please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Pleasant enough bar just inside the Arndale centre. Three ales on at £3.10 a pint - had the Titanic Plum Porter which was best pint of the day in Manchester. Friendly enough little place. More sterile shopping centres could do with such places to drop into while the missus blows the gas bill money on tat.
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As blue_scrumpy has noted, this used to be owned by Boggart, which no longer exists, but managed by the same chap who used to manage it under Boggart (if that makes sense).
Visited yesterday and there were 4 or 5 pumps on plus 1 keg line. I had a Zested Interest by Dans Brewery, 4.1% and a very reasonable £3 for the pint. It was served perhaps a little warm but perfectly drinkable and very pleasant.
The chap behind the bar seemed like a very stereotypical old school pub landlord, and I like it. No pretence, no nonsense, and friendly.
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I've passed the Micro Bar before. You can see it as you walk along the street next to the Arndale Centre. But this time, I ventured in. I'm told it has recently changed hands, having previously belonged to Boggart. But I'm not sure how true this is. 2 ales were on. They were Dancing Duck Ay Up & Phoenix Navy. The cider was Lilleys Sunset. I had the last, before it was replaced with Bee Sting Perry. There's also a few keg options, which included Elland 1872 Porter. They also have a good bottle selection in fridges. Seating is café style. So it doesn't really feel like a pub/bar. But I guess they have a good turnover of ales and ciders here. So it's got to be worth a visit.
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Not sure about the new layout of this bar as it seems to encourage bar hogging which was evident yesterday or maybe they were trying to chat the girl up behind the bar. One the plus note the bosses of the and ale have listened and took the misted film of the windows.
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The bar has recently been updtated. This WAS one of the best bars in Manchester till they changed the staff. I have now seen them insult customers twice for bringing back below par beer. Avoid like the plague 1/10.
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What have Manchester arndale centre done??? They have made what made people want to sample the beer in this place as they walked past in surprise to misting out the windows and shutting it off because some liberal has moaned about seeing people drinking. Such a shame.
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I love the Micro Bar. Who would have thought such a place existed in the Arndale?
They have a nice selection of local beers on tap and a fantastic array of bottled beers and glasses you can buy to take home.
They also have Anchor beers on tap which is nice, we tried the Anchor Summer Ale last time we went there.
When we've been here it's usually at the start of a bar crawl throughout Manchester, and is a good starting point. I've only been once specifically to get some bottled beers to take home, as it's not convenient to carry them around all day!.
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Visited Micro Bar not long after it opened. Today is my second visit. Despite the indoor market location it has a relaxed pub-like feel. Good to see the place evolve. Good range of bottles and several cask ales and a real cider. The Flensburger Gold at £3.40 is a bargain! 8/10.
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cant see how the micro bar got in the good beer guide again, last two visits the real ale was like vinegar! sorry, im afraid ill be bypassing it next time im in town and head for the hare & hounds.
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Paid another visit here last night. Had a nice pint, and reasonably priced, though it was a bit warmer than it should have been so perhaps they are struggling to keep the temperatures down in the heat? Not the friendliest of service last night, felt like we were causing an inconvenience by being there and we were initially ignored at the bar.
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It certainly makes for an interesting experience, indulging in a pint while sat in the market area of the Arndale. An excellent view of the cheese counter next door, but sometimes the smell of the fish counter round the corner can be a little offputting. However for me what makes this place is the funny looks you get from passers by in the Arndale when they see you sat in the market with a pint. Something a bit different!
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Great place to start off a day's drinking before watching the mighty 10 man U's beat Bury. Started off with the Boggart Cascade a light coloured bitter which was a pleasant first pint at 11am, then went on to the rum Porter which was fantastic. My mate had one of the guests from Newcastle I think which also hit the spot. A bar like this should be compulsory in all soulless shopping centres. 8/10
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nice place to escape shopping with the wife. Boggart brewery tap. However, I still need convincing that the quality is up to scratch. Had 2 halves last month and both were rather average
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There is a fine tradition in this country of standing at the bar to drink and it�s still pretty popular. So come on those grumbling about getting a seat and get in the spirit instead. And as to being in a crappy shopping precinct, well that is surely part of it�s charm. With every other pub looking alike it�s nice to have a change.
