Had a delicious lasagna with bubbling, delicious hot cheese, and my brother loved his fish and chips. Great service at a beautiful location. Beer was crispy and cold, and I would give them 5 stars if they hadn't run out of oysters at a place with the word Oyster on its name. read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - fish and chips and beef lasagna - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Very crowded and noisy place. Poor service. It was 4:01pm on a Sunday and when we told them we wanted to order food they told us the kitchen closes at 4:00pm. Really? read more

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Good for the brew, definitely not an oyster bar though. I think they had one kind, was expensive and no one was ordering. We liked the two floors with multiple bars/taps and atmosphere was pretty good. read more

Right outside the giant mall of Edinburgh. The outdoor area is sick. The indoor pub is sick. One of two historical pubs framing a little square behind one of Manchester's main shopping areas. If you turn your back to Harvey Nichols and Selfridges you can pretend to be in a medieval market town. Thousands of patrons drinking ales and being sociable. Strangers chatting-it-up with locals, taking smack. Love it. Not one cell phone in sight, everyone's yappin, face-to-face. Dayum, I'll be back soon read more

For some reason, Sinclair's Oyster Bar is one of the most reviewed venues in Manchester with this being the business' 97th review which surprised me when I found out about it. The building is directly opposite the Manchester Arndale in Shambles Square and is a stone's throw away from The Printworks and Exchange Square Metrolink stop, which is pretty handy if you are going to be drinking that public transport is so close. The building alongside The Old Wellington Inn next store is an old building, however, it was dismantled and rebuilt following the IRA bombing of Manchester towards the end of 1999, but the same overall look remains the same since the pub opened back in 1720. I have to agree with multiple reviews and say this place just feels touristy now, the staff here just seem similar to a chain pub, unsociable and not too friendly and this is also the default hangout for many European footballs away fans who seem to hang out here before the game and being escorted to the Etihad Stadium or Old Trafford, so if there's a UEFA Champions League match in the city, it can get quite lively and busy in the area, which I like as it provides a good and exciting atmosphere, within the past few months PSG and Valencia added some thrills here in recent months to just name a few. It's a nice building in a good location which feels quite lively on a Champions League match-day while being super close to public transport links as well as shopping and things to do in the city, I feel despite flaws with service and perhaps the "inside" area of the pub, this is one of the nicer pubs to spend a sunny day in Manchester as the seating area is a rather nice and sociable area, making it one of the better places to grab a drink in the city, especially compared to nearby pubs which seem to get too smoky where the smell of smoke just gets too over-powering. 3* read more

great little pub! Awesome atmosphere & cheap pints... one note: BRING CASH!!! They stop serving food pretty early (I'd say no later than 4, maybe earlier) and after that it is cash only. I felt so bad because I went in there and ordered a pint before I knew...stupid American! Luckily a nice local gentleman next to me paid for my beer. There was a very interesting/funny crowd of local men in there and the bartenders were quite friendly. I would highly recommend this place to come and get royally pissed for cheap! The restaurant next door (recommended by the bartender) was great too (they do take credit). So if you are in Manchester, check this place out....but don't be an idiot like me; BRING CASH! read more

