The Thirsty Scholar is misnamed at best, and bordering on a waste of space at worst... On the plus side, the venue is lovely; it consists of two adjoining rooms replete with books, stylish paintings, and chic furniture. It looks like a wonderful place for a party or a wedding reception. So why what's wrong with it? The expectation for visiting a place like this is that it will have a reasonably short menu with tasty selections that can be served without undue delays. As it turns out, no one is exactly sure how long it will take to serve the available dishes, but the estimates varied from ridiculous to indeterminate... To make a long story shorter, I was told that the lentil soup (the soup of the day) would have to be made from scratch before I could have a bowl - maybe it would be ready in a few hours? Everything else I asked about the responses seemed to alternate between "who can say?" and "as long as it takes"... The setting was inviting enough that I was prepared to spend an hour or so to eat and have a glass, but dedicating the rest of my day to the endeavor seemed was unappealing - I left, and might return another day. The staff was friendly enough, and plainly embarrassed at the lack of reasonable responses provided by the kitchen to my queries. I can't really recommend this place based on my experience, but I can suggest that if you need to eat in a timely manner, you'd best seek elsewhere for a meal. read more

My first visit to the Thirsty Scholar was actually after a Valentines meal. OK, so it's not Cloud 23, in fact there is nothing romantic about the place, but it was so good we actually went back there the next Valentine's Day too! On my numerous visits to this pub I've heard a wide variety of music from chilled out rock on the juke box to heavy metal bands to electroey DJs. During the day this is a pleasant place for a quiet-ish drink but in the evenings there's no chance of hearing the departing trains above when the bands or DJs get going. Music aside, other good points about the Scholar include the fact that it serves Desperados, you don't have to dress up to get in, it's as far from pretentious as you could get and despite its name it doesn't attract a typical student crowd. I'd especially recommend a visit during the Eurocultured Street Festival which happens every summer, when bands play under the railway just outside the pub. read more

Thirsty Scholar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

What a fantastic pub! Atmosphere brilliant, mixed ages, great music, look forward to going there at least twice every month.They have a wide range of beers and spirits and the prices are not too bad. I highly recommend you try it! read more

Thirsty Scholar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I was introduced to Thirsty Scholar by Baz H after we had a Sheesha in Rusholme. The place has a character about it and they serve a wide selections of beers. The place is good if you are planning a casual night out. read more

The third point of the triangle (The other points being Grand Central and The Salisbury). Seriously,for my money the 3 of them comprise the best mini pub crawl in the city centre,especially if you like loud metallic music and decent beers. Whilst I prefer the other 2 pubs to Thirsty Scholar,this one does boast lots of spaces to plonk yourself down outside under the bridge,handy if you are a nicotine addict (Of which I am one). Go on,get yourself lost in the Oxford Road Triangle,I dare you!! read more

I just can't get enough of this pub. I bet the bar staff are sick of the sight of me. Luckily though, if they are they're polite enough to let me buy my drink believing they aren't, and wait until I'm away to a table before the eye-rolling starts. Or maybe they really are happy to be facilitating my habit. Stranger things have happened. It has so much character about it, and always an excellent selection of beers, lagers and ciders. I was even lucky enough this last Christmas to sample a seasonal hot Rekorderlig cider they were dishing out - heavenly. Check their Facebook page for news of events. I usually tend to avoid at peak times on Fridays and Saturdays if I'm not in the mood for dancing, as it gets so crowded you are doing the old sardine-tin dancing whether you want to or not! Or maybe I should blame that less on the crowds, more on the top tunes you'll find your head bopping and feet tapping along to. read more

Although a bit out of the way this is an ideal 'before a night out' location for two reasons amongst others. Firstly it's cheap! Something you can't say about many places in town. Secondly it's extremely convenient meeting place sitting literally underneath Oxford road station and major bus routes. There are regularly held open mic nights with enthusiastic local muscians singing their hearts out. The outside seating area (underneath the bridge is usually packed on a hot summer's day but a bit chilly the rest of the year) Its close proximity to local foodie favourites such as Zouk and Bachich also mean it's a perfect for an after meal drink. read more

This pub is cool, the thirsty scholar. What a delightful way for a student to be described as they take a minimalist approach to their degree and blow the government's money on smash. If you like super sleek and swanky spots this may not be for you, moshy (rock) music and dingy cellar drinks are the name of the game. The scholar plays host to a potential 100,000 students from the surrounding universities, a spot where you can get roaring drunk with very loud music. I like the scholar a lot but some people don't. I love the fact it's crammed, it's loud and is stuffed under the railway arches. The bands can be cack and you can enjoy the crap live music (always amusing) or the bands can be good and you can enjoy the good live music. If you're not in the mood though this place can become too much. read more

