer with a mouth-watering array of guest real-ales if somewhat pricey. The fat, drunken, bespectacled regular at the corner of the bar with the 'Banana-Quiff' is worth a visit alone.
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I agree with most of the points already made, both good and bad. It is a better atmosphere than the plastic pubs in the train station opposite and the staff are friendly. However it is pricey by Manchester standards and the real ales are not always well kept.
I haven't been in for a while because there are better, cheaper pubs within a short distance (like the Waldorf) but I notice from the frontage that it's now a Marston's pub so I'd be interested to know what effect that's had.
m_j_t - 11 Jun 2009 08:48 |
Better option for a pre-train drink than the poor options in the station. A few changing real ales.
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A well appointed and friendly pub with a relaxed atmoshpere, literally just over the road from Piccadilly Station. A good selection of well kept real ales are available.
I first drank in the Bull's Head in 1996 and have been back on and off ever since! Always worth a visit.
alexw - 28 May 2007 16:55 |
Great bar, friendly and not-too busy. Only the prices stop me from awarding 10/10!
anonymous - 19 Apr 2007 18:59 |
Good real ales, friendly staff, very convenient for Piccadilly Station.
alexw - 20 Nov 2006 22:56 |
Smart and friendly city centre pub without the trouble. Friendly staff, excellent food and quiz night.
Keep it up!
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Decent range of cask ales. OK but pricey
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Used to be one of my favourite pubs when they had the old vault.( Covered in football ticket stubs from all over the world.)
Now it`s an overpriced,characterless place that seems to open about once a month.Which is about once a month too often in my humble opinion.
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Bulls Head opening hours are Mon - Fri 16.30- 23.00 Saturday 16.30-23.00 unless football matches changes that, i.e. depending on kick off and police advise (often advised to close by the police due to proximity to Piccadilly railway station) Sunday closed all day unless a match day when may be open, again depending on police advise
Hope that helps !!
anonymous - 1 Dec 2005 19:27 |
Love this pub (when its open)
Closed some Saturday nights, open others.
Very hit and miss so try and catch it if you can as it is a great little pub with not a scally insight.
Very true to its original interior with a friendly bar man and a great open fire(esp nice at xmas)
Next to University but seems to be more frequented by staff than students (but that was Friday night)
anonymous - 1 Dec 2005 15:57 |
The Bull's Head is closed for building work for about 6 weeks from 25/10/04.
Mike - 25 Oct 2004 15:11 |
Tried to go here on Saturday, but it was shut. Bah.
Nige - 25 Feb 2004 08:26 |
