please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Mr Humphrey Smith you have truly ruined this pub,plastic glasses,pints with heads that you could stick a flake in,all keg beers on offer and staff with massive chips on their shoulders. This place caters now for tourists and football fans and is definitely not the place it once was.
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This characterful pub has sadly gone downhill. No cask ale - and a limited Sam Smith's keg range. To make matters worse it suffers from the plastic 'glass' syndrome that Manchester City Council's hard of thinking 'leaders' seem to ahve imposed on the city centre.
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Truly horrendous even by this pub's standards. Raw sewage permeated both inside and out on a recent visit. Flies around shit being the order of the day. Hopefully, Environmental Health will investigate.
AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!
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Fantastic pub.
Shockingly cheap and high quality beer.
Nice and cosy traditional inside, and huge outdoor area for hot sunny days in our City Center.
Right down the road from the Arndale, plenty to see and do nearby.
Awesome pub.
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Cheap pint, Great location & beer garden, Excellent!!
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FuzzyDuck. I've only ever been to London once and I did enjoy it. But the same old rhetoric goes about the prices being extortionate. There are some pubs in and around the manchester district that are catching up with you guys (Marble Arch on Rochdale Road). See my comments and others on that pub.
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�1.97 a pint ?
I'm beginning to think that it is not as grim up north as us soft southern shandy-drinking, ballet dancing basstads are lead to believe !
�1.97 a pint indeed.
I'm on the next stagecoach north !
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Had several pints of the extra stout yesterday and it was beautiful! The price was stunningly cheap at �1.97 a pint. Having been over to Killarney in Ireland last week it made Guinness look shit! Over priced shit especially in Ireland (4 euro in places).
Ok so I admit that this place has declined over the past few years but it is still ok upstairs quietly doing a sudoku or crossword, away from the crowd outside. It is a shame that they insist on the plastic glasses though and that they have stopped the handpumps.
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A must visit when I visit Manchester albeit concerned to see in posting below no more cask beer? Always had Sam Smiths on cask on my visits which was well kept and stunningly cheap. This was on of the city's first non smoking pubs and the postive vibe continues
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Cheap, busy boozer. Good atmosphere however very packed and therefore very hot inside!
Can't really understand the people complaining about the plastic glasses, its obvious the place gets rammed and therefore glass is a hazard. They are thick plastic, not the cheap disposable stuff you get in some pubs. In my opinion I'd rather have to drink from a plastic and not risk getting glassed over the head by a boozed up footie fan. Good call by the management (and probably local police) to switch to safe serving during busy periods.
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Dreadfull place beer cheap but everything else!!!!!!!!!!! My friend wanted white wine it was served in plastic we wanted to make the most of the good weather and it was warm she took it back and asked for chilled wine they gave her ice to put in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awfulplace
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Apart from the heaving crowds and the plastic glasses all this place needs is some Real Ale. Sam.Smith's brewery produce a good bitter at an amazing low price but it was only available as a keg beer in here. Shame.
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It's a real shame this great old Shambles square boozer has been turned into a plastic glass serving nightmare.
On the plus side, it was 2.75 for two pints. maybe she miscalculated?
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I were at this pub last saturday. The four of us were satisfied with our food and beer. And the bartender must be Manchesters most beautiful blond girl.
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Sadly it has gone down hill, and the once excellent food is now below average. Amazingly it still seems busy, I can only think it's the cheap beer. If it's true they no longer do OBB I shan't be bothering again.
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Sam Smith's prices. But nothing more really to say.....
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Now keg only.Had a bottle of Taddy Porter on my last visit as out of Oatmeal stout.Not oging back.
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The other posts pretty much sum it up. Used to be really good, is now terrible. The reason for going to a Sam Smiths pub is either OBB or AL but they've now been removed. The beer is also served in plastic glasses and the staff are awful. Shame as I started my stag do here when it was a good proper pub, but wont be going back. Avoid at all costs there are plenty of good pubs in Manchester.
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I must endorse the comments made by kernott and realalerules, this pub is now an absolute non starter. Badly managed, inept staff and worst of all no handpumps anymore.
AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I dont blame you kerknott1. It has gone down hill somewhat over the last 2 to 3 years unfortunately. It did used to be my first drink stop after getting off the train from man victoria.
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Been back since last comment - I will not be going back.
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First of all they stopped selling the alpine lager now they have removed the handpumps! WHY?
And stop the plastic glass nonsense even whilst supping inside!
