My wife and I enjoyed a post-concert dinner at this pub in central Manchester. Don't be fooled that it is just a pub and that it couldn't serve good food. We had a lovely squash soup and grilled sea bass entree. Very good quality The atmosphere was fun too. Many younger folks. There is outdoor seating along a canal Fine place to unwind. read more

Rain Bar - Seating area by canal - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Joe was very attentive and helpful and there food was great!! Thank you!! Plenty of seating and service was quick but chill.

Talk about irony. Before it became a three storey pub, the Rain Bar used to be an umbrella factory with hundreds of workers producing distinctive striped, spotted and windproof brollies. These days, you're more likely to find students or local office workers sheltering from the rain or popping in for a post-work drink. Situated on Great Bridgewater Street, Rain Bar has a big patio that looks out onto the Manchester / Rochdale Canal. There's enough seating for a small coach party and in the summer, they often host weekend barbeques. I've yet to eat there myself but there's a large menu offering standard pub food like fish and chips, steak and lancashire hot pot. In the autumn and winter the ground floor space feels quite cosy with lots of cubby holes where you can sip a pint of guinness on a leather sofa or comfy chair. The rest of the year however, I find the dark wood, slate bar and dark red chairs a little too gloomy and depressing. Still, gotta take my hat off too The Rain Bar for celebrating the power of nature and stormy weather! Gene Kelly dancing and singing in the rain!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN8ME read more

Rain Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

For the second destination of an impromptu mid-week mini bar crawl (see reviews of The Briton's Protection http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/the-britons-protection-manchester and Peveril Of The Peak http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/peveril-of-the-peak-manchester#query:The%20Briton%27s%20Protection), we wandered down to Rain Bar. A former umbrella factory I believe ('Brolly Bar' would have been a much better name I reckon). It's a pretty imposing three storey building just a stone's throw from Oxford Street. Now we only stayed for one drink, but I liked it in there, what with its inviting space, comfy booths and huge jukebox by the door. There's a large terrace outside which looks like it'd be a lovely spot to sit out in finer weather with a view of the Bridgewater Canal. Perhaps one to visit in the summer months, to trial their food options as well. A review update is probably on the cards in that case. Tip: The drink prices look to be on the expensive side, considering where it's located, so it's probably an option for a quick pint, rather than spending your night there. read more

Rain Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Feels a bit like a hotel, but is crisp n clean in this area. Almost next door to a Jury's inn. Sells a couple of ales along with a cider and the usual bottles. Standard lager available. Jukebox playing all kinds of contemporary music. Can't complain. Booth style seeting at the front. Toilets that should be in a trendy restaurant. Nice place for a pint. read more

Rain Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

So I've walked past Rain Bar countless times and never had the urge to go in. It's just another of Manchester's little pub/bar hybrids and it's never grabbed my attention. However the other night I was moaning to my colleagues about how there's no good pub quiz in the city centre, only to be informed by my manager that Rain Bar holds a belting pub quiz on Wednesday nights...and so a plan was born. We got there about 7:30pm, the plan was to eat but they stopped serving food at 8...bit disappointing but eating is cheating if you are drinking after all...! The pub was not all that busy so service at the bar was very quick. Reasonably priced drinks, not too pricey for city centre and a good range. We grabbed a comfy booth table and waited for quiz time...! Prior to the quiz being started we were asked to come and collect some quiz sheets and fill in the first 30 questions on the first and second page...they were not easy! But we were given a good 45 minutes to answer these so there was no pressure...however we did struggle to resist the temptation to Google a couple of answers on our phones as we were waiting a while...! When the quiz did start it was very well organised, you wrote your answers twice so that you could hand a copy in and mark a copy yourself. The general knowledge round was not particularly hard but the music round was just plain ridiculous! Not one of the questions were recent...and by recent I mean since the start of the new millennium! Out of 20 questions we knew about 6! This probably sounds like me being a bit of a sore loser here but still! In the end, we came around third with 45 out of 60. Not fantastic but it was quite good fun. Although we had a laugh, the questions were a bit dated and I wouldn't particularly hurry back...the quest for a good pub quiz goes on...I'll keep you posted if I find anywhere else...! read more

Rain Bar - Outside Rain Bar at night - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Good things about Rain Bar: 1) It serves alcohol 2) It has a sunny terracey bit overlooking the canal Bad things about Rain Bar: 1) Over 21 policy (if you're under 21) 2) Rude staff, who would rather talk to their mates than serve you 3) Rude staff, who don't consider it important to give you your change when it is a significant amount ie over £1 4) Pricey beverages read more

