The Old Nag's Head, Manchester

Ye gods, avoid at all costs, especially on a Friday which turns out to be a really bad karaoke night now.

The Old Nag's Head used to be a really great pub; nice, clean and airy but with an almost intimate atmosphere, beer well kept, friendly staff. As someone mentioned in an earlier review, "a hidden gem". Now, it wouldn't be amiss to be used on the TV show "Shameless".

On our first visit in a while, we were confronted by the worlds largest gathering of huge-bellied out-of-tune karaoke blokes. The beer was rank in the extreme (even the spirits, which my wife was drinking, were "off", the Theakstons was like vinegar, etc), the place had a really gross old sweat funk about it, and I've never ever been to a pub where the karaoke didn't only take over the main bar but was even piped into the snig via a badly tuned flat screen TV so you couldn't even have a conversation.

The staff made you feel like you were getting in the way, manky glasses, manky floors, manky tables. If the HSE went in on a flash inspection, I reckon it'd be closed on the spot.

Needless to say, we weren't in there long and won't be going back in a rush.

30 Jan 2010 23:14

St James Gate, Amsterdam

I've been to this pub/bar a few times over the last couple of years (when wanting a typically Englishman-Abroad feel), and it's really quite nice. The staff are really friendly and chatty, the beer is always well kept, and the bar food's pretty good too.

20 Jan 2009 13:11

The Polygon, Levenshulme

What a hovel - thank god it's closed.

2 Dec 2008 15:29