And I havn't even been yet but will do so very soon!
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A place that's not trying to be a pub or fancy bar just a place to educate the foster and john smiths brigade. If you want a pint whilst the wife is shopping head here my friends.
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Not been here for ages. Last time I went I was the only one there and felt like a spare part. The rum porter does however make this place "worth a visit".
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This superb 'pub' is merely a stall in the busy market. It's an idea that other markets should adopt - it works very well.
5 handpumps (always a Boggart or two) and a good array of American and other bottled beers. Particularly impressive was the number of beers from small independent British brewers.
They seem now to have a link up with the cheese stall next door, and you can get a pint and a platter of cheese for a fiver.
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It's difficult to write much about this bar as it's so small it's almost insignificant.
The bar itself is situated in the indoor market section of Manchester's Arndale Centre, yes, it's restricted to their opening times too, but that said, if you're passing it's usually worth a visit as they often have a decent locally sourced ale or two on tap.
Unfortunately the seating area is very limited & restricted to half a dozen bar stools with a few additional seats on the window bar opposite, but this also serves the adjacent "take aways" so finding a seat at lunchtime is just pot luck.
On the day of my visit I did manage to get a one and on offer were; Darkstar~Hophead, Boggart~Rum Porter & Blue Moon Rising, Worsthorne~Some like it blonde, not a bad selection considering the size of the place & all in good condition too.
Contrary to an earlier report, I found the young lady serving very helpful, pleasant and happy to give out tasters, so no complaints here.
Food - n/a
Toilets - n/a - Available in the Arndale Centre
Offsales - There is a small shelved area at the back of the bar which is stocked with a good selection of bottled beers, but as someone commented earlier, they are on the expensive side.
Overall, it's nothing special, it's a basic watering hole & you pretty much get what it says on the tin, a micro bar! If you're passing, it's worth a visit as the beers are often good, but as for anything else...there isn't anything.
Les Walker
Pub/Beer critic
(BeerNorthWestUK) - Twitter
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Get real here, a stall in a crappy shopping complex. Dull range of bottled beers on offer at inflated prices, young girl behind the "bar" not at all helpful.
Idea good, execution less so!
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Wonderful place. A true oasis on the edge of the arndale. Beer is good value and very good. The bottled selection for off sales is great too - Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is keenly priced at 2.86 GBP (4.50 in the Sheffield Tap for instance). Boggart beers are well kept - a little warm for some tastes perhaps but that's carping. Nice well informed bar staff. This is 10/10.
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I was recommended this place and went yesterday for the first time.
What a cracking little place it is.
Had a few pints of the Rum Porter which was excellent.
It's a bit of a well kept secret for now, I would go soon before word gets out
Not to be missed - In total agreement with this statement
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Called in here for my first time ever on Tuesday afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised at the small yet comfortable bar that goes round the small stall. I originally presumed that this bar would have been in the food hall where mcdonalds and kfc are. I'm glad that it isn't though as it would have been plagued by teens and vagabonds no doubt? Unfortunately they only had two handpumps on the go as they were expecting a delivery from Boggart Brewery. They run this diamond place. I had the Boggart Rum Porter which was truely awesome!
They also have a fantastic array of bottles of bitters, ales, stouts, porters, ciders and an extensive range of belgium and american beers!
THIS PLACE IS NOT TO BE MISSED!
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Superb place showcasing real ale and proper lagers to the shopping world. Even has trams passing the door. Wonder how long it'll be before the Friary centre in Guildford gets one. Don't hold your breath.
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In the food hall on the High St side of the Arndale Centre. Saltaire + 2 Bridges on my visit + a cider. A Boggart not quite ready. With the number of food stalls around could be a gem of a lunch stop on a city centre crawl.
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Owned by Boggarts brewery, it always has 1 of their real ales. They boast never to have repeated any others...Kuppers Kolsch on draught for lager; and a real cider on handpull too.
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Recently reopened at least 3 real ales, from Micro Breweries.
Very strange having a little bar in a foodmarket, which of course limits it's hours to their trading hours.
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