Rain Bar - Taken from Rainbar website - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I do quite like Rain bar but only for when I can sit outside and enjoy the canal view in the sun. It becomes a much better place to drink then. Rain bar is a really nice building to look at from the outside, it's okay when sitting indoors. It's very much a pub pub with average priced beer and overpriced food. The over 21 policy shocked me a little, but got to keep out the silly young uns and accommodate for thes silly old uns I think. Rain Bar is actually one of the JW Lees group, which then does it help you decide? It's got history behind it too; it used to be a Victorian Warehouse. There's also actually a first floor bar for private hire if you're feeling like a fan. I don't know anyone who regularly comes here but all in all I wouldn't go kicking and screaming for or against if it was on the agenda. read more

Rain Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I really like Rain Bar. I've been here more times than I can count over the years. Have been in the week, at weekends, in the summer, in the winter and at Christmas time. Christmas, predictably, is always the busiest periods. Last night, I was in a large group and reserved an area at the side of the bar. I've been with big groups before and had reserved areas and would say if you're going on a Saturday and you know there will be more than 10/15 of you then ring ahead. I've had quite a few different drinks here and always found them reasonable. I had a medium glass of the rioja last night (well I had two, not just one!) and it was £3.75 so good value and cheaper than Slug, Dukes etc. My friend had a double vodka and tonic which was around £5, so again pretty good price, especially for city centre. I find the crowd in here usually pretty good and never had any issues with anyone in here, which is good. In all my visits, only once had food and that was about 5 years ago at a corporate event held in the upstairs space. We had a BBQ and the food was tasty. Not had any recently, nor have I had to pay for it, to judge the quality/price of 'normal' food. Overall, I really like this place and not sure why I don't make this more of a regular place. Would recommend visiting if you haven't already. read more

Another great lunch time trip to Rain Bar with a large group from work. This time I went for the bbq pulled beef brisket on flatbread, which comes with chips. It was awesome. The beef was packed with flavour and the flatbread with a hint of garlic. Yum. Service was really quick - table of 9 and food came out within 15 mins of ordering. read more

Rain Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Rain Bar has divided opinion on Yelp, and I'm afraid I'm on the fence a little too. Useless, ain't I? It's a pretty building, there's no doubt about it. The sun terrace and real ales count as pros, as well as the gorgeous riverside location. The snug interior with its dark wood makes for a great winter spot as well. The prices range from reasonable to a little pricey, and while the food is apparently to die for as my fellow Yelpers have already pointed out, actually obtaining it is akin to finding the Holy Grain. The excuses will Rain down on you. Geddit. Geddit?!? Still, I can't stop snerking at the pies. 'Willie's Pies.' I'm so puerile. The warehouse conversion makes for an interesting atmosphere, but it can sometimes feel a little sterile. There just seems to be something missing... maybe it's down to the laissez-faire bar staff that sometimes make you feel like you're ruining their day by asking for a drink. I think we'll call that the Curse of Deansgate from now on. I do like Rain Bar, but I don't have a hugely loyal affection towards it. Still, if I'm in the area I'll always pop in for a brewski or two. read more

It's ok for large groups on a Saturday evening. Was my previous comment. On return, it seems that if they predict large groups or busyness they start serving beer in plastic glasses. We're not students, so I don't particular like that aspect. It remains one of the few places that if we're graced with the sun, you can sit outside and enjoy it with beer. The food is fine, though slightly on the pricey side for what you get. It's not as busy as Dukes, or any of the arches, so feels relaxing sitting next to the canal. But it could do better. read more

A canal side bar located in an old warehouse, the Rain bar has the foundation to be a most excellent bar. I think it fell short. It serves pub food, which although tasteful seemed over priced. I enjoyed the real cask ale they offer - and acknowledge they serve a bull bar so everyone should be happy on that front. My biggest gripe comes from the service. It was very inattentive and I actually had to get up to ask for another ale. I honestly don't ask to be doted on in a pub but do expect to be offered additional drinks. It soured my perception of the entire place. I don't think I will return. read more

Rain Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

If I'm being completely honest I wouldn't bother with Rain Bar but for it's fantastic beer garden overlooking the canal with the odd swan / goose strolling by. On a sunny day it's one of the top spots where you can actually get a seat in the sun and have a nice view. The food is reasonably priced, tastes good with the MPA going down a treat. If your looking for somewhere to laze around on a sunny Sunday afternoon then it's definitely worth checking out... another bonus is the upstairs patio area has heated lamps so no more shivering whilst you breath in that inner city fresh air! read more

