Student central, packed, cheap drinks, friendly staff and the food is actually quite decent for pub grub!
I've not visited here out of choice, simply because it was the after party venue after some of our roller derby games. However, I've not regretted going! The doormen are polite and smiley and will come to your aid if someone starts being an idiot. They're very aware of their surroundings and the people in it.
This is the only place I've visited in Manchester this winter that I've found to serve decent priced warmed winter cider. £2 for a half pint that tastes pretty good! Light aromatic spices and it was great hand warmer for sitting outside.
Saturday nights are packed, so the best place to sit really is outside in "The Courtyard" - bring your coat, scarf and gloves! Don't worry, you won't need a brolly because the vast amount of picnic benches outside have a huge canopy awning tent over them, with sides too! You're protected from the wind and rain. Big bonus.
The smokers are not allowed to smoke under there though (big bonus again) and are relegated to the other outside area just past the canopy - which still has a LOT of picnic benches!
Food is served until 9pm which is also great - as standard with many pubs now - and the prices are decent with light bites or full on burgers, nachos and HUGE plates of chips (curly, french, thick).
There's still a juke box with video's that play on the TVs situated inside and out so prepare for the music to change continuously in the middle of songs.
Why 3 *'s? The toilets.
They're going to have to take a look at improving this situation.
The hand dryer barely works for 10 seconds wheezing out cold air. The soap dispensers never have soap in (in the 3 times I've visited). The lock on one of the cubicles doesn't work (in the 3 times I've visited) and each time I've been the floor has been covered in toilet roll, urine and vomit in at least one of the cubicles. read more