please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Holts pub in a fairly lively area near to the Arndale Centre. The pub seems to focus on food. But there are 6 ales. On Saturday lunchtime, these were Holts Bitter, IPA & Two Hoots, Booteg Racketeer & Twisted Grove & Fullers London Pride. So no dark ales and no ciders either. There's plenty of seating. But it was fairly popular. So finding a perch wasn't easy. The interior is fairly bland. There are better pubs nearby.
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Great city centre boozer. Not particularly characterful interior but more than made up for by the convivial atmosphere, good beer, friendly Mancunian service and an opportunity to watch the only football team in Manchester net seven.
Rather good.
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another average boozer around this part of town. It's a shame that Holts beer cannot be served in glass because of the idiot minority.
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I like this pub. The interior is not great by any means... unsympathetic and slightly bland but the Holts beer is very good.
Prime city centre location could mean this pub could get away with being a bit average but it's actually pretty good.
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Have to agree with the recent reviews,the interior is a let down after the excellent exterior..Holts mild well kept,I am sure the bitter also.I tried a Holts Manchester brown ale which was excellent a real 1960's taste from the days when all British breweries produced tasty bottled beers.
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Disappointingly, a very modern interior (indeed, unusally so for a Holts' pub) hides behind the pleasant exterior of this city centre pub, with its hanging baskets- two levels around a central bar, with sofas, polished floors, banging music and the works. Holt Bitter and Mild available, which I can take or leave. I did enjoy the bitter in here on my last visit though. It's not a bad pub, but it's just a modern circuit pub really, and is porbably the poorest of the 3 pubs around the Hanging Ditch area.
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I have mixed opinions on this place, it has a great choice of ales, but the decor is a little too modern for me. I never went in before it had a refit so cant comment on it before but it left me wondering has a good old pub been butchered? Bouncers on the door at 3pm in the afternoon is a little off putting too. Worth a visit but just for the ale.
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Dropped in for an after work beer on Wednesday night. Interior appears to be standard modern pub refit, which was disappointing. Beer selection looked good but a pint of Holt's Mild tasted like vinegar - exceptionally unpleasant.
Bar staff seemed unwelcoming too. Would not visit again.
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For a Holts pub quite nice.Holts mild,bitter a seasonal plus bottled Manchester brown ale.Not as busy as its neighbours The Wellington and the Sam Smith's pub and all the better for it.
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Last visited in 2002 and on doing so, recall this being a great, old fashioned, traditional style pub.
Visited yesterday however to find that a 'refit' has taken place, and unfortunatly, stripped away the character of the place - It now resembles just another pub.
It is in a great central location, and the beer is a good price, but it's no longer worthy of a special stop when there are so many other places offering a similar expereince.
Yes, it sells Holts on hand pulled, but deserves less than average marks due to the above reasons.
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Used to be a traditional Holts's pub before the refurb. It was getting a bit tatty so it needed doing, but this has changed it's character completely. Now has large video screens which are very obtrusive. Seating is much better than it used to be and the Holts's Bitter was still OK, but it's just not the same anymore.
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Great pub! great beer and good staff. Again very much let down by that awful video juke box!
Sunday afternoon filled with old dears trying to enjoy their roasts while Ultrabeat is playing full volume on repeat in the background!
Refurb has killed any character, not quite a pub... not quite a wine bar! So much potential but still a good gaff to drink in.
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I agree that since the refurbishment the pub has lost its character. The video is far too loud and kills any form of communication and sadly the staff are so rude they dont make it a pleasure to drink there. I must say that the meals are rather nice and they have special offers on too.....great in the afternoon for attracting local workers in their dinner hour. Shame the pub attracts its scruffy red necks as they lower the tone of the place....find the scuffs a new dive.
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Not your typical Holts' pub, more like a trendy bar down Deansgate. Didn't even have any Mild on when I visited.
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The pub itself isn't bad... has had a fairly tasteful refurb and the usual well kept Holts bitter/mild plus special on cask. Food is served but I've not tried it.
However last night (Tuesday) they rang last orders at 2150 and told everyone to drink up at 2220... in spite of the sign in the main doorway stating open to 2330 on a Tuesday! A bit pathetic for a city centre pub to say the least and needs sorting out.
Will try it again before long, however.
alexw - 26 Mar 2008 19:43 |
The beer in this pub isnt bad but i have to say,a couple of the female bar staff are some of the most rude and unfriendly i have ever experienced.Definatly won't be going back. Surely it's not much to ask for a bit of politeness?
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I've been in here a few times, but have never stopped for more than one pint. It would be half ok due to the Holts beer if it werent for the "free" video blaring on everywhere you look. Christ if you have to have a telly on of an afternoon show the racing or something! Don't waste your time in this pub, Manchester has so much more.
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The refit has taken away the character of this pub, on entering at quarter to eight on a sunday evening was told the pub was shut, ridiculous for a city centre pub, wont go back.
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Usually have ample bar staff to serve you,in a decent pub which (along with its regulars)picks up the overspill from Sinclairs-25 yards up the road.
