please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Essential for a visit to see how pubs once were...tiny, cramped and oozing with atmosphere. Very friendly welcome.
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Struggle to find a more traditional boozer.
Maybe next door - at the Circus Tavern :-)
Single roomed. Good Beer Guide 2020 Entry. Handful of handpulls - I had a Winters Tale and couldn't find anything about it on Untappd, so don't know the brewery. Fine beer for the season.
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Just back from a few days in Manchester.
Hard to think 2 years have past and no change at the Grey Horse.
The microwave and pies which appeared a couple of years back,now gone.Not needed.
Old Indy, really Dark Mild on the bar as usual. Had 2 or 3 pints most days of my stay.Excellent!
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Just been back for a trip to Manchester. The Grey Horse same as ever,one of the constant things in my life. Owd Oak is now Old Indy, but everyone knows it is Hydes Dark Mild and that is how it is sold at The Grey Horse and it is as well kept as ever.
Stay as you are Grey Horse.
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Great pub, quite small and with limited table space so you may have to stand up but not something that should put you off going. Quite a few ales on to say it's quite small, the toilet is quite interesting as well. This is probably the best pub out of the 3 that are in this little strip of pubs (with the Old Monkey and The Circus Tavern).
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Earlier this month first visit to Manchester for 3 years so back to my old favourite which is as good as ever.Just 2 Hydes beers on plus 2 or3 guests.Owd Oak mild as good as ever.Every Monday 50p off a pint of cask beer.
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Adjacent to the Circus Tavern, I popped in here while waiting for my hotel room to become available. Friendly bar person, not many customers (just as well as its nearly as small as its near neighbour) & a pint of Hyde's something or other for 2.86, which was very reasonable.
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Stumbles across this friendly little pyub while looking for somewhere else. Enjoyed it so much I didnt bother going anywhere else. Excellent Guinness and really friendly and helpful staff made it a real pleasure.
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Cracking little pub, full of charachter, good range of ales, opens at 11, does get busy on match days though.
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Ventured into here for the first time last weekend. It's always a bit of a risk stepping foot inside a small wet lit pub with the bar so close to the door as it doesn't give you much time to turn round and change your mind. However there was a pleasant atmosphere in here and I get the impression most of the drinkers are regulars. There was a small loud group near the bar who perhaps had one too many after the football, they weren't causing any real trouble but they certainly stuck out like a sore thumb in this pub. Bar staff were pleasant, and a decent pint. Would recommend a visit.
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After a sensitive refurbishment thispub is even better than ever. Superbly kept ales and a great atmosphere. 10/10 - a 'must visit' when in Manchester.
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I love this pub customers and the bar staff are so friendly!
It's had a bit of a face lift, I think it looks fantastic... But don't you worry guys the men's toilets are still the same, I bet your all overjoyed :)
The crowed off people who drink there are all very welcoming and if you went in a few times I'm sure you'd get to know them all pretty well.
It gets a lot of bad mouthing of some people as for being the second smallest pub in manchester compared to the circus tavern, but if you haven't realised yet the circus and the grey horse are actually the same size pub, yes the circus has two rooms making it look smaller but if you look at the grey horse they also used to have two rooms.
Oh and the circus is classed as the smallest BAR...(more like a shelf) in manchester not the smallest pub.
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I have been visiting this pub sporadically since the 1970's and recently have been working in Manchester on and off for the past two weeks. I made the Grey Horse my local. Incredibly friendly pub and great bar service from Jacqui, Helen and Gemma (hope I got the names right). The beer range was excellent and I enjoyed the Original very much. Long live the Grey Horse.
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As we arrived (Saturday lunchtime) they were trying to get the pub door open (looked like they may have had an attempted break-in or were just changing the locks) Anyway, we got in and we were served by a local who was helping out during this crisis period! Sadly he got our beer order wrong but redeemed himself by not charging us for the four pints of Hydes Bitter. The pub was freezing mainly because of the front door still being wide open but eventually it was closed and more customers started to arrive and it got warmer. The beer was fine (I like Hydes beers anyway) but we just had the one pint as food beckoned and we were on a bit of a pub crawl before the football. We always visit The Grey Horse when in town but this was a slightly strange and uneasy experience - but we will return another day as it is still a pretty good little boozer (part of the "threepubsnextdoor" crawl).
