please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Almost 7 years since I was last in here, I returned yesterday afternoon. It's better than I remember it. The ale and cider selection is excellent. With 6 real ciders on offer, there were 5 I'd never previously tried. So, I had to work my way through each of them. The ceiling appears to have been restored on one side of the bar. But there's still netting to stop any falling down! The ale choice was Anarchy Meltdown Expected, Neptune Shifting Sands, Bristol Beer Factory White Milk Stout, Wilde Child Excessive Behaviour & Over Indulgence, Mallinson's Taiheke & Cwrw Ial Atlantic 252. The ciders were Ascension Dabinett & Wrath, Nightingale Discovery, Kniveton Wynsum & Bartestree Moorcroft Blend Perry & Fiona Cider. I think I now have to classify this as my favourite pub in Manchester. I need to get back here much more often.
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Interesting place - definitely worth a visit. Good selection of beers and they had 5 real ciders being served from a little side-bar - from polypins by the looks of it.
Character place, looks like it might have been a theatre or something at one point in it's past.
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Been a while since I last visited and even longer since I left a review. This place has definitely improved over recent years and now has 8 hand pumps at the bar meaning plenty to choose from.
No issue finding somewhere to sit, but seemed busy than I remember it had been in the past, without being uncomfortably packed out. I guess it has benefited from the increased popularity of the Northern Quarter and its decent selection of ales helping to make it more worthwhile to cross the road for.
Not at all pretentious, just a decent pub with decent ales. Would recommend!
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Probably my favourite Manc pub, along with Marble Arch. The well judged beer range, excellently served (Tickety Boo superb) and setting all great. Not as busy as some pubs on Sunday matchday, which surprised me.
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Agree with wobblybob this place has vastly improved possibly due to competition in the area. 9 real ales on in my last visit with 25 plus ciders in the back room. Friendly and knowledgeable staff and always willing to let you have tasters.
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This pub is much-improved since my last visit - eighteen months ago. The ale range is greatly improved and the pub has a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. The pint of Ossett Silver King I supped was superb. Well worth a visit. 9/10.
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A gem of a boozer. I'm looking forward to another visit tomorrow night :)
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That stout I had was Hand Drawn Monkey - beer of the year and 2.8%!
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Return visit before City-Barca and not rammed with football fans but impressing me even more than last time. There are some really attractive features, not least the superb local stout which tastes much more than its 2.8% and some good pork pies. Can see why its back in the beer guide this year.
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Great pub, which if it was the other side of the road would be a lot busier. A place this size needs a lot of customers inside to get a decent atmosphere but if you want a quiet drink it's perfect.
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Lovely pub with friendly staff. Impressive ceiling, which i imagine i would have spent more time looking at if I had stayed for just a couple more pints.
saido - 22 Sep 2013 17:50 |
Not a bad pub, plenty of space on a Saturday afternoon when I went in. It was quiet-ish but not completely dead. Worth stopping by if you are passing! Nice interior with original features including the crumbling ceiling (with netting to catch the bits that fall down). No complaints about the ale.
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Decent pub with generally traditional interior.
alexw - 21 Mar 2013 19:00 |
The Crown & Kettle was empty the last time I visited in February 2011. This time on a Saturday evening, it was packed. Many people were there to watch the late kick off at Old Trafford. The front bar was extremely busy. Although the rooms at the rear had slightly more room and the yard was available for hardy souls. Beers on were Deeply Vale DV8, Rat Rattus Rattus, Fernandes Night Jar, Green Jack Golden Best & Ossett Silver King. Cider was Snails Bank Tumbledown Medium. When combined with Bar Fringe, the Smithfield, the Angel and the Marble Arch, you have a really good crawl to look forward to.
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Decent enough pub with a range of cask ales, kept in good nick. It's usually quietish when I've called-in (mid-afternoon) and seems to lack an atmosphere. It almost feels like you're in a pubco training centre: everything is fine but it's not quite real! Nonetheless worth a look when in the N/4.
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Good choice of ales last Friday evening. Keep it coming!
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Consistent drinkers pub with decent range and quality. Only downside is always have to stand as I've only visited on match days.