I've never actually seen anyone eating oysters here, though I believe they do sell them! This is a beautiful old timber framed building which was moved after the Manchester IRA bomb. It's wonderful to have a look in all the nooks and crannies upstairs. Outside seating is very popular though the whole place could do with a good jet-washing. There was a problem with swarms of flies, which is only going to get worse as the weather gets warmer. I love how they have really random prices such as £2.12 for a pint of 'Taddys' lager or £1.03 for a coke! Very reasonable prices for Manchester City centre, when most bars in this area would charge in the region of £4 for a pint. Service with a grunt rather than a smile, but hey at least it's cheap! read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - Pint of lager £2.12 - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Sinclairs oyster bar, it's rammed its always rammed. Doesn't matter what time of year it is. Even when the human race is long gone I'm pretty sure this pub is still going to be rammed. Even when the universe has finally stopped expanding and has collapsed in on itself I'm sure this pub will occupy an alternate reality and still be rammed. But any way the constant standing up aside, sinclairs does some nice ales and the lark. Drinks are okayish but aint cheap (it is the city centre), service will usually be with you as quickly as possible as well. They do actually do oysters here, I had them once and they are actually nice (if its your cup of tea, at the end of the day it is a sickly little sea invertebrate). Go if you can tolerate a few hours on your feet. read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I remember getting back from San Francisco ($5 per beer) to Manchester and buying a round at Sinclair's, like Guy said, £10 for 7 pints. Incredible value! Admittedly that was a few years ago, but the place is still the cheapest in Manchester. The beer is excellent and so is the atmosphere and decor. Definitely my favourite drinking establishment in central Manchester. read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Good heavens...I remember when this old boozer was in a different location and different decade...time and space fiddling with my brains again. I'm not sure whether either Louis Vuitton Carrier Bag shop, Issey Miyake's Eyelash Perfume or the 'Twilight Ladies' skirt section of M & S now trade on the grave of Sinclair's original carbonated water footprint. But cometh the regeneration game and these places had to make way (some of which were consigned, frankly for the better, to history). I actually preferred the old shambles square this and the Wellington Inn used to straddle : decent record store, cheap supermarket and the old Mancunian spirit wiling away a post Saturday afternoons shop with decadently cheap lager (Sam Smith's Ayingerbrau Lager) on the classic pub benches outside. Rough round the edges this certainly was and it remains at it's best in memory alone. You can still see evidence of this pre 96 Manchester area in the Ramada Hotel complex on Deansgate...but not for much longer as this too is soon to be razed in a huge redevelopment of the site. Despite a bit of an edge on the occasional Saturday afternoon (I have witnessed one or two 'fisticuffs' there in the past) the outside area (facing the god awful a*se end of the Harvey Nics building and the fine Selfridges/M&S building) remains nonetheless a top spot for catching up with friends and acquaintances over a few cheap drinks. Given it's age (dates back to around 1720) it's no surprise that the building lovingly creaks when you step inside her and given that medieval folk were at there highest 4'2, you no doubt crack your bonce on the way in/out. I have yet to slip Mother Sinclairs oysters down my gullet (I'm going to give them a go this year) or tasted the food I think it might be preferable to eat next door in the dedicated restaurant of the Wellington Inn. Definitely another Manchester institution that pretty much anyone of drinking age has entered. Read up on the history and jump in if you've never been...as Daryl points out, you'll somehow manage to drench yourself in the ale so leave your Sunday best clothes at home....it's like a fairground ride that never was. read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Great little hidden gem in Manchester, England. Friendly and cozy atmosphere with great bartenders. And - they have a little hotel built into the place with reasonable rates! read more

I've passed Sinclair's a lot and probably because the outside is always rammed it never occurred to me that the inside might be full of delightful snugs and cosy corners. It's great to come here on an early weekday night when it's quiet and you have your pick of the place. The Sam Smith's ales are decent, not great, but are legendarily cheap so no complaints. They have cider on tap as well. I would definitely avoid when it's busy (sunny, weekend) because it seems to be obnoxiously rowdy but it's definitely on my list now for quieter moments. read more

