please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Despite many visits to Manchester I was unaware of this pub, only a block from Piccadilly Gardens. A fairly desolate location, even in daylight, and quite obviously a local's pub. My fellow drinkers seemed harmless enough, but their loud conversations concerned matters that perhaps should have been whispered and left me with the impression the place was a halfway house for patients, prisoners & bewildered seniors. A pint of Black Sheep @ 3.20 was quite OK, the bar person was polite, but I was happy to move on.
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I've been there a couple of times. Unusual location, in a quiet lane, and fantastic old building. The barmaid/landlady and customers were very unfriendly. Poor beer selection, and the beer I had (Guiness) was not well kept. It's an Irish pub - but not the touristy kind. There are posters on the walls praising "our brave boys" in the army. It has obvious loyalist sympathies, and I heard a story that a loyalist commander laundered money here. As a Celtic supporter and Sinn Fein member, I did not feel comfortable here! Still very interesting pub.
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Another fine Manchester pub with character! Only Black Sheep available on the hand pump, this was my only visit so don't know if it's a regular feature or whether it rotates. Not a bad pint though seemed expensive at £3.20 a pint. You very much get the impression this is a "local" pub but we weren't made to feel unwelcome at all. As someone else has pointed out, you can still smell the smoke from years gone by, which definitely adds to the charm and character of this place.
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This pub is behind The wetherspoons in Piccadilly and if it gets too busy in The Wetherspoons Try Mother Macs. Its supposed to be Haunted and has a few facts about it on the wall. Not a lot of people know about this pub apart from locals and people who dare try something different. Hydes beer is on offer and its ok but nothing special. It really does have a few characters in here and they are friendly enough if you strike a conversation with them.
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Surly service unfortunately. A pub like this should really push the boat on service as there are so many cheaper alternatives in the area. No real ale again.
pmduk - 24 Apr 2011 09:46 |
This slightly hidden pub is best reached off Newton Street, and is certainly attractive from the outside. There�s plenty of history (including some grisly) to be found by reading the information boards & newspaper cuttings near the entrance. The clientele was surprisingly old, and football was playing on a screen at the far end of the bar.
The mature landlady was not friendly, not really acknowledging us whilst serving us. The Hydes beer was in poor condition, one half was enough.
Overall, we loved the building & history, but felt let down by the poor beer and absence of any welcome.
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They say the best places in cities are slightly off the beaten track and this is true of Mother Macs. Perfectly situated near Cafe Marhaba - the best chicken kebabs in Manchester I reckon - it has an olde worlde pub charm. If you took your lass there she'd say 'Aren't there loads of pubs like this?'. There aren't, treasure them!
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There's something great about this place, but it's hard to say what exactly. Friendly, honest, still smells of smoke years after the smoking ban. Great pictures of old Manchester on the walls. A favourite of mine.
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Only one real ale (noticed by me), but a fantastic atmosphere, friendly people, but I thinked twice before entering. Give it a try!
Stryn - 22 Jan 2009 14:37 |
Cosy place that isn't as rough as its location down a dingy back alley would suggest. It wasn't too busy on a Friday night-just right, I'd say. Varied clientele here. Only one small L-shaped room around the bar, plenty seating and a good atmosphere. Only gripe for me is that the real ale was off, but all in all a good experience.
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Tucked away city centre local serving Hydes. All walks of life seem to come and go, and if the stories are to be believed it has a gruesome past.
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Excellent pub. Always a friendly welcome which is what I look for in a boozer! You can find me in here most fridays after work.
Jay
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Like walking into an episode of Life on Mars. Worth a curio visit mind!
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One real ale, Boddies on my last visit, but normally Tetleys. Sound landlord, TV in corner.
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a town `local`...the basic layout hasn`t changed much over the years...small one roomer,which tends not to get too jammed...seeing that its only 30 secods walk from Piccadiily Gardens.
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