Very easy to find due to the massive RAIN! signs on each end wall. I came here for a post apocalyptic book group and ironically had a very cheery time. I've been here 2 or 3 times before over the years and always had a nice time but still, it's just not my favourite. Not even sure why but there you go. I expect it comes into it's own when it's sunny and you can sit next to the canal but those are not the days I've been in. There's also a large function room upstairs that had something on while we were there but you couldn't hear any noise. I've been up there in the past but nothing really stands out in the memory. Had a Boheme(?) Czech beer for £4.05. read more

I came to this pub the other day because it was pay day. And that, for everyone where I work, means going to the pub and buying a nice lunch with a sneaky pint to celebrate the fact that for the next few days we won't feel totally broke. It was a nice, sunny day so we chose to sit outside by the canal. I had a really excellent glass of Staropramen and ordered a chicken, ham and leek pie with fries. I love pies, so I really was quite excited. The prices at Rain are pretty reasonable, with my pie and drink not costing me much more than a tenner. The pie came out in good time, and really was quite brilliant. Full of chunky chicken, the filling was creamy and delicious and the pastry was just right - chewy with a bit of crust. I hate it when eating a pie is basically like creating a crust dust explosion just to get anywhere near any of the filling. The staff at Rain were friendly too. This, coupled with the amazing pie, made it a great place to grab some lunch and I shall certainly be coming back here. read more

Rain Bar on a Monday night in January was extremely quiet and, in comparison with the bustling Briton's Protection a few doors down, not the most convivial place to drink but it's still pretty nice and I think they have ales from local breweries. I accidentally order tequila-aromatised beer, which was an error, also I was pretty shocked by the price which was over 8 quid for 2 beers. What is this, London? Not somewhere I would rush back to during the winter months but I'd like to check out the canalside seating in summer. read more

This is an excellent place to stop for lunch. There is a varied selection of food on the menu and the beer variety is top notch. I can't wait to try it again. read more

Located around the corner from Oxford Rd., it's really easy to miss this pub - in fact, I've been here for over a year now and didn't even realise there was *anything* in that general region. Guess I just never really explored far enough into that nook of Manchester. If you're going in the evening, the best thing to look for is the big neon green sign with the name of the pub...once you see that, you really can't miss it. As you walk indoors, you'll pass right by their jukebox which has a huge variety of tunes to choose from. There's a sign on the door that says "smart casual" dress code, but I didn't feel out of place in my jeans and hoody (that being said, it was still pre-dinner hours on a weeknight, so I don't think they were going to be picky). A pretty average selection of beers, with JW Lees providing the drawn pints. Interior is open and nicely kept, staff are above-and-beyond friendly, and the drinks are cheap. I didn't get a chance to have any food while here, but their menu looked fairly extensive, so I'm sure they have quite a few options that are stellar. Now that I've finally found Rain Bar, I'm looking forward to going back. read more

Love love LOVE rain bar. Its a great summer time bar a short walk from Bridgewater Hall and Deansgate station- handy for non drivers. The drinks here are really reasonably priced and always helpful with what to choose when you just don't know! I've come here a few times for celebrations in big groups and they've always been up for a laugh no problem with big groups! The food isn't too bad here either, on Tuesday we came here after Graduation celebrations and had the salt and pepper squid and the tikka chicken bites. Both of which were really tasty and came with little dipping sauces. Its great for summer drinks as there's a huge beer garden overlooking the canal at the back. read more

This really is somewhere you'd come on a rainy day - and it helps that the interior looks much like the lower deck of the Ark, dark wood and leather as far as the eye can see making it such a warm and cosy environment. Set over 3 floors, this bar-cum-restaurant ticks all the boxes. In the winter sit next to the fireplace with your favourite tipple or enjoy dinner from the extensive menu. In the summer, sit out on the deck and enjoy a barbeque like I did. For £8.95 you get more food than you can possibly eat - an Aberdeen Angus beef burger, sausages, kebabs, salads and more. It's great to bring friends here, whatever the weather. read more

For some reason last summer, Tea Snob Friend always insisted we meet and drink at Rain Bar. I could never really see why she loved it so much. I mean, it's OK but to me that's just it...it's just OK. The drinks here are what you'd expect for about 50p more than you'd pay in say the Friendship, and they do food, but every time I've ordered food here I've been palmed off with a different excuse; the kitchen's closed, the menu's wrong, the moon is made of cheese. That sort of thing. The best thing about Rain Bar is the big outside terrace. By the canal, and heavily laden with benches and tables, it's a great place to while away the hours on a summer evening, carefully avoiding death-by-goose... If there's one thing that irrritates me about Rain Bar, it's that it seems to attract wankers who like nothing more than to sing football chants about their friends, leer openly at women and try to pick up the geese. Wankers. Rain Bar is OK, but not a fave, not by a long way... read more