When I think of the Oyster Bar my first thought is that you must describe it by what's on tap, and to describe by what's on tap you must take a brief history lesson (but don't fret there won't be a test) Samuel Smiths Brewery was owned by John Smith (Yes the big brand we normally associate the name 'Smith') who left it to his Nephew Samuel who re branded it to Samuel Smiths Brewery, one of the reasons for this being this that John Smiths Brewery moved onto bigger (but I would not say better) things. See History can be fun... when it's about beer, or Zombies. So when Samuel took over the Brewery this is where the magic happened, Johns Smiths brewery grew from strength becoming a uber brand. Samuel Smiths stayed small, quaint....Tasty. Which brings us to Sinclair's Oyster Bar, It's a Sam Smiths pub and what that means to you is taste. The Beers are superb I have gone along bar, only not having had the Cider (though reports tell me it lives up to its beery brothers). What Sam Smiths also means is an easing on the coffers that is so welcomingly received in the centre of Manchester you feel like you must be committing some form of crime or sin, because indeed they only serves Sam Smiths beers which is known for its small prices, and elsewhere behind the bar you won't see a brand that you regularly recognise from spirits to softs it all feels very bespoke helped with traditional (read old school) labelling. Depending what you drink you could quite possibly come away from the Bar with 4 drinks for less than a fiver, a fiver I hear you cry, yes a fiver. This pub is slap bang in the middle of the City and does it try to swindle you out of your weekends beer money for the privilege? not a jot! instead it slaps you in the face with flavour. Sadly this pricing of the pint is a double edged sword and the pub becomes a victim of its own success, this place is rarely even half empty unless the weather is terrible, while it shares quite a large beer garden and is itself two floors, it is filled without even breaking a sweat. If you are heart set on trying this place getting a seat and enjoying the surroundings of a ye old pub (a Hobbit pub to you young folk, the only thing missing is the hay on the floor) then may I suggest waiting for when the football is on, as with there being no TV's about you often find that the place will heave before a match and 5 minutes before kickoff droves will leave in search of watching people run around a field. The Staff are certainly a friendly bunch happy to talk, their knowledge of the beer I could not confirm nor deny, as there isn't enough there for you to have to make decisions on, and also after a few trips you realise it doesn't matter what you order anyways because it all tastes great. The Food I no nothing about, so I shan't dwell on what I can't tell you. What I will leave you with is, have a mass produced bitter before you go, then have a Sam Smiths and let the taste buds ride. read more

Along with the Chop House,Sinclair's is my favourite non-Metal Pub. I like the outside and I like the inside. I like the prices and I like the chairs. I like the floors and I like the ceilings and I like the windows,but I don't like flares (WTF were Mancs thinking in the early 90's???) Sorry for the digression. The last time I went in I got two beers and recieved change from a fiver. How did this happen? Don't they know that drinks in a City centre should cost as much as is humanly possible whilst making the customer cry? It's a great place to sit outside in summer with a beer watching the fools spending way too much money in Selfridges,safe in the knowledge that you are getting merry,but not becoming poor. Maybe that should be their tag line "Sinclair's,we make you merry,not poor"...... read more

I love this pub (I know I am being completely subjective but with choosing bars and pubs I guess it must be by definition), it has exceptionally cheap beer. This makes me sound like a raging alcoholic, but let me defend myself before you decide that my second favourite spot is the park bench with my other tramp friends, as this pub not only serves incredibly cheap beer, but also has some of the best decoration in the whole of Manchester (as long as you like heavy oak walls and architecture and a cramped "this was made for the midget people of yesteryear" feeling). Outside is sometimes like fighting your way through Mordor, but the enormously rotund bouncer tends to keep away the worst dregs of society and the plastic glasses make sure you will at worst come away moaning "why did you go and do that for?". If you are feeling a bit "Alan Bennett" then you can go to the adjoining pub, The Old Wellington, but you will only do this once when you realise the price of beer has doubled by walking all of twenty feet into a place not dissimilar to Sinclair's. I recommend Sinclair's to anyone who wants to drink beer and pretend they are in an episode of Blackadder and sat in Mrs Miggins Pie Shop. Thoroughly great boozer. read more

Sinclair's is one of those places that has gained a huge following both inside and outside Manchester but, as ever, I'm not sure I agree. The pricing, yes, is pretty solid stuff. No arguments here. The location, yes, is impressive; located next to all the favourite shops it's a great place to stop and rest weary feet, it's about 3 minutes from my apartment, and there's a whole bunch of history related to the area regarding the IRA bombings. Yet I never find myself suggesting Sinclair's as a drinking spot. When the football is on it becomes a mecca for drunkness that I just can't handle; the amount of police who have to gather around reflects how threatening the outside area here can become. Visiting on St.Paddy's day there wasn't so much a feeling of being threatened as there was a feeling of "isn't it a bit cold to be stood out here/why are you so drunk on a Sunday?" This feeling comes with the entire St.Paddy's day celebration. The seating situation both inside and out get get pretty cozy when you're visiting on a busy day and, as it would, the tight spaces make it a sticky atmosphere when winter rolls around and heating gets ramped up. The main reason Sinclair's is only geting 3 stars and not 4? No toilet roll in any of the ladies loos. Shoddy work when you know it's going to be a busy day. read more