Thirsty Scholar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I was first introduced to Thirsty Scholar when I was invited to a HotchPotch event upstairs above the pub. I really like the character of the place and the eclectic... sometimes random mix of stuff it always seems to have going on. They have a good selection of beers and ales and the outside seating area is great place to drink from with added shelter from the elements. Definitely worth popping in for a few! read more

I can only ever recall going to Thirsty Scholar once before today. A bank holiday drinking session began here, through intrigue and mystery from the outside. It's very inviting indeed, with the outdoor seating area, everyone enjoying the beverages on offer and lapping up the atmosphere projected from the inside onto the outdoors. Thirsty Scholar? it asks, yes I am, so please do quench. Upon entry you're reminded of all things good about Manchester, the music scene. Thirsty Scholar boasts to be Manchester's best free live music event, I'm confident it lives up to it's claim. Well it belongs to the other trusty side kicks of Jabez and Joshua so. It knows what it's on about. There's a happy hour which must be taken advantage of with a large range of beers, spirits, wines and even food. Yes just the average, snacks potatoes, burgeres etc but regular specials put on. But best of all I'd say about this underground pub, is its atmosphere and being inside the place itself. You could sit in here all day on the classic wooden benches, admiring the things on the wall, quenching that thirst. The bar staff are really friendly which you'd think is just standard, but surprising these days how tis not. But Thirsty Scholar does not disappoint. So if you're ever on Oxford Road and contemplating Font or Space bar, I'd say have a re-think, Thirsty Scholar is miles better. read more

Part of the "triangle of bars" near the train station, Under the bridge, this little pub surprised us by being literally "under the bridge". We found it by the empty tables that were parked, in the rainy Manchester night. Going on a weeknight, there was a open mic sort of live music night. The musicians/performers played modern and celtic acoustic songs, with a rock twist. It seemed like a place for young folks, college kids, and a nice place Be aware, they only accept cash. read more

Funky pub in many ways and some great (and awful) live music nights! Best drink I have had here is old Rosie scrumpy which I can't find anywhere else in Manchester!! read more

A cool place to hang out with a younger crowd. Most of the folks are friendly and polite. Also, the Thirsty Scholar has an open mic night which is very fun. read more

Great pub this. It either says a lot about my spirit of adventure or how far gone my alcoholism is that this, being the first bar you bump into when getting off the train, was the first place I ever went for a drink in Manchester. For starters its under a bridge so you get to imagine you're a troll the whole time you're in there- this mightn't be high on most peoples priority lists but was number 2 on mine, second only to buying George Lamb some properly fitting clothes. Northern soul is generally playing on the sound system, the beer's cheap and the staff are friendly. The raw and manly materials of wood and stone that make up 99% of everything in view makes the Scholar a really cosy place to be, the type of place that makes you wish it was Christmas in summer. Being close to the student district (and being called the Thirsty Scholar) the bar is generally full of students. But not the headless chicken type ones who are just too excited about being far away from mum and dad with a grand in the bank, the ones who know their music and pretend they don't like fun- everyones favourite type! read more

Thirsty Scholar - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I love the setting for the Thirsty Scholar; under the railway, and it is brilliantly decorate on the outside. Given this I found the interior underwhelming (very bog-standard pub) and the beer selection lacked imagination. They were playing motown music, which I'll admitt I did enjoy whilst drunk. However on reflection the DJ - a middle aged man in a suit - was the only one dancing. This is a place that, having walked passed it on numerous occasions thinking it looked a great place, unfortunately disappointed me. read more

The Thirsty Scholar is one of the drinking oddities of Manchester. It offers a great range of drinks, in a very interesting venue, but, and this is a big but, it is, in my experience, very overpriced for what it offers. The venue is actually one of my favourite pub venues in Manchester. It is situated in the belly of an old railway bridge arch, and therefore makes very interesting and innovative use of space, both inside, and outside. The inside space is small but cosy and well appointed, and is comfortable to sit in. When the pub is hosting a live music event, it can become very very loud in the pub due to the small space, but this is somewhat unavoidable. The outside seating area I think holds more people than the inside, and is definitely a viable option in good weather, especially if you want to avoid the deafening volumes the music reaches inside the pub. Still, for me, the biggest problems with the Thirsty Scholar can be seen in their pricing. It does not offer anything out of the ordinary in terms of drinks, or in terms of the 'pub experience', and therefore, I cannot understand why it can charge more for drinks than its counterparts, Jabez Clegg and Joshua Brooks. Still, if you fancy a plurge, then give it a go. read more

Yelpers agree that this place is a must visit in Manchester. Its really really cool and definitely one of the few proper 'pubs' that is worth going out of your way for. Its linked to a club above it, whose name changes often, so I wont give it here, as you're better off sticking to the constant one of The Thirsty Scholar. Its very busy