It was two days before Christmas, the weather was poor and the night was bleak…read moreA pretty dreadful start to the week As we made our way through the thick and heavy rain, we saw this quiet little pub (it looked ever so plain) Our feet were aching and our throats were dry, So we thought "F**k it." and gave it a try The barmaid was busy and said with a smile, That she would serve us in a little while The wait was short and the beer was mean You can tell the lines were recently cleaned As we sat an announcement was made that in 15 minutes they would begin the quiz Naturally our excitement began to fizz The Dj was great and ran the whole thing well Even though it was a Joseph Holts pub there was no trademark urine smell In conclusion it was a good night and we had a good laugh The owners were lovely and so was the staff!

What can't you catch in the North Pole? A cold…read more After fighting about whether it was polar bears or penguins - THAT ended up being the answer. It was a Tuesday night and we were going to make our fortune playing bingo. There were a few pub quiz questions thrown in there too, like the above. I didn't win on bingo (beginner's unluck) but two of my amigos won a crisp tenner each. So they squared even... But with prices like these at the Forresters Arms you can't really complain. Don't be put off by the massive Engerland flags in the windows; its not too horrible and the landlord and lady are pretty welcoming. Most of the people in there know each other by name and so there is a nice feeling of comraderie: just make sure you visit with a regular I suppose.

Ah, the Friendship how I love thee, let me count the ways:…read more 1. Just look at you, your imposing facade set back from the road puts other pubs to positive shame 2. You are a cheap enough pub to let us get merry without breaking the bank ... much, but thats my fault 3.Your barmaids are lovely and young, and went to my high school and I know that you treat them well 4. You remind me of a cross between a travellers' half way house and where Elrond from Lord of the Rings might live 5. Your magic extends to the skies as on a sunny day it is lovely to sit on those well placed benches of yours out front FIN

Turned up here tonight at 8.30 the staff were very welcoming and friendly the food was really fresh…read moreand generously portioned with extremely reasonable prices I have been looking for an alernative to the beefeater which used to be my chosen place to eat the last two Times I have been There the food has been dire the manageress served me a plate of bloody steak when I asked well done that can be excused as a mistake but the hair on the plate as she brought it was the final nail!!The friendship inn is as we all know a part of the Joseph holts chain the standard of care in the food is top resteraunt quality the staff are helpful and friendly you are not rushed or pushed in any way the waitresses are always close to hand if needed but don't hover around while you are eating as has been The case many times in many other places I definately recommend this place to anyone wanting a lovely meal in a relaxed friendly environment and shall be recommending this place to all my family and friends keep up the good work and congratulations to the manageress and the team who run this pub

come here often, great pub, excellent band night on Thursday and weekends are busy…read more spotless rear beer garden planted up lovely over last couple months

A good pub owned by Holts Brewery on the Prestwich Whitefield border.Only holts beers sold here but…read morethey were in great condition. The pub has live bands on a wennesday night, and the standard is high.

I'm neither here nor there about the Red Lion. It is the only pub in the area that makes people…read morefeel like its a proper night out but its not the kind of night I like. Sometimes, the staff haven't seemed that friendly either but maybe I'm just funny looking. Holt's prices here so if you're used to finer fare then you'll love the cheap drinks.. There is plenty of green space at the back for kids to run around on - in fact the whole thing including the building, car park and benches out front is pretty big. Inside there are enough corners for some of the regulars to take over their usual spot and still leave room for newbies. Plus they randomly had a Bungee Jump in front of the pub a few weeks ago. Maybe they're trying something new?

This pub is quite big. It's another Holt's pub but this has seating out the front and to the rear…read more I've always enjoyed it whenever I've gone in but some might not like the typical Holt's crowd. I'm not a big Holt's fan so I probably mark the pubs down because of this. They do have a DJ on at the weekends which means you can get a drink a bit later than other pubs in the area.

I think the regulars at the White Horse treat people watching like a full time job. Any time of day…read moreyou can walk by this imposing Holt's pub on Bury New Road and there will be a few groups, all faced towards the road as much as they can, looking for something interesting to chinwag about. I must try it one day as I have only ever had a few drinks inside: it's cheap. Maybe they are all going to whip out some meaning-of-life novels in a few years time once they've got enough material. We'll be the ones left searching for which character is based on us. The White Horse itself has stood the test of time, with two nearby public houses just yards away closing in the last few years - The Grapes has only been painted over for now, the other is the new Chinese restaurant. Neither of these had outdoor seating. Hmm. It seems you can't beat keeping those regulars.

The White Horse is a Joseph Holt's pub which is nice placed in the centre of Prestwich. The pub…read moreoffers cheap alcoholic drinks like any other Joey Holt's establishment - you know exactly what you get with this chain of pubs. Out front is a seating area which is ideal for an afternoon pint while people watching. The regulars are a friendly bunch who enjoy the odd pint or two. For cheap alcohol in a credit crunch then this is the place for you.

I'm not a big fan of The Railway and Naturalist but it is busy - I'll give it that. I think it has…read morebuilt up its own in crowd of regulars, many of whom know the owners, over the years. I don't think I'm in this crowd. A few people I know, mainly guys, enjoy a drink in here though and to be honest there really isn't anything bad to say about it. Its not too big, fairly quiet during the week but you can expect that from any of the pubs round here. TV, jukebox, friendly enough bar staff. More of a guys, big group kind of pub I feel - there are many more girl - couple of vodkas and chat pubs in the area.

For me the 'Nats' as it is known to locals is the best pub in Prestwich. It can get quite busy at…read morethe weekend and it's not the biggest pub in the area but the atmosphere in here is great. The jukebox is worth a mention too, quality. The landlord and landlady are fantastic and couldn't be anymore pleasant. They are due to retire soon which is a shame but they have been great. During the day the pub is nicely situated next door to a bookies so you get the horse racing fans in throughout the weekend. They have a tele in the pub by the way.