I love Sinclair's! Why, you ask? Well firstly, it's situated close to the Manchester's majestic cathedral and gardens, which is easily one of the city's most beautiful areas. Secondly, it's one of the oldest buildings in town, with an exterior that wouldn't look out of place nextdoor to Shakespeare's Globe theatre. And lastly? drinks prices are ridiculously cheap compared to most pubs in the city centre. Win! On a sunny day, Sinclair's beer ample garden gets absolutely rammed, often spilling out onto the street. However, there's always a great atmosphere, which I feel even when I'm just walking past on my way to the Arndale Centre - and it never fails to tempt me! Sitting inside the pub has its advantages too - not only is it a shorter distance to the bar (always a bonus), it's set across two floors with several little nooks and crannies, low lighting, wooden walls and traditional decor. I can imagine it being haunted by some headless Elizabethan horseman, but that doesn't put me off, in fact it just adds to its charm (plus, I ain't afraid of no ghost). Most of the time, drinks are served in plastic pint / half pint glasses but it's a small price to pay for paying a small price. Also, it can be a bit difficult to get to the bar sometimes, so those with claustrophobia and/or bad B.O. should wait in the beer garden. The food menu consists of basic pub grub at reasonable prices. I recently ordered a cheeseburger, chips and salad which was around £6. It was OK but nothing to write home about. To be honest though, this place isn't really about food, it's more about the cheap booze and great setting. read more

Always a hit with its spacious beer garden, and fantastically whimsical interior. Surprisingly cheap pints smack in the middle of City Centre, many a much-needed break from Arndale shopping has ended up here. On a sunny day the garden will be packed full with people, but even on a rainy evening this pub has great atmosphere. It isn't for the claustrophobic with the low ceiling (watch your head through the doorways!) and narrow staircase, but the ambiance makes you quickly feel at home. read more

How have I not written a review for this place? Crazyness! When I studied at Chester I used to frequent a pub called the Boot quite a lot.. cheap beer in a old tranditional setting. Sinclairs is the equivalent to this but with an outside area. You have to time this place right as it can get busy despite its large outdoor area. Passing the bouncers and walking inside will lead you into a windy room /corridor place lined with Victorianesque wallpaper and photographs. This place actually used to be an oyster bar..ironically the owner choked on an oyster by swallowing the pearl and died.. Anyway, the bar is Joseph Holt so it's cheap because it's non branded. They occasionally do some nice flavoured ciders which are more expensive but tasty. Overall this is a nice cheap pub, but again can be very busy. Oh and I don't think they serve food, just crisps.. read more

I'm not a pub person. But there are things a pub must do for me to enjoy. : good beer : cheap beer : nice atmosphere : plenty of seating Now it ticks all the boxes. The cheap beer is locally brewed but to be honest it's nice and goes down very easy. There is lots & lots of seating but the majority of it is outside. Great on sunny days not so great on non sunny days. The one problem I have is that due to it's popularity even with all it's seating it gets busy. So now when I do fancy that beer (which isn't often) and I'm in Manchester & it's sunny it's pretty much sure that I know too give it a miss. It's a shame cos it's really good cheap beer ! :( read more

If you're ever in the Arndale or on Market Street and feel the need for a drink (or is that just me...) you could do a lot worse than Sinclairs. The drinks are absurdly cheap, for a start. Is this the cheapest pint in the city centre? I think it could be. There's a large beer garden and a number of cosy nooks and crannies to wedge yourself into inside, making it a great spot for a few drinks with a bunch of mates or a quiet get together with just one person. Of course it gets busy at peak times - bargain prices and handy locations draw crowds, that's a no brainer. But the times I've visited, on weekday evenings and midday weekends, it's been happily busy with seats to be found. read more