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Smas Smiths pubs are normally good on price and quality of beer - both of these were in attendance here BUT...the Ale was served in plastic containers and some of the staff were very nonchelent about serving punters (esp the miserable barmaid who spoke to people like scum that's if she could be bothered to stop texting...sod off luv!!). The place also get very crowded (nay overcrowded) and the bogs are minging - the No2 has no lock...always the sign of a poorly run pub IMO.
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We meant to visit the Old Wellington Inn nextdoor, but ended up here instead. It has the usual range of Sam Smiths beers, lagers and ciders and the main bar is fairly pleasant for a quick drink if in the area.
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Has stopped selling real ale and removed the handpumps :-(
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Can't really comment on previous posts but it doesn't feel like a theme pub in the slightest, it's one of the original buildings outside Manchester cathedral and as so makes it an interesting part of a very busy, modern city.
The outside area is huge considering it'sa city centre location and the beers (being from Birmingham and never tried Samuel Smiths) is very good. It tasted like it was well looked after and i for one will be returning.
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Feels like a theme pub rather than anything worth making a detour for.
It does have plus points, including its central location, good outside seating and Sam Smiths beers, but not enough to take it above average.
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Paid a very quick visit on a Saturday afternoon. Heaving downstairs, just about enough room to stand upstairs. Good pint of Extra Stout. Nicely decorated pub, just too small given its location and the cheap price of its Sam Smiths beer.
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nice pub, shame about the new landlord.vile to customers. bring in new landlord,bring back a great pub.i rate this pub as 3.new landlord or landlady 9.
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As Sebo said in a previous post... what is going on with those bouncers? Bullying thugs on power trips, I witnessed the fat one basically assault a lad half his size and age after an argument ensued because the bouncer threw his drink on the floor because he was wearing a hat...!!???
Amazed to discover the fat bouncer is actually the manager and similar things happen a lot.... if you dont have people skills and act like that why are you running a pub! Join the BNP and be at home!
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Totally ruined, this pub, by two previous physical moves, and then dragged kicking and screaming upmarket (which failed as an exercise). Crass clientele in the main, just there for a cheap pint, cramped and knocked about beyond any recognition of it's former self. Exceptionally busy at times, full of 'people watchers' 'bottle drinkers' 'salad eaters' and 'water sippers' who would be better off elsewhere. Not a good introduction to the (potntially richly rewarding) delights of Sams. Fills a need tho', undoubtedly. But it's off my radar for good. Beer (OBB) usually below standard it can easily achieve in other Sam's pubs. Shame.
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Loved the atmosphere. The food was good. The beer even better.
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Good pub let down by the knuckle-dragging bouncers they inexplicably employ to keep their overwhelmingly good-natured customers in check.
Won't be back.
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Beer here is excellant being Sam Smiths.
Had cheese salad with chips. The chips had been re-warmed and tasted yukky & rancid although the sandwich was reasonable but nothing special given the price.
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Visited a few weeks ago for a meal, friday afternoon, food from "the hot servery" dry and tasteless like it had been sat there all day. The cakes in the cold cabinet had large lumps of mould on, upon pointing this out to the rather rude staff it was promptly removed, at which point i regretted ever eating anything there. Asked to speak to manager and a large sweaty man appeared tried to deny and fob me off about the spoiled food, ended up hurling racist abuse at me and forcing me to leave the premises, definitely wont be going back.
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I enjoyed a lovely meal outside this pub, great crowd on summer days, fun atmosphere....attracts everyone from all walks of life, nice mixture..great for people watching..
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Always worth a visit, great selection of Sammy Smiths and the passing scenery is great viewing!
Good beer + good food... what more could you want?
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A good real ale pub handy for the shops (Arndale etc) and Victoria Station. The Sam Smiths is well kept and exceptional value for money! Food is good value as well. The best rooms are upstairs.
Has been completely non smoking for ages which means you can go home without your clothes reeking. It hasn't stopped people drinking there though; so much for the cynics!
Shame they don't seem to bother opening the upstairs bar, and always seem to have too few bar staff at busy times, eg Saturday evenings. That said, still good.
alexw - 28 May 2007 16:21 |
Nice looking Sam Smiths pub that along with the Old Wellington Inn are collectively known as The Shambles. An alternative name is The Great Survivors given that the pubs have both been moved twice, the first time in the 1970�s when the Arndale Centre was built and again in the late 1990�s to allow for regeneration of the area after the IRA bomb blast.
There is a small bar downstairs along with a low ceiling snug. There�s more room upstairs where food is served. Usual Sam Smiths beers served by friendly staff.