I've never been the biggest fan of Rain Bar. Despite its brilliant location (it's situated right next to the Bridgewater Canal), to me it's always felt as though it lacks that certain something to make it truly unique - particularly when compared to some of the other bars in the nearby area such as the exemplary Peveril of the Peak or Briton's Protection. Still, it is undeniably a halfway decent place to pop in for a beer on a nice Sunny day - and if you do decide to sit outside, a big Canadian Goose might even try to steal one of your chips. Oh - and the person above was right, it does have very good hand dryers. read more

Rain Bar is as a popular bar in Bridgewater Street, just off Oxford Road, it belongs to the j.w lees family. Rain Bar is located Deansgate locks and this is a very popular located for pub crawls and nights out. When I works on Oxford Road we quite often went to Rain bar on a Friday night and then worked our way into town. The downstairs bar is very traditional with memorabilia of Manchester on the walls with a traditional brick wall sort of feeling to it. When you walk upstairs there is a bright a modern bar that is quite often a lot more lively. My favorite aspect of this bar is the balcony that over looks the canal, this is ideal in the summer as you can just sit there chill out and have a few drinks. Rain bar also offer a good variety of food, although I have never eaten there some of my work colleagues have and they said the food comes quite quick and is really good and not to expensive. I think Rain Bar is busy enough but not to busy, it is not on a main popular stretch of bars which prevents it from becoming over crowded. There is a comfortable happy environment here and its well worth a visit read more

Rain, set off the main strip of Oxford Road (well, technically it's Oxford Street, but it's the same thing really) is a decent little ale house. I say little, it's actually quite big and spread over two floors. The downstairs bit is very much a trad. arr. pub where you can get half decent pub food and proper pints. It's all brick and wood, so thereby, is not flashy but pleasing on the eye. Upstairs is a bit more modern and as such, is where the posers will be found. That said, they're a harmless bunch and are easily ignored. Basically, Rain is incredibly functional and doesn't do anything spectacularly well... but by the same token, there's nothing bad about it either. Worth a visit if it's not too rammed. read more

The Rain Bar is a hidden gem that nestles on Bridgewater Street away from the hustle and bustle of Portland Street. It is stylish and he decor is very attactive - a mix of traditional pub and modern bar. It has a good selection of real ales has a fruit machines and is walking distance from Oxford Road and Deansgate Stations. It has a great beer garden that looks out onto the canal, but this can get very busy on a hot summer's day. The dress code can be quite strict, my friend was turned away for wearing joggers on a weekend. All in all, a great pub. read more

This is probably my favourite bar in the whole of Manchester. The music is really good, indie and they tend to play whole albums in the background but so that you canhear yourself talking. They also offer great food and really good local strong ales. It is a nice spot in the summer also with it being right on the canal. Worth a walk down the canal to get to it. The bar is out of the way and not too crowded. A definete recommendation. read more

I went in the summer with work colleagues on a trip to Manchester. Don't be put off by the building at the front. The back of the pub opens onto multi-layer terraces overlooking the canal. A lovely spot in the warm weather. The bar staff seemed very good at talking amongst themselves, but not so good at serving patrons or helping. I tried to get cash out at the machine next to the bar. The receipt said there was a fault with the terminal, it only dispensed half the amount on my receipt & to notify the staff. I told the bar staff, but they weren't interested & didn't offer any help in finding a contact number at all. I realise the machine isn't owned by the pub, but a bit of understanding would have been appreciate, especially considering I was £100 down which the machine kept! As I walked away, I saw the staff member laughing & pointing at me to her colleague. Lovely service! I was surprised to have my wine served in a plastic cup, although other pubs in Manchester seem to do this too! For the location & outside terrace its very nice. The staff however let this place down. read more

Having moved to Manchester only 8 months I'm admittedly something of a bar sponge and currently attempting to soak up as much nightlife info as possible. Uncovering a hidden gem is something we all love to do to and in Rain Bar I think I've done just that- yey me! Snugly nestled along the banks of Manchester's famous Canal I could readily fritter away my Saturday afternoons here. Upon entering the bar for the first time I was beaten to the punch when my drinking partner commented on the general 'homely lovliness' that the pub had in abundance. I daringly went for a on Sapphire Gin and Cranberry ( a new drink for me that I would definitely recommend) whilst my buddy plumped for one of the many traditional ales on offer. To our delight we found the drinks to be unusually reasonable in price for a bar so central in wannabe-London-Manchester! The service was also second to none- Dave you know who you are! What more could I want from a good Northern drinking den? With its dark wood interior and cosy snug areas Rain Bar is sure to get better as the seasons grow colder. In Manchester you're never going to dodge the rain, but with such brilliant little watering holes like this, why would you want to? read more