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Very friendly landlord, and some well kept beer. A bit disconcerting to see the net overhead catching pieces of falling plaster from the remarkable ceiling! Surely funds could be found for its restoration?
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Popped in for a quick pint before the football and although the beer range wasn't as extensive as some other pubs the quality was fine. Interesting bar with the ceiling being the obvious feature! The locals were very friendly and veen organised taxis for us. Cheers!
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I really like this place. Good beers including some LocAle options (Dunham Massey on my last visit). Re previous comment, I think they've decided to keep the ceiling as it is as a little nod to the pub's history. Could be wrong, but that's how I've interpreted it!
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It's a great shame someone hasn't the dosh to renovate the ceiling damaged in a fire. I really liked this place and met a guy there who knew the history of the local boozers which was very helpful. Beer couldn't be faulted.
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This pub has 3 rooms. The main bar has an impressive high ceiling, that is presumably original. Exposed brickwork high on the walls also lends a traditional air. A vault and another smaller bar are much more modern in character. On our visit, all handpumps were clipped. Beers were Ossett Snow Drop, Howard Town Wren's Nest, Copper Dragon Black Gold & Prospect Silver Tally. The cider on offer was Saxon Part Time Lover. There's plenty of good pubs in this area. So this is most definitely worth a stop on any local crawl.
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I should like to have seen it before the fire.On a recent visit only 3 handpumps in use,but one was Black Gold a mild from Copper Dragon,so I was happy.
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Not one of my favourite pubs it has to be said. The ceiling is impressive thats about it really. The ale is satisfactory nothing more. My advice "Skip this pub and go to the Bar Fringe instead"
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Visited this pub yesterday. Disappointing choice of beer (only 3 of the 8 handpumps were in use). Worth popping into though, if only to see the remarkable decor - especially the ceilings. Do have a look at the restored ceiling in the far room.
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The crown and kettle is almost a great put, but falls short and ends up haveing to settle for being merely very good.
the beer is always great and its a strking building, so why the reservations? i think it boils down to atmosphere, that certain 'je ne sais quoi' that truly great pubs has and this place just...doesnt.
that may sounds a bit harsh, but try coming here on a saturday night, when the place should be heaving. instead, its half-empty and deathly quiet. and must they insist on having big-screen tvs just showing match of the day?
having said all this, i do go here whenever im out round the northern quarter and, unlike bar fringe, the service is very good. but still, i never seem to stay for more than one pint.
so near and yet so far... a disappointing (for me) 6.
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Nice range of real ale + real cider. Not smart enough to take someone out to if you're out to impress, and the area seemed a bit grim (on Easter Sunday afternoon - if that makes a difference).
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Solid local on corner of busy road just off Oldham Road - bit dark round back but the Ales are always well kept and the choice is pretty good - normally 5 or 6 - well worth a visit.
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Fascinating interior with good, well-kept ales. Often seems a bit empty when I visit, unfortunately.
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This long-closed pub on an arterial route on the edge of the city centre reopened as a real ale pub a few years ago and has been going from strength to strength since.
3 rooms, bar, snug, and vault are served by a central bar. Although the layout and decor are traditional (fine dark wooden panelling around the bar and walls) the place has a clean, airy feel.
The most striking point as mentioned is the ornate plasterwork ceiling, most of which was badly damaged by fire in the 1980s. The celiing in the main bar remains so, as a curious historical piece. In the vault the ceiling has been restored to its full glory. Nets hang beneath it to prevent falling masonry!
The pub has a strong record of selling ales from local microbrewries and also has a good range of European beers. On my visit Greenfield Autumn Ale (The house brew), Dunham Masey Milk Stout and an Allgates beer were available. The Greenfield was excellent.
This a pub that is strong on all fronts and as such is one of Manchester's best, you should try to get here if possible.
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Bowled in here on a Tuesday afternoon. Predictably quiet, I plumped for the seat next to the radiator and didn't vacate my perch for about 2 hours. I sampled the Darkstar Hop Head, which was excellent, as well as a tasty mild from the Empire brewery. There was a very reasonably priced food menu, traditional pub food and from what I saw, it looked like pretty decent tucker. Food served 12-4 IIRC. Friendly woman behind the bar, this pub will be a true treasure once the restoration is complete (if it is ever complete).
