Forget the fact that this pub is round the back of Spinningfields in quite possibly one of the nicest, most secluded spots down the side of Quay Street. The location might be perfect for office workers and secret enough to attract discerning clientele, but what we're really interested in is the fact that The Old Grapes belongs to Vera Duckworth.
Vera Duckworth! From Corrie! What better Mancunian credentials could there possibly be? Well, sadly Vera Duckworth has shuffled off this mortal coil, but actress Liz Dawn is alive and well (she's the one who actually owns the pub, not the character... you might have guessed, but some people have a hard time separating soap characters and the actors who play them). While you won't see her behind the bar (a shame, I know), you'll see her face all over the place as pictures of the lovely lady hang everywhere.
Other than this, the food at The Grapes is just utterly lush. Proper simple pub grub. Chips and onion rings are top notch as side dishes, crisp and stodgy and heavenly, and if you're feeling really ravenous go for the option that's basically a whole bread loaf sliced lengthways and covered with toppings from cheesy chilli to mushrooms and cheese... delicious, and I challenge you to eat a whole one. With a side order of rings. Impossible. I went here with work when I was stationed at Spinningfields a couple of years back and still remember my head whooshing towards the keyboard in the throes of foodbaby sleep that afternoon.
There's a nice array of beers and wines available and in the summer, the outside patio area is pretty and rustic, with a handy Tesco nearby on one hand and the rest of Spinningfields' restaurants round the corner if you're stopping off for a drink before a meal. Just be careful on Fridays after 5.30pm, as office workers descend on the place like buzzards over a potential bite and you might not be able to move even if you squish your way in. read more