Sinclair's is a distant first when it comes to good beer with classic British Seafood. It's nice to see a small restaurant/pub keep it's original look as it's surroundings become more modern. The ale is just simply delicious and a perfect compliment to eating the best fish n'chips in town. The indoor seating is nice especially the second level and on nice sunny days the outdoor patio is great area to relax and people watch. read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - Ale with some Fish N' Chips - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Thank you Manchester for giving us all the Oyster Bar. How on earth does this pub combine an amazing setting with dirt cheap drinks and a brilliant atmosphere? Somehow, it does it. We discovered the Oyster Bar soon after moving to Manchester and have been regulars ever since. It's perfect for a pre dinner or clubbing drink, and in the summer the swathes of outdoor seating provide the ideal setting for a lazy evening drinking and talking to friends. You're in the shadow of the Cathedral and the Manchester Wheel, and it's brilliant. In the winter, it can be difficult to find a spot to sit inside as there's not too much space despite it being set out on two levels. Oyster Bar is just that popular! However, it's warm, cosy and full of character. Drinks wise, you can get a pint of locally brewed lager or ale for less than two pounds, and it tastes really great. The Oyster Bar is amazing - get involved. read more

Now I'm reviewing a pub. You're all gonna think I'm some sort of crazy geeky alcoholic who loves to ride around aimlessly in a taxi. Well I'm not. Mostly... Sinclairs Oyster Bar is the best pub in Manchester. "Woah", I hear you cry, "That's a strong statement sir!" You may be right imaginary people in my head, but it's a statement I stick by and will fight to death to defend. (Well, maybe not to the death). The on tap taddy lager has quite a high percentage, doesn't taste half bad and best of all it's cheap! One of the cheapest pints in the city for sure. They only sell their own brand of Samuel Smiths alcohol, so don't go in expecting a Fosters or Smirnoff and Coca-Cola. The beer garden, which it shares with the Old Wellington, is the perfect place to spend a summer evening in the sun with old friends, a couple of pints (or more) and lovely surroundings of old and new architecture. So go on, shout out to the nearest person... 'Fancy a Pint?' and get yourself down there! read more

A cool looking, city centre located building and outdoor seating should make this a five star review. The main problem is down to its success, i.e. too busy for its own good and can be impossible to get seats or even served at certain times and days. Any nice weather and the place is packed and inside is rammed with people at the bars. Others times, or if you get there early, seats are available. Obviously because its Manchester, and we can't trust them with glasses, everything is in plastic if you go outside and also on weekends if you're staying in they hide all the real glass ones (Reminds me of an embarrassing time when my dad refused to pay for two pints they gave us in plastic and left the pub). Another annoying thing is random dress codes imposed to keep football fans out. Whenever a big game is on, bouncers stop anyone wearing football tshirts or tracksuits going in. Stopping for a drink with friends on the way back from the gym is usually fine, though I have been refused entry before for this reason. Grrrr, otherwise a great pub and very cheap. WIthin the same building/beer garden is The Old Wellington, which features in the good beer guide and is an alternative bar to get served when the Oyster bar is too busy. +Cheap +Central location beer garden in great setting +Cool building +Cheap -Too busy sometimes -Randomly close outside seating such as on St George's day -Crappy dress code -Smells inside read more

I have to say I was disappointed by Sinclair's, as it ticks many of my boxes when it comes to finding a bar- great, central location; tremendous value; and a fun atmosphere. The prices are definitely great, especially for the location in the medieval heart of Manchester near the cathedral. Unfortunately, the service disappointed. I don't expect much, but I was blatantly ignored several times by the staff at the bar, and when I finally managed to get some attention, I was overcharged for my drinks. Of course, I didn't notice this until too late. Otherwise, I was pretty happy with Sinclair's and would happily come back to try it again next time I'm in Manchester. The beer served is tasty and refreshing, the atmosphere was amazing on a sunny evening, and the building and location are superb. Based on other reviews, my experience was unusual, so don't let it put you off giving it a try. Just check your change before leaving the bar area! read more

I love coming to this pub for a drink in the summer time. It has a good selection of alcohol for a decent price, plenty of beers on tap etc. but it's the beer garden that really makes it here. Such a lovely setting when the sun is out, plenty of room to grab a seat and I've always experienced a friendly atmosphere when here with friends. Be warned however- on the weekend this place can become stag do central. It's much more pleasant for a midweek drink after work with some friends. read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Been into this bar about five times over the past two months every time I go inThe staff never seem to be smiling I'll be happy to £2,20 a pint of lager it's not bad specially to sit outside on a hot day. read more