Sharp - 14 Feb 2010 13:58 |
OK firstly the beer, in excellent condition, decent range, very good. Now the pub; well it's historic and was actually closed down for 16 years apparently, now seems to having a restoration, the ceiling is something to behold, 3 rooms as far as I could gather. 2 of them are with afore-mentioned history but the snug, good heavens, some previous owner in the past was totally clueless when it comes to pub architecture, it's worth seeing just for its awfulness, an MFI book case painted brown next to fake brickwork over an equally fake fireplace!
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Called in as we were looking into a lot of pubs while attending the NWAF and found a lot more beers on than there had been earlier in the week. We enjoyed the Dark Star Old Chestnut, and there were also beers on from Salamander, Abbeydale, All Gates, Skinners, Copper Dragon, The pub has a few large rooms and there a screen showing a football match but the sound was not intrusive to conversation.
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The netting just in case the ceiling starts to fall down can be slightly disconcerting. Four ales on that I had never seen before. They were all well kept, unfortunately two of them were very different from the norm and were not to our taste. Friendly staff.
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One we chose through reviews on this site. Decent pub, but again different to both the Smithfield and Bar Fringe. Nice main bar area with two smaller rooms off either side of the bar. TV showing the rugby, but unobtrusive and didn�t take away the pubbiness. A few real ales on (4 or 5 I think) the one we tried was decent and well kept. Staff helpful. Worth adding to your list if in the area.
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The impressive stone-carved ceiling and narrow stained glass windows give the pub a vaguely ecclesiastical feel. The main bar is housed in a high-ceilinged room with wooden floors. This bar runs through to the Vault, a slightly smaller area. There is a third room which connects the Vault to the main bar. The main bar has some impressive chandeliers, though these were not lit on my visit. In fact, the main bar was barely lit at all, and the candles that a member of staff put out on the tables barely compensated. I like dark pubs but this was a bit over the top.
Four pumps, the beers I noted were the pub's own Summer Ale, Howard Town Wren's Nest and Shugborough Mi Lady's Fancy. I had the Summer Ale which was okay and the Wren's Nest, a light, hoppy ale and actually quite good.
A musician was setting up his gear as I left.
I'll probably give the pub another go next time I'm in the area.
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Called in again while doing a pub crawl in May, and found another beer new to us. Interesting listed building. Always worth looking in.
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Fantastic real ale pub on the corner of Oldham Road - within a short distance of Smtihfields, Bar Fringe, Marble Arch and Jolly Angler which form a good little real ale crawl. Good and quick service and four well kept ales on: Tom Cobley, Crackaway Jack, Crown & Kettle Bitter and a Dark Mild. Large pub with various drinking areas. TV screens were displaying football but not so that it interupted the predominantly drinking atmosphere in the place. Worth taking a moment to look up at the interesting ceiling too.
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Great old pub with strikingly cool original features, large bar and snug in the back, great selection of ales on aswell. Mine's a pint of Northern Soul.
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Another good pub along the Real Ale Circuit in Manchester, 4 real ales, 2 Greenfields, cheap food, mixture of young and old drinkers and friendly bar staff, did have a sign on the door saying no 'hoodies or tracksuit bottom' so bare this in mind
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Had a few real ales on when I visited. Decent jukebox. Interesting onate ceiling (apparently the building was originally intended to be law courts). Well worth a visit.
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Called in while in Manchester for the many excellent beer festivals. This is one always on my circuit of the area as the beers are good, and they select from micros. Not disappointed this visit and enjoyed a Dunham Massey and Horbeam beer.
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Decent pub that used to be a court house many many years ago, hence the ornate ceilings etc. Originally the whole of the ceiling was intended to be restored but they ran out of time and maybe money to complete it. Has a good selection of real ales on tap, always well kept. Relative newcomer to the N4 pub circuit so give it a try.
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Bare boards, three rooms, splendid ceiling in two rooms, one restored the onther left alone. Beer excellent, all from independent micro's, mostly local. The Greenfield and Dunham Massey beers were perfect.
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Would echo comments from JohnBonser. One of the best pubs in M/cr.