Had food and drinks here today.. It was incredible! Tasty good food, nice selection of beers and ciders and a picturesque balcony overlooking the canal. Worth a visit! read more

I live in America, but every time I come to Manchester to visit family my uncle and I always try to make it to the Rain Bar as one of our many stops during a fun pub crawl in the city. I like the casual social environment, mixed ages, and somewhat modern setup. Plenty of room to roam about as well. read more

If you think of brewery pubs, you'd usually think of the quintessential old school English boozer, with its stained carpets, cheap ale, old furniture, the aroma of stale beer lingering in the nostrils, where regulars tell tales of woe to anyone who's listening, wondering where it all went wrong and bemoaning their unending rotten luck at the bookies. Rain Bar is different kettle of fish - it's brewery does trendy wine bar. Sadly it doesn't really work - yes there's still cheap ales but there's not much else behind the bar to recommend, and from the pints I got I don't think they have the cleanest pipes in town either. The atmosphere is pretty bland - it has tables and booths on either side of the bar leaving a vast empty space in front of it; playing chill-out music on a Saturday night isn't really gonna get anyone in a party mood either. On the plus side, it does have a great beer garden out the back (for when we finally get some nice weather) and the toilets have those really cool Dyson hand dryers, but there's not much else to recommend. Rain Bar is trying too hard to appeal to real ale drinkers and a younger crowd and ends up not appealing to either. You'll have a better time elsewhere read more

Can't put my finger on why but I just didn't warm to it and really have little to say about it!.. Maybe I'm just reviewing late in the day, mind numbingly bored and I get mean with my reviews. Anyway back to The Rain Bar - My drinking partner however was emphatic on his return from the men's lavatories and bursting at the seams with how impressed he was with the hand driers. Star for the hand driers read more

It was the last friday before christmas so it was unusually busy but still. I am NEVER going to this bar again. It's hideous. It gets one star because despite how busy it was I got served at the bar straight away. I coulod not stay and finish my drink though as there was nowhere to stand and they were playing disgusting music really loudly even though it was only about 6.30! Too loud so you could not talk and absolutely nowhere to dance so pointless. My advice is don't go! read more

Decent modern bar, nice and spacy, got the usual Sky Sports and quiz machines but at the time I visited (Sat early PM) they were muted and inobtrusive. And most importantly the ale was excellent (JW Lees range - Brewers Dark in particular impressed) & the bar staff were nice and welcoming. Defo worth a visit. read more

A great all-purpose place. It has a large outside seating area that is away from the the road and lovely in summer. Inside is a cosy pub with a good selection of ales. Its the kind of place a big and varied group are happy to meet up in before a night out. Food isn't bad either. read more

Gorgeous gastro pub that is housed in a converted umbrella factory. The beers were delicious and the food excellent and the staff very friendly and attentive. Has a very nice beer garden by the canal. A great place to have lunch and sample some excellent craft ales. Highly recommended! read more

Wide variation of drinks , i like the fact they have local gins and beers from Manchester , a bit of patriotism can't be knocked, it promotes local business which is nice .Decor is charming, pubby but Eatery. nice combination , friendly staff. The outside seating area by the canal is a big draw especially when the sun shines and the clientel seemed mixed and varied. The waters edge always adds to the atmosphere so you are inclined to stay a little longer.Prices are within reach but the fear of them spiralling out of control with the growing self arrogance that comes with a successful venue is always looming. TIP: contain the greed for profit and the boom will continue.Food was simple but good . I like this place ,and i will be back. read more

Rain Bar is an established pub/bar in Manchester and it's not hard to see why. It is a good size, comfortable enough, and well staffed. The drinks selection is on the up side of average and you will never have to wait too long for a drink, even in the busy post-work period. Having said this, Rain Bar might lack that little bit extra that would elevate it from being a pretty good, solid bar to a 'must-go' destination. Worth a visit, but don't plan on spending all night in there. read more

I spend a wonderful weekend in Manchester last weekend and went to a number of bars and restaurants and can't praise them highly enough but Rain was a real disappointment. I was staying nearby so it was one of the top pubs to check out. the bar was relatively busy but I was standing there 15mins before I got served and paid an astronomical price of GBP9.40 for 2 bottles of Heineken -absolutely ridiculous. unfortunately I had to use the toilets while I was there, not only very unclean but no toilet paper in the cubicles. wont go back there again and definitely wont recommend it. read more