Excellent boozer, smack in the middle of town. Ideal for shoppers who're looking to grab a quick, cheap refreshment on a hot summers day. It's always packed, and there's a very good reason for it too, the beer is great, and it's cheap as chips. Definitely worth a call. read more

I'm sure you've been here before. At least you've passed by this lovely pub. Well, in the summer, when the weather is nice, everybody is in the garden with a couple of beers. It's literally packed. The drinks are not expensive, so you can easily save some money and have a good time as well. Smokers are obviously happy as well, cuz they can enjoy the sun while socializing, and smoking a cig. My friends love this place. All the time when I come from work, and it's not raining, we need to stop here for one. If it happens to be around, and the weather is against you, don't worry. You can stay inside, the place is pretty big. You can also play on the quiz machines and, you never know, you can win some money. It's not a pub where you can go on your own I'll say, and read a book. But surely that is not the point, if you want to go to Oyster Bar. read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

One of two historical pubs framing a little square behind one of Manchester's main shopping areas. If you turn your back to Harvey Nichols and Selfridges you can pretend to be in a medieval market town. We stopped by on a lovely summer's day, but apparently it is even nicer during the winter when the Christmas market is on. read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Sinclairs Oyster Bar is as central as you can possibly get. A striking building that has been around for centuries! This place is not anything you expect a city centre pub to be. Its oldy worldy essence can be felt as you from its exterior to the ales it sells inside. I spent most of my time seated outside with a Guinness in my hand and the sun beaming down on me, however when I did venture inside this place was a little wonderland. Tiny rooms and winding staircases reflect the true age of this pub- be careful to mind your head and shoulders at all times. This place provides a welcome break from the poncy chain bars found nearby and was a great break from the horror of shopping all day mid summer. read more

Sinclair's Oyster Bar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

If you walk into Sinclairs, you walk straight into the past. This incredible ramshackle Tudor building has outlived its contemporaries and become one of Manchester's most loved and respected institutions. Locally brewed beer is served with a traditional menu of pie, burgers, chips and of course their famous Oysters. It's still relatively cheap compared to its town-centre counterparts and you can't help feeling instantly at home. read more

Without a doubt the Oyster Bar is the best pub in the city centre. Maybe even the best in Manchester. Possibly even the best in Greater Manchester. I've been coming here for over 5 years and have never been disappointed. In the winter it is nice to find a table in one of the cosy warm upstairs rooms and while away a couple of hours before carrying on with Christmas shopping or heading to the markets. In summer you can sit in the sunshine with a mixed crowd of happy Mancunians (but ignore the beggars who sometimes try to take advantage of said drunk and cheerful Mancunians). James has explained the history of the place, which is also depicted in photos on the walls of the pub. Emma-Louise has already informed you of the wonderfully cheap and tasty unbranded drinks. I can certainly recommend the wheat beer. The prices seem to change fairly frequently but last time I was there you could still get a pint of lager for around £2, although all drinks seem to cost a strange amount like £1.86. read more

I love the little story that comes with Sinclair's. The building is a recreation of the original, it's bricks and mortar picked up and moved to this now ocation after the damage done in that explosion. Amazing, very old bricks and very impressive looking it is. I dream of building a house or a village with a few of these looking buildings! Rarely do you walk past and there's not a person in sight, soaking up the rays or not, on the wonderful outdoor benches. A great place for people watching too. Right by the wheel and the triangle area, Sinclair's is a great location to just relax after a long working day. The inside takes you back, projecting an oldly worldy feel with the low ceilings downstairs, the wooden beams and the carpets. A very village feel in the bustle of city centre life. Sinclair's does everything homemade in the sense there are none of your usual big brands here. The beer and spirits are not of the usual nature, a nice little personal touch, allowing the unadventurous to branch out a little. One time we felt like sharing a few bottles of wine which didn't go down well for the plastic water jugs they had to be poured into as we insisted in sitting outside on a sunny day. Nice one for health and safety etc! Sinclair's is recommended for a beautiful summer's evening, get down here as soon as the sun's out, it'll probably disappear soon along with the seats if you're not quick. read more