I have been here quite a few times and it's s really nice pub.it's right neat Heaton Park so it's…read morein a good location. It's a great place to eat as you know your always gonna get good food. They do special offers like two courses for £11.95 and if you buy a burger Monday -Friday before 6 it's £7.95 with a free drinks. I have had the chillies which was really bat little spicy when I had it, the curry is really nice too and you get rice and nann bread with it. I like bringing my little cousins hear as they're really good with children and they like the food too they get a kids packs so keeps them entertained while they wait for the food. The pub is really clean and tidy and the decor is nice for a pub it's got a nice area seating area outside if it's nice and there is a big car park atvthe side.

The Woodthorpe is a HUGE pub / restaurant on Bury New Rd, close to Heaton Park - i came here on…read moreSaturday for a pub lunch and family gathering for my aunties birthday. It is ideally situated, just off the main road and has a large car park. The outside of the pub is very impressive. It is a grade 2 listed building and was once owned by the Holt family of Joseph Holt's brewery (and is still ran by them to this day). The inside is equally as impressive with the restaurant being very nicely laid out. The food menu is your typical pub grub. I ordered the Joey burger, and whilst I wasn't wow'd by it, it was OK. Most of my family went for more traditional dishes such as Cottage Pie or Steak and Ale Pie - they all looked and tasted good. The dessert menu was good also - the Oreo cake was a winner with my niece and i may have (definitely) scoffed a chocolate fudge cake. I would recommend this place for a bite to eat if you're local.

There's bad and there's The Orange Tree... ordered the tantalizing sounding 'Zinger Burger', while…read moreI was waiting for an age I started thinking they had sent the chef across the road to pick one up from KFC. Turns out that would have been such a vast improvement that my idle musings became much less amusing. What arrived on my table was the most pathetic excuse for a chicken burger i have ever consumed! The menu promises a burger with lettuce and tomato with a side salad, coleslaw and chips. What arrived was the most pathetic bun to chicken ratio in history. The processed patty barely covered half the bun, if that. The chips were so very over cooked and the coleslaw was missing, as was the tomato from the burger. To sink it all under the line, turns out 'Zinger' means using a spicier burger sauce... not quite the improvement you expect for an extra 50p. At £7.45 save your money and time and go across the road to KFC or even down the road to 'Instachicken' for a £3 burger - both are vast improvements on this monstrosity. Please note - pictures were taken after salad was offloaded to my wife's plate.

The Fairfax is definitely more of a young group's pub than an Old Man pub. In fact its barely a…read morepub, the interior suggests more of a bar. The prices too reflect this. They are the most expensive in this area- if you're after cheaper drinks try the nearby Church Inn or Foresters. For this reason, its also a hit with the ladies. I can go with a group of girls and (unlike guys) we don't need too much money to get slightly merry. Especially rowdy on the weekend and when they have their Pub Quiz, at most times there will be a few people inside having some food. The Sausage and Mash here is very good. Enough gravy to satisfy true Northerners. Plus they serve food until 9pm so if you're feeling peckish in the evening you can still grab some chips or garlic bread with your drinks. Except for Walkabouts and Sports Bar in London I have never seen so many flat screen TVs showing sport so if this is your goal then the Fairfax is perfect. If you want to get away from the football, the squishy sofas to the left of the entrance (complete with homely faux fire place) will be your safe haven.

This is a superb little hidden gem. Just off the main road…read more(Bury Old Road), it is a fine, welcoming local pub with a very knowledgeable (and Cask Marque accredited) landlord. The interior is friendly and comfortable and the outside (smoking) area is pleasant even for non-smokers in fine weather with a large covered area for those more inclement times. The beers are Hydes and can be recommended to all real ale drinkers, although the pub also caters very well for those who prefer keg and or bottled. Just as a bonus, the prices are typical of a Hydes establishment and far more reasonable than other local pubs.

proper back street pub,everyone welcome (as long as you behave lol)a split pub with a cozy lounge…read moreand a seperate games room.also has the best smoking area-beer garden around.3 cask ales at all times and very reasonably priced.based next to heaton park metro station it is easily accessible.great friendly staff...dog friendly.. if you play darts this pub is a must visit..

TL;DR - A little bit of the Northern Quarter, up north in Whitefield…read more Well this was a pleasant surprise. It's a pretty unassuming location, on a busy main road and nearly opposite a big supermarket but as soon as you step inside the Northern Crafthouse you could be in any part of the Northern Quarter. It's got that reclaimed/vintage vibe going with lots of exposed brickwork and wood - and some rather fabulous chairs which looked like old school chairs recovered in leather. The menu isn't going to win any healthy eating awards - burgers, tacos, hot dogs and burritos make up the majority. There's also a brunch menu which is served at the start of the day. Sparky went for the BBQ beef burger, I opted for the cajun chicken burger. Each came on an enamel plate with a gingham piece of grease proof paper - again, very on-trend for the NQ! We really enjoyed our food, although my burger was a little bit on the salty side. We also polished off a bowl of fries. The crowd was fairly mixed, ranging from 20 somethings out to cure a hangover through to families with children. There was a really nice vibe to the place and it makes a really welcome addition to this part of north Manchester, showing that Prestwich isn't the only place with cool hangouts!

Very impressed with my recent visit. Highly recommend the Fried Chicken Waffles - the peppercorn…read moresauce complimented it brilliantly. Short walk from Whitefield Metrolink makes it accessible from Bury and Manchester. Can see myself coming back for a few beers and wings very soon.