The City Arms, Manchester

Made an effort to visit this pub after so many positive reviews. It's certainly what you'd call traditional and unmolested, retaining many original features (dark wood and mirrors). So a small timewarp tavern with a front room and back room, and that's it - which is a good thing! A true drinkers' pub, there was a real buzz about the place on Saturday afternoon, with diverse clientele and plenty of selection on the ale front. I sampled a pint of Hornbeam El Derado (spelling intentional I think) which was crisp and refreshing. I was also lucky to secure the last steak pie, and I was starving so it really hit the spot! The bar staff were busy but knowledgeable and attentive. It's also the sort of place where you could easily strike up conversation with strangers (and I did).

4 Feb 2014 11:58

Steamhouse, Urmston

I've always been curious about this pub having passed it many times on express trains between Liverpool and Manchester. Last Saturday I decided to get the 'stopper' train back from Manchester and give it a go. Inside it's nice and airy - a converted station building with a high roof. The vibe is a bit like the Head Of Steam in Huddersfield, albeit on a smaller scale, tastefully decorated with a large main bar area and rooms off to the left and right. When I arrived around 6pm the place was busy, showing a rugby international on TV, and I was almost deafened by someone bellowing "GO ON... GET IN THERE" as I ordered my pint, although the barman did ask him to pipe down a bit! There was a decent selection of 8 handpumps on, unfortunately my first pint (Steam Hopper IPA) wasn't great. Cloudy and tasting more like homebrew than a crisp quality IPA, I should have returned it, and indeed I paid for this a few hours later! Fortunately I stayed for a second (Privateer Dark Revenge), and this was much better - rich and served in perfect condition. The bar staff were generally attentive and friendly although one of the girls admitted she didn't know much about ale because she preferred vodka - fair enough I suppose! On the whole I liked the place and would make an effort to return if passing this way.

4 Feb 2014 11:03

Stanley Hotel, Eastham

This pub was closed for over a year and has recently reopened as The Montgomery Pub And Kitchen. It's been transformed into an upmarket gastropub, don't know whether it's the sort of place you'd pop in for casual drinks any more. Nevertheless I'm intrigued as they stock a selection of cask ales, perhaps could do with a new listing.

9 Jul 2013 15:31