Once the -ber and -uary months are all out of the way you'll notice Manchester city centre filling up with people wearing aviators and wayfarers, cut off jeans and summer dresses (although not usually all at once.) In all likelihood they will be heading out to Sinclair's Oyster Bar, the little pub with the massive outdoor seating area. This is the perfect place to take a break from a long trawl around the nearby shops (Selfridges, Harvey Nicks and the Arndale Centre are all within spitting distance) or for a few drinks before the evening performance at the nearby Royal Exchange Theatre or even just to sit with a cider and a little light reading (it's not drinking alone if you have a book. Ahem.) Sinclair's only stocks Samuel Smith lagers, ales and ciders so you won't find any Fosters or Strongbow here, just stuff that tastes a lot like them. Price-wise this is about the cheapest city centre bar there is (except Wetherspoons in the Printworks - but then there you're not outside, and you're also in Wetherspoons.) A pint of ale or regular strength lager is less than £2, 'pure brew' (export strength, 5.5% or so) is a little over this, as is a pint of cider. They do serve food here but I haven't heard good things (best to just pop down to the deli in Selfridges food court and pick something up to accompany your tipple.) The building itself is attractive looking from the outside but inside leaves a little to be desired, really best visited when you can do your drinking outside. read more

Well I think this place should have the full five stars really. Sam Smith's pubs have really helped out the drinking population. Sinclair's Oyster Bar is literally the only place in the city centre you can get a cheap drink and not pay for it by having to sit in horrendous surroundings. Pints begin at a mere £1.40, and the gorgeous lager is just £1.72. All the drinks are Sam Smith's own, even the wines, spirits and soft drinks. Their bottled tonic water is lovely, and even spirits and mixers are cheap. To add to the joys of this place, it shares a huge beer garden with nuerous tables with the pub next door The Old Wellington, in which i used to work. Don't tell anyone but I always prefered this place. Opps i've posted this review on line. Oh well! They even do Oysters! They havent always got them because it depends on deliveries of fresh ones, but keep your finger on the pulse and try them because they are cheap and delicious. read more

I love this pub... the ale is amazing and the price makes it even sweeter. The food isn't quite so good... let's face it... this is a really old building... a traditional ale house... it's not a gastropub... no matter how hard it tries... I love the low ceilings, the beams, the alcoves, the winding stairs. It's always busy and pushing through the 2m width of the pub when it's packed with people queuing for drinks and you have 5 pints in yours hands is half the fun. I can't help but feel it's lost something since the smoking ban though... It was one of the first pubs to enforce a smoking ban and although you can now breathe much easier inside (the low ceilings made the smoke very thick in the old days) there's just not the same atmosphere. The smokers are well catered for outside though with the patio and all its heaters. read more

Every single time I go to Sinclair's for a drink, something crazy happens - be it a drunk woman rubbing my (bald) Dad's head for good luck, to a naked man running around the outdoor drinking area with a traffic cone on this head (yes, this really happened), it seems that Sam Smith's selection of fine ales, combined with the finest Central Mancunian oxygen, makes people do...strange things. Still, if you're hanging around the Exchange Square area and are looking for a halfway decent tasting pint of Nut Brown Ale, there are many many worse places that you could direct your attentions to. Sinclairs is particularly buzzing on a Friday night, and it can often feel as though everyone in Manchester gravitates there as soon as the offices close. Sadly, despite it being called an Oyster bar, I've yet to meet anyone who's actually tried its Oyster-filled foodie delights! The pub itself also is packed full of charm, filled with secret little rooms, oak panelling, bumpy floors and winding staircases. All in all, this is a true beer flavoured oasis situated amidst a sea of chain-store-filled mediocrity. read more

I loved it here! The wheat beer was probably the best I've tasted, the atmosphere was brilliant, and the staff were really friendly and chipper. Hot Steve wasn't so much for the lager, it tasted a bit funny, but the fact that it was so cheap almost made up for it. It was too packed to explore properly thanks to Pearl Jam playing round the corner but we stopped for a pint and I'll definitely be back next time I'm t'other side of t' Pennines. read more