please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Pleasant enough place with beer from Holts and their own Bootleg Brewery. Neither are very exciting although some of the seasonal and one-off brews can impress. Certainly worth a look.
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For quite a nice place in a good area the food is pretty average. As others have said the real ale is on the pricey side for joseph holts beer. The bootleg beer is bland for a microbrewery. On the plus side the staff are very attentive and you will have no problems getting served.
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Now a Holt's pub. Be warned. They do sell other stuff though. Wear a hardhat if you're over 6'. I have eaten there twice in the summer. Food was late and bland both times.
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Went in here a couple of weeks back after the Chorlton Beer & Cider Festival. Decent selection of real ales on offer and we stayed for a couple of pints. It was a hot day and pretty busy outside but we managed to get seated indoors. Can't remember what the pricing was like to be honest.
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Since Holts took it over, they introduced their own bitter at £3.40 odd a pint.....yet the same drink is available for the standard £2.25 round the corner at their Spreadeagle pub.....what qualifies pubs on the green to ridiculously overprice???????
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A decent, busy pub tucked away in a residential area. I'd imaging it would get extremely busy outside in summer. Well kept ales, we didn't try the food although plenty of people were eating.
alexw - 24 Mar 2013 08:09 |
To me this is a great pub,with 6 rotating ales,all on tip top form when I visited,plus a friendley atmosphere what more could you ask for
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My great disappointment with the Horse & Jockey:
Despite my earlier review, I feel this pub is going down the wrong path, by not living by it's own principals, and trying to be everything to everyone, and becoming like every other bland corporate pub. It might as well be in Didsbury village (this is not a good thing.)
The music is still often too loud, the sky sports screen too obtrusive and always on - now they've started showing sports which they said they'd never do (there's plenty of other places that do this)
They often do have 2 or 3 bitters on, but this can be a gamble as they're never the same ones - there's no standard you can fall back on if you don't like the guests.
The food is still not up there with the best in Cheshire (this is the sort of pub that they're clearly basing their template on.)
I would say to the proprietors, if you have a spare afternoon take a trip out to The Goshawk in Mouldsworth, Cheshire and see how a great dining pub is run - the food is about 100 times better and it's around the same price.
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Visited the place on a Saturday night, so maybe it wasn't showing it's greatest side. Music a bit loud, TVs cycling round irrelevant Sky Sports news features, tables uncleared etc. It just seemed to be missing a little of the polish I think it is striving to achieve.
My major complaint is about the real ale. One of the things they are selling the refurb on is their real ale. Eight hand pumps and a brewery in the offing. They do, however, have the attitude that it is fine to run out of real ale. Only four beers on when we came in, none left within an hour of being there. Why do so many pubs seem to think it is fine to run out of real ale. Saturday night, 10pm, there would be riots if the lager ran out, but it's fine to not have a single real ale on. I have been in the Horse and Jockey before and never seen more than 4 or 5 real ales on at a time. While these are generally good beers and kept well, I think they should try harder to live up to their own real ale hype and take it seriously.
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Mixed reviews for the new Horse & jockey I see below.
Now it's had time to settle in, here's my new review.
The good:
- They seem to have got rid of Landlord and IPA as regulars now they are not tied in to a brewery, and they often have 3 or 4 different real ales every time I go in which I really like.
The woman buying the real ale is extremely knowledgeable and used to work in The Bar. Now they have a request book for real ale, which is a great idea.
- All the staff in my experience are all really friendly and helpful.
- The interior - obviously a massive improvement.
The Bad
- The piped music. This drives me mad.
In a group of at least 10 of us - none of us like it. The problem is it's often too loud (though they will turn it down if asked.)
It seems to be for the benefit of the staff.
A pub like this is where you go to chat to your mates, not listen to a 10 year old dire Robbie Williams record.
- The giant screen. Ok so it doesn't play sky sports, but it's intrusive and you end up blankly looking at it if you're in that room. It is also totally against what the management set out to try and achieve with this pub.
- The food is still not quite right. If you look around you of an evening, there are often few people eating.
Despite a new chef which was a massive improvement (the fish & chips is super) unfortunately the other dishes do not represent good value for money (and the reputation has quickly gone around.)
In terms of food, it falls short of the kind of gastro pubs found in Cheshire which it clearly has been influenced by (in price as well.) I'm not a fan of the chips either (more like wedges.)
To conclude, still a massive improvement (and it is my local) but could still do better!