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So funny to see Hydes Light Mild being sold as a classic bitter!
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Called in last night. Can't remember what I drank as I was completely leathered! I do recall drinking a glass of port before I left. The young girl behind the bar was bloody gorgeous. Made my trip "worth while".
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Had pint of Hydes Original, 1863 and Jekyll & Hyde, all of good standard and great prices. Barmaid very pleasant and helpful.
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Lovely pint of Hydes original when we visited. Barmaid friendly enough but the language of the Irish guy (owner?) was slightly on the fruity side! Will visit again though.
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The point has been made before, but this really is more spacious than it looks from the outside. And compared to the Circus it is huge. The beer was all right when I was there recently and similar to its neighbour, it seems to attract a friendly and chatty crowd of locals.
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Very lively and a warm welcome. Much more comfortable than the more feted Circus nearby. Decent beer at the right price and perfect to whet your appetite before red Chili next door!
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Beer was lacking form today. It's a shame it's a tied house (Hydes).
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The tiny exterior of this pub hides a rather larger seating area than you might expect. Seemingly very much a locals pub, the place felt immediately welcoming. The beer range is the only thing I�d change (fairly standard Hydes, I think) but the landlady was friendly and there was an amusing bit of banter with the regulars. A pub this small makes you feel like you belong there even when you�ve just walked in.
We�ve walked past this place countless times, thinking it was more a novelty than a place to drink, but based on our recent visit, we will be returning soon.
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I love this pub. Always seems to be busy with a good, mixed crowd. The beer is always good and there's usually a corner to relax in. Seems popular with the Irish, for whatever reason.
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As always a pleasant friendly little pub with outside toilets.Hydes mild and bitter in good form.
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Oh yes ! A proper pub. Proper people, proper beer, proper atmos. Nuff sed !
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A great Hydes house. Bitter, mild and seasonal (Loose Cannon) all on today. Very welcoming staff. Love the outside lavvy. I like the Circus but this place is just so much more like a proper pub.
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Always try & get over here when I'm in Manchester - proper feel to this place, from the beer to the authentic Manc attitude of the staff (& I mean that as a compliment). Small enough to be cosy but without the occasional "no chance pal" attitude of the Circus next door.
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Cracking little pub that looks though its been a house at one time. First class pint of hydes bitter in here, definantly the best pint of the day on our crawl round Manchester. Looking forward to a return visit to this pub very soon.
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Another great pub which is well worth the visit, was very busy 5.00pm fri 4th dec ( standing room only), great pint as well. Good to see a PROPER public house doing well, as good as the circus tavern next door.
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Found this to be a far better experience than the Wetherspoons around the corner. Three real ales were on offer from Hydes - Original, Mild and Rocketeer. The landlady and the locals were all very friendly. Nice to see an outdoor toilet.
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Three pubs in a row on this part of Portland Street,this is by far the friendliest of the three.Hydes mild,bitter and a seasonal.Whenever I visit Manchester its my local.
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Classic front room style pub with very friendly landlady. Boasts Manchester's last outside gents as well as decent Hydes beer.
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Not as illustrious as it's equally tiny neighbour the Circus, but this works in its favour as it is less packed whilst being no less worthy of a visit. Only 1 room in here and a longer bar than the Circus, but it's still tiny. 3 Hydes beers available, all in excellent condition and served with a smile. Mostly a locals place but still extremely friendly. There are plenty tings on the walls to keep your interest, and sport is shown on an unobtrusive and small TV above the door. If visiting the Circus, definitely consider this unspoilt pub too.
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Tiny pub, next to the even smaller Circus Tavern, packed at 1300 on a Saturday with regulars and Cuty fans waiting for their train to Birmingham and Aston Villa. Hyde's the only handpull and seemed to be going down a treat with most drinkers. Stopped for one, which was pretty good, though not quite up to the standards of the Old Monkey.