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Cheapest beer in Manchester surely. Right in the centre and lovely for summer drinking.
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A definite oasis amongst the concrete and glass of Manchester's success. Its been moved at least twice and is still going strong.
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Went here before the Kasabian gig last night, excellent beer and bloody cheap too. Service was quick as well. If you're in Manchester city centre I highly recommend it.
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This has been my local for half a decade now and it has the best beer and cider of any pub in Manchester, it is also the cheapest. Samuel Smith is one of the last independent breweries, run by a family in Tadcaster and as far as I know this is the only Smith pub in town. It is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Manchester and has been moved in its entirety, from its foundations twice in its history (see the photos on the wall as you go up the stairs). Upstairs, turn to your right thrice and there is a little private lounge overlooking the triangle, definitely one of my favourite places to drink!
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Went here for Sunday Lunch, arrived about 3pm waiting 10 minutes at the counter to order food and was told there was no meat left so Sunday Lunch was off, looked through the menu, made a choice on Chicken, Tomato and Bacom Ciabatta, the food eventually arrived and asked the waiter for cutlery and sauces, he rudely screamed get your own and walked off - looked at the food and it was disgusting, three little bits of chicken, 1/4 of a tomato sliced so thinly you could see through it and a lump of bacon - the food was disgusting, the service was worse, I asked to make a complaint - no manager available and was told thats how the food comes - will never eat here again!
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Last visited this in 96 just before unplanned relocation - still brilliant. Don't know why Sams gets knocked for 1 real ale - how many can you drink at once ? Sunday lunch was superb.
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Typical Sam Smith's pub, nice traditional interior, and very cheap beer (�1.34) pity about Manchester's ridiculous plastic glass facism... The only thing that is odd about S Smith's is its only brewing of one real ale....always struck me as odd. the only thing that put me off this pub is the proximity to the icty centre and the fat that makes it crowded...
I've heard on good account the food is great too...
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Lovely place for a pub lunch, especially now that the pub is non-smoking inside. You can have a drink, and not smell like a stale chimney afterwards! Food service is usually very good. Bar service can be occassionally slow due to lack of staff at busy periods, but generally no problems.
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Probably my favourite Manchester pub
Who's DR? (see previous comment but 1)
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One of the nicest pubs in Manchester, good beer, great prices, nice staff, good food, nice place to 'watch the world go by.'
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quality pub, lovely to sit outside and watch the world go by, on a summers evening, quality beer �1.30p a pint-was that really dr who walking past the other night, or was the sam smiths kicking in
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Really good city centre pub with good and very cheap beers and,I'm told, good value food. Pleasant area for outdoor drinking, as long as you can cope with the plastic "glasses".Staff particularly efficient.
So I'm a bit surprised about the current low average rating.
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The DADDY of the city centre pub scene as far as I`m concerned,since I 1st went in it in 1981..Invariably top notch Sam Smiths bitter at a cheap cheap price..When they moved the pub a few years ago they still kept its soul!..Can get pretty full on weekends,due to its proximity to the Printworks...But during the day you can show off your legendary drinking power & amazing love barrel tummy to the suitably impressed Selfridges & Harvey Nicks shoppers!....For Sammy S lovers...Stockport town centre-The Boars(& Queens)Head..Shud b on ur nxt tour!
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sinclairs oyster bar is a fantastic pub that is allways busy and sertves great pint of sam smith old brewery bitter
andy - 27 Sep 2004 15:46 |
absolutely great pub. go there and get mullered and enjoy the people.
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superb pub,cheapish beer ,food incredible say no more
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great pub with a tremendous atmosphere beers are good quality and as strong as hell and very reasonable. staff are well trained and fast so however busy you still get served quickly. food has to be seen to be believed, restaurant standard but pub prices. p.s. they must be cutting their throats to sell stuff this cheaply.
p.crompton - 14 Jul 2004 14:10 |
Ace little pub - great atmosphere inside and out
Austin - 3 Jul 2004 08:14 |
Probably one of the most characterful pubs in Manchester.
Good beer & food.
Mike Parks - Leeds - 2 Jul 2004 18:04 |
Top pub,serving Samuel Smith's superb ales and lagers, well recommended if you like excellent beer at a decent price!
Matt - 7 Jun 2004 23:10 |
on our last vist,the bar staff had changed and were much more customer friendly than our visit in april.we will be visiting again soon
nige&nic - 25 May 2004 21:58 |
Cannot say enough about this pub, apparently it one pub of the year for manchester - no pub can compete!!