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Pretty nice environment to sit and have a drink, but in my opinion choice of lager and cider is poor.
Don't bother with the food either.... Frankly overpriced for what they are serving, you could go to a proper restaurant for the prices they are charging and at least then you'd get table service and wouldn't be expected to pick up your own cutlery and sauces from a table like a Wetherspoons.
We were a table of 10, they forgot 1 order and the rest were far from exemplary especially considering the price. The potted salmon salad turned out to be two turgid pots of oil with fishy shards floating around and a couple of sprigs of lettuce. If you are going to call something a salad then it should resemble it!
It's trying very hard to be a high end gastropub, but apart from the prices, failing miserably. The menu is unimaginative and badly executed. FIne for a quiet drink, but nothing else.
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I've visited to this pub, and noticed a nice lady served me a pint of beer. I do like the warm atomphere despite the low ceilings with wooden beams that could have more difficult for someone who's 6 feets or more. However the drinks price is bit of expensive but ok. I would like to come back again.
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The make over has been carefully done - unlike many refurbishments - so that the character of the building has remained with a large bar, low ceilings and odd corners, one with unobtrusi9ve tv, plus a large outside area overseen rather charmlessly by two bouncers when I was there on a Friday night. The only problem is that inside the echoing stone floor and the unnecessary music (just at a level where you can't really hear it anyhow) made it very difficult to hold a conversation with someone sitting about two feet away.
I found the staff helpful - barmaid offering tasters of unknown guest beers, food service good - so perhaps it's only the manager who has a problem.
Beer was fine - wide range. Food fine if not startling, though to be fair I did choose a pub standard - bangers and mash - and it was tasty.
Will make this my main beech Road local, I think.
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Having lived in Chorlton for 10 years I was very interested to see how the all new Horse and Jockey would be, Inside it's all very nice.
However customer relations hit an all time low when a 'gentleman' I assume was supervisor or manager was incredibly rube to me when I ask if it was possible to open a tab so I would be able to order more drinks with my meal. He pointed at the ATM machine which charges money to withdraw and told me it was 'perfectly normal procedure' to expect t pay for your meal and not be allowed to order drinks later.
Can't see myself bothering with this kind of attitude, better off going to the excellent OSTARA were staff are helpful and food excellent,
AVOID!
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Has now been turned into a gastro pub and has become the sort of place Chorlton has desperately needed for many years. A great pub, serving great British classics in a pretty setting on the village green. The interior is smart, clean and modern. The beer well kept Landlord, Deuchars IPA and a good selection of guests - (I tried Moorhouse's Blond Witch) A microbrewery is to come. The staff are efficient and friendly. Even dog friendly in the pub area. The crowd, a mixture of Chorlton 30 somethings.
A massive improvement.
This pub could be a place you have a quiet drink, or a meal with your parents or a big night out with your mates - it has the capacity to be the pub that this area has really needed for years.
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Good pub that seems finally to have turned the corner. Its had loads of l/l in the past few years but still retains a decent atmos. Best avoided on sat as they show almost endless footy, but excells on sun with an excellent quiz after 8pm. A good pub soon to be great once again.
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I also hear it will be a microbrewery under the new owners - fantastic! Hopefully Chorlton will soon get its first great pub. We have a few good bars but no good pubs.
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rumoured to be changing to a gastro pub soon. Looking tired but not quite as bad as others have said.
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Recently has a new landlady, so there maybe some hope.
There have been rumours of it being ok again
However it has recently been one of the worst pubs in Chorlton by a mile
Great location and setting (on Chorlton Green) can't save the tired interior and dreadful toilets (always an inch of 'water' in the mens)
Can get quite rough especially in summer when drunken youths drinking magner congregate on the green.
The old landlord was apparently stabbed
Approach with caution
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As you can see by the comments, this pub has had it's good times and bad times. Popular with the younger cliental. Has been known to be a bit rough at times.
Popped in for the first time in a while recently, and seems to have improved a little. Selection of real ales available although they were just the usual suspects
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this pub rocks. the location is lovely, the building's nice and quaint, the beer's cheap and the clientelle are alright.
what's not to like?
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i've got a lot to say on this pub. used to be much better than it is now. i used to do the quiz every thursday. weekends now its full of loons, who look like they want to give you a good kicking! the roof is still too low - the toilets are better but still nasty. the beer is pretty reasonably priced. some fit barmaids too!