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Another small pub. Top quality Hydes bitter and usually the Hydes seasonal ale as well. Great "living room" feel to the place and the gents toilets are outside.
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i was in there one evening and got talking to two lovely ladies of the night...beer is good if ya like your hydes..very cosy and warm and you feel like your in the landladys sitting room..has a womans touch about it and full of friendly come again locals..nice to see in wat can be come a faceless city on a sunday...never did see those ladies again..shame..lol..lovely pub!
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This pub is so small,its like sittin in yor front room! Cosy,Friendly bar staff,great pint of Holts Bitter. Most of the drinkers in here are really friendly,Ive met some really unique characters. Definatly one of the best boozers in town.
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Traditionally furnished single room pub virtually next door to the better known Circus Tavern. Photographs of old Manchester adorn the walls. Hydes is not one of my favourite beers and my pint was distinctly nondescript, but you may wish to visit this pub if the Circus Tavern is crowded ( which I gather it often is ) or heaven forbid it, closed for good
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I CAME DOWN FAE SCOTLAND IN SEP 2006+FOUND THIS WEE BAR BY CHANCE+FOUND IT TO BE BOTH COMFY+FRIENDLY ENOUGH AS SUCH I WENT THERE AGAIN ON MY NXT VISIT TO M/CHTER IN SEP PAST THIS YEAR. I AM PROB GOING TO COME BACK DOWN SHORTLY AGAIN AS I LIKE A WEE CHANGE FROM HOME+IF ANYONE SEES OR HEARS ME AT THE BAR DONT BE AFRAID TO HAVE A WE CHAT AS IM AN OK GUY, I LIKE THE FOOTBALL, DART'S, FISHING BOTH FLY+BAIT+LIKE MUSIC, + A WE LAUGH LIKE ANYONE. PS I NOTICED THE BEER IS A BIT CHEAPER IN MANCHESTER BUT THE HALVE'S (SHORTS) ARE MUCH DEARER, ANYHOW ALL TAKE CARE IN THE MEANTIME.
anonymous - 9 Oct 2007 14:11 |
An exellent small pub in the City Centre. The Hydes bitter is well kept & you always get a friendly welcome.
xh558 - 20 Jun 2007 21:37 |
Perhaps even smaller than the Circus Tavern! Decent quality of ale, a good place to relax with a pint of Hyde's Bitter and the Evening News. Attracts some of the overspill of the older gay crowd from the village.
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Nice cosy traditional boozer. Friendly atmosphere, Hyde's beer was excellent.
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Went straight in here from the Circus next door, very different feel, but similarly intimate. Excellent beers, didn't have to use the Gents, so can't comment on their "old-style" feel, saving that for next time!
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The beer's excellent, decor ropey, cheerful staff and the pub's so miniscule that you've got no option but to put a smile on your face and forgive the f'king imbecile who's just crushed your foot. There's a great mix of regulars (where the hell do they live?) and passers-by.
Just don't go for a slash when it's icy out.
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This is a really nice local and really tiny but not quite as tiny as the Circus Tavern next door.
Something I found really funny once was I was talking to a bloke at the bar in here who was clearly a regular of some years standing if not decades and I mentioned to him the Circus Tavern which is at most 5 seconds walk away. And he said oh yeah I've never been in there!!!
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Friendly pub with a good atmosphere and decent beer. The only problem is that once you�ve got the grey horse in you can�t get anyone else in. Probably gets away with it because it�s bigger than the Circus Tavern nearby.
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Friendly place, always a good pint and a cosy port-of-call just around the corner from Piccadilly Gardens.
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Great city centre 'local'.
Always a good pint of Hydes, esp. mild, the intimate atmosphere, unusual size, toilets etc. make it a must visit.
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Not quite the tiniest pub in Manchester there's a 'local', raucous feel to the Grey Horse. Friendly, no-nonsense bar staff serving up quality draught Hydes bitter and mild to a Red crowd on match days. Gent's outside loo gets a bit chilly in the winter.
Dr Piffy - 12 Oct 2004 10:23 |