Serves a very good pint of Holts,at a price which is expensive by the brewerys prices-but cheap by city centre standards.
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An interesting hybrid of new and old inside - gaze at the bootylicious music videos on large flat screens while you enjoy a good quality bitter.
Some bar-staff seem to keep their distance from the customers, but this is balanced well by the rest of the friendlier staff and overall I've had no problems with the bar and food service. The pub is generally not too smoky.
The food is resonable and good value.
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I once saw one of the Corrs in here when they were playing at the M.E.N. Arena, just my bloody luck, it was Jim (with several minders/hangers on)
I'm one of the sad old geezers who liked it before the refit.
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Cheap House Champagne! �15 A Bottle - Need I Say More!
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Holts best bitter excellent - heads a tad too large
Quite good bar service
Tables outside - plastic pots used outside [police edict]
A strange mix of 'interesting' clientele
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Decent pint of Joey Holts....but the pub appears a strange hybrid....The bar side is your normal Holts house...but you walk into the lounge & its a city centre bar....bit wierd that!I`m wondering if I need to bring a change of clothes when I walk in between!..
At least you can work it all out over a top pint..
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sorry glen the food is dire the beers great though
anonymous - 5 Dec 2004 11:19 |
Should people who work at the pub comment...well here is mine I went in on October 9th. had a meal something nice and simple Fish and chips. Fish cold in middle chips OK salad very limp. I had a pint of Holts Bitter now this should have been top class as it usually is..but after asking a barman to top it up TWICE the beer was tart and when i asked for a replacement he said I did not know what I was talking about. The manager did however replace it witha lager. The back bar had agruop of lads in that where shouting the place down and not one member of staff did anything about it. Not the right atomsphere for eating anyway it might have been a bad day..so I went back on the 15th orderes a sandwich which was Ok if a bit small. The beer this time was excellent but again the staff let them down by bad service and the chef was in the bar in his whited smoking and drink lager...
Danny - 22 Oct 2004 12:53 |
I work at this pub and it is great, the customers are friendly and staff are very polite. the has new managers dave and yuvonne, they are nice people and i would rate it 10/10 the food is lovely and the chef michael hogen is one of the best.the crown and anchor should have a award for the best everything and if you want more info call 0161 834 2278
glen brown - 18 Oct 2004 14:30 |
What as happen since new year I found it a great bar with excellent staff and now surly bar staff with attitude and the atomsphere seems to be missing have the managers who opened it last year gone or given up!!! poor
baz - 22 Aug 2004 11:21 |
a lager for under �1.70?!?
I do love holts pubs!!!
alan - 29 Jul 2004 17:09 |
Its like 2 pubs in one. One half has a modern wine bar decor. the other is oldy worldy style. beer not bad either
Austin - 3 Jul 2004 08:16 |
an ok pub looks new but sell Holts beers so whats going on holts in a wine bar
Jack - 29 Mar 2004 15:00 |
Heard on Century radio that they won the listners award for best bar service. I always think these things usually over the top but for a holt pub it was great.
ann - 13 Mar 2004 13:04 |
LOvely pub now and the staff are really great
Paul - 26 Feb 2004 18:20 |
loved it great night we had a christmas party in Febuary there
thanks to all the staff
selfridges staff - 19 Feb 2004 20:05 |
In when raqdiohead played Manchester great place and efficient staff but be warned it gets very busy when a band are on at the arena but at least they have the sense to limit the numbers in the bar to give you space to drink...well done
mark Johnson - 2 Dec 2003 17:33 |
Yeah, this is quite a swish-looking place now.
Nige - 22 Aug 2003 07:46 |
This site is excellent after finding the address in the pub Newsletter. Just a quick one to say that the pub has gone through a big change and it wont be your typical Holts dinker cup of Tea or Pint of beer ! but well Holts for making it a great place to go now
robert (ed brother) - 20 Aug 2003 19:42 |
I think this pub must be one of the best in Manchester always a great atomsphere. The staff are freindly and helpful.
eddie - 18 Aug 2003 22:13 |
A nice pub now female friendly with good big windows so you can see in before you enter. The food was great value and Harvey Nicks and selfridges over the road its now a great area to shop and lunch
Margaret - 14 Aug 2003 19:14 |
well what a turn around the pub is bright and now sell Carlsberg as well as the usual Holts stuff The food good and with good music you can control well pay for its good for people to get round a table and talk
susan - 24 Jul 2003 19:24 |
What a surprise for the normal Holts place. Its now clean bright and does not get full of sad old men. New screens showing free videos and friendly staff...the assistant managerI think called Lisa cetainly has large charms. those people with beards and real ale stuck in them are going to hate it and that a reason to love it
Keith - 10 Jul 2003 18:51 |
best place in the square now beer prices up a bit since refiot but clean toilets that do not stink and great food and I am not even related to any of the staff
barry - 9 Jul 2003 17:43 |
beer great and well I hear a good refit is on the way
gaz - 29 Apr 2003 21:57 |
it is due a refit but hopefully it will not be ruined
Peter - 27 Apr 2003 15:26 |