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Its amazing how far this pub has fallen from grace, was the best boozer in Chorlton now its just plain arse. Sunday nites are still about the only excuse to go in this boozer because DJ Keneth is a living legend, but other than that avoid at all costs, the beer and larger is god aweful and thats when you do manage to get served. This once again could be a great boozer but it needs some real work.
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Probably the best pub in Chorlton at the moment. It is a descent, friendly local. Normally quiet during the daytime, but can get very busy in the evenings, especially on weekends. It has football, pool table, fruit machines etc. Good bar staff. Reasonable priced drinks. Quiz night is a laugh, mix of music. The only problem with this pub is that it can get way to hot inside, but i suppose you could always go and sit on the benches outside, or sit on the green opposite, (a good favourite spot during the summer!! Overall, quite impressive.
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hahaha - tell your landlord to stop showing the footie then as it upsets you. hahaha
anonymous - 22 May 2005 14:02 |
This has got to be the best pub in Chorlton by far, whilst i do agree that there are too many hippies and yuppies its still full of locals and you will always see a familiar face. One comment i do have however is that when any footy is on, hoards of people whom i have NEVER seen (bearing in mind that i am in there most nights) take over the pub so that us locals cant get served at the bar or even get a seat for that matter, then once the final whistle goes they all sod off!!! STAY IN YOUR OWN LOCAL TO WATCH THE FOOTBALL AND STOP DARKENING OUR DOORSTEP!!!!
Other than that i have had some great nights in the Jockey, particularly good around Christmas when they extend their hours and have a DJ on. Good selection of drinks and have some good offers on, bottle of wine for a fiver!!!! A must for any pub goer!
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Used to be good. But now they got a fat dj on thursdays who just plays a jive bunny dance megamix of every song going. Bring back quiz master owen. Oh yeah hippies have taken over now as well. Wish they'd get rid of that 20 year old chilli's cd. Anyways to many screens in ya face showing sport. Had poker on the other night - What?????? Oh and badly drawn boy is just some hippie tramp and white dreads are wrong. Peace out
Mike Oxbig - 21 Jun 2004 16:05 |
I TOTALLY agree with Mr Ridley regarding the excellence of the Horse & Jockey. I can confirm that the establishment has been fully refurbished and now includes an extra television and extra giant screen for generous amounts of live sport. It is a southerley facing building therefore the wonderful, and recently enlarged, greenery gets a large amount of Manchester sunshine!! A must for any pub-goer!
Pete K - 19 May 2004 17:57 |
This is the best pub in Chorlton, if not South Manchester. Matthew Hargreaves (I used to go to school with him) Is very wrong. Ignore him !! It has recently been refurbished and the beer is much better than before. Very important you'll agree. It's a pub you can't beat for atmosphere. The mixture of people who go in there just shows what a great pub this is. And as for the summer months......... well i've had some of the best drinking times you can have (without going abroad) out on the green. Never any trouble, always a relaxed time. I can't recommend this pub enough and if you don't agree, find me and i'll buy you a pint. IN THE JOCKEY !!!
Andy Ridley - 14 May 2004 20:37 |
Lets be honest the H&J is a real disappointment. The potential is massive however it is desperately in need of refurbishment. Every holiday I return to my native chorlton and tolerate a boozer where threads have become just too bare.
Matthew Hargreaves - 26 Apr 2004 10:41 |
This *is* one of South Manchester's great pubs :) The selection of beer isn't great, but they do a decent pint of the black stuff, the clientele are a mixed bunch but never unpleasant, and the music selection is invariably great, consisting of a good range of Madchester hits, indie and a fair smattering of cheese that's okay to listen to.
Chris - 16 Jan 2004 17:14 |
This pub has it all yet manages to make a pigs ear out of a silk purse. The old world charm of the exteria is soon forgoten as you move inside. The interia is ultra tacky and i don't just meen the legendary sticky carpet! 5'8" ceiling hight, DJ's Blasting out rubbish, and the down at heal dog eared decor make for a colstrophobic experience. Needs plenty of work to sort it out but would be worth it, as this should be one of south Manchesters great pubs
Adrian - 23 Sep 2003 16:54 |
It's a great little old pub, serves fantastic beer, ale and does Guinness extra cold and everything. It has good quizzes on a Thursday and Sunday nights, with a cheesy DJ who plays whatever crap you request but always finishes on a good song (last time i went it was "Sympathy for the Devil" - woo woo!). It's always packed out, so get there early if you want a seat. It also has log fires you can sit around and keep warm on the chilly nights. :)
sarah - 25 Mar 2002 16:29 |