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A glorious pub; check out the ceilings. Inside it's honest, simple and how a good pub should be. An excellent range of well kept beers. Well worth making a detour to.
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Well known pub in Manchester's Northern Quarter which re-opened relatively recently following extensive renovation after a period of closure of some 20 years as a result of fire.
I never visited the pub in its pre-renovation days, but I'm told it was one of Manchester's finest drinking emporiums.
With its high moulded ceilings and church-like arches, there is still much to admire internally.
The pub consists of 3 interconnected rooms.
On the beer front, the pub is clearly a keen supporter of local micros - Dunham Massey Light Ale being my randomly chosen pint on my recent visit.
A blackboard lists future beers coming shortly - these included York Brewery, Ossett, Coach House, Greenfield and Allgates when I visited.
Crown and Kettle Ale is brewed for the pub by Greenfield.
The pub serves home cooked food and Sunday roasts. Live sport is shown, but not obtrusively.
You should include this pub in any Northern Quarter crawl - along with the nearby Hare and Hounds on Shudehill and the Marble Arch on Rochdale Road
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Ceiling in the front bar still in a bad way, but the rest of the pub looks good and the beer choice (4 real ales, most from Greater Manchester) was good, as were the beers themselves. Has a few TV screens and was showing the football on my visit (the dire Sunderland-Liverpool match) and was pleasantly busy throughout. Good luck to the owners.
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Beer good but far too cold. intersting building and will try again next time i am in manchester. Worth a visit but not quite sure what rating to give it after my first visit.
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As well as super real ales, this pub also has Sky and does Sunday roasts until 3pm!
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glad they reopened this pub..always something intresting to drink in here...cider served from a barrell on the back of the bar..always feels damp in here wen i walk in but nether the less a big plus for the owners reopening this pub on the N4 trail..beer as good as always served here.
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I am very to hear that it hwas burned down , i used to work there in 1981 / 82 .It used to be run by Cyril . But it is good news tohear it has re opened.My name is Richard and come from malta
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A real-life phoenix from the ashes with a fire-ravaged ceiling to prove it. A popular and historic pub until it was tragically damaged by a hooligan�s fire bomb. Fully restored although only one room has had the wonderfully ornate ceiling returned to its former glory. Well worth a visit just to survey the effects of the deed and maybe the choice of well-kept real ales will tempt you to linger.
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oh, its back open as a pub again! wont be long before its shut again and turned into the many things it has been over the past 8 years!
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An amazing interior features a rather dilapidated ornate ceiling with netting fixed beneath to prevent bits of it falling down! Certainly full of character with a cosy and rather plush back bar, and most importantly a good selection of well-kept ales.
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This is an object lesson in how to renovate a pub. I only went once before the fire all those years ago but this is such an improvement I'm astonished. Whenever I've visited the beer has always been in top nick with an adventurous choice of guests.
Gets rammed when City are at home and they post security on the door on match days. Amazingly, they are always polite and professional.
This is a great addition to the already strong Ancoats area.
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Posssibly the best kept beers in England. A great selection of guest beers. The atmosphere is great. The management ensures that the pub is friendly and welcoming.
My favourite pub but I live a long way away so I have to travel to visit.
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Good beer, with recommendations from a helpful barman. I was in there on a quiet Sunday afternoon and it felt a bit lacking in atmosphere, but I imagine when there's a good crowd in there it's a pub I wouldn't want (or need) to leave. From the chalk board of upcoming beers, I wish I was more local..
Worth the walk up from the city centre.
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The Crown & Kettle has been renovated and reopened after being closed for around 20 years due to a fire.
There were 4 guest bitters and 1 Cider available, along with the two regulars beers of Black Sheep and Boddingtons.
The pub is in a lovely old listed building and was very bright and welcoming with friendly bar staff.
Well worth a visit for those who normally stick to their regular haunts in Northern Quarter, and is now on my list of favourites.
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A great selection of real ales and cosy fire ideal for the winter months.
Just remember to look up!
anonymous - 9 May 2006 10:55 |
Historic old pub refurbished and a welcome addition to the northern quarter real ale scene, a good selection of ever changing guest beers always in good condition, food served.
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