Samual smith Ayingabrau(?) is fantastic
BArry - 29 Apr 2004 01:43 |
Nice pub,nice beer,nice prices.Its as shame some of the bar staff are rude to the customers.
geni&inc - 10 Apr 2004 13:19 |
Always one of my regular watering holes until recently,the service became poor and some members of with attitude problems.Shame!!!!
nige&nic. - 10 Apr 2004 12:53 |
The range of booze is just Sam Smiths so if you want choice there is none....bottled beers no stella bud etc just smiths bitters no choice..lagers just smiths but it is cheap
Jack - 29 Mar 2004 14:58 |
Changing trains (Man Picc to Man Vic) I have just 70 minutes in Manchester every Thursday night. I always go to this pub and just LOVE it! Great to have such a mixed crowd there, old & young - trendy and very untrendy. There is a great vibe. The building is historic and lovely, the range of booze is very good, the beer must be the cheapest in Manchester (?). . . best of all are the staff. Where do they get such a fine bunch from? They are stars and really decent, friendly people. Just my sense of humour! So welcoming. I travel all around the UK, but this is certainly my favourite pub. Top marks!
Jon Ford - 26 Mar 2004 13:07 |
Best Pub In Manchester - Try the Prinz lager �1.50 per pint - The perfect place to go on a matchday....Can't wait for my next visit and Larry, yes the pub was moved in it's entirity from it's old location to it's present.
adam - 1 Mar 2004 12:43 |
Old Brewery is a lovely pint, but it's not on handpull! On draught, it's a shadow of what it should be - go to The Angel Inn in Leeds, and you'll taste what I mean!
This pub gets absolutely packed on warm, sunny days - but go upstairs and open a window - great place to hide out. :o)
Andy - 11 Feb 2004 13:24 |
Excelent beer, lovely building, fantastic sea food! The only problem is its location.
Rick - 2 Feb 2004 23:42 |
fantastic with lots of character. Cheap real ales, definately one of the best places in manchester
Rachel - 23 Jan 2004 20:12 |
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is a very old pub that was moved as a unit to its present location to accomodate the shopping mall. Good beers, didn't try the seafood.
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At �1.28, the Old Brewery Bitter is excellent value. The above photo does not illustrate the ammount of outside seating around the corner. A great place to sit in the sun on a summers afternoon.
frank - 26 Dec 2003 13:54 |
Cheap drinks are the order of the day here, but it's not a good choice if you like your big brand names. Small inside - great for a drink after work but wouldn't want to spend hours there.
Lori - 2 Dec 2003 12:08 |
One of the best pubs in manchester, like been back home in tadcaster. this is real ale im glad there is a sam smiths pub over here. not sure about the oysters though i dont they mix with beer. very friendly staff. good old fashioned pub
Porky - 8 Nov 2003 18:32 |
The food at the oyster bar is excellent for the money. The beer prices are okay to say it is in Central Manchester.
Daniel - 19 Sep 2003 05:05 |
Inside very small and the beer is a required taste which is not required by anybody I know. We go to the wellington and Crown and Anchor get a beer and sit in their beer garden
eddie - 18 Aug 2003 22:18 |
This pub serves one of the best kept pints of real ale(Sam Smiths) in Central Manchester at a cost of �1.27.
William - 5 Aug 2003 00:55 |
nice pub ruined by the choice of drinks no smirnoff ice etc. the pubs a bit small but great beer garden, it used to be my second choice on the square after the wellington but the Crown and anchor has taken that particular title now
susan - 24 Jul 2003 19:27 |
Popularity of pub is down to location and, of course, Sam Smith's Ayingerbrau Pils. Any pub with that drink is on to a winner.
Robert - 16 Jun 2003 20:28 |
Cheap as hell, but slightly dodgy beers. Tends to be rather busy with cheap-ass townies. Handy for the Filmworks and Wagamamas, if you like that sort of thing.
Topper - 6 May 2003 17:54 |
I liked this place. Nige is right; it's very cramped inside, but most people sit or stand outside anyway. It's also very reasonably priced indeed, which is always a bonus. Tends to get a bit riotous on a match night, but so do most city centre pubs.
Chris - 27 Apr 2003 20:21 |
pub ok some customers are a bit clique it sam smiths beer so if you can stand it its ok
Peter - 27 Apr 2003 15:28 |
Part of The Shambles area in Manchester, this pub was very busy when we arrived, but then it was a Saturday night. Decent beer and a friendly atmosphere, the only downside is how small and cramped it is.
Nige - 3 Feb 2003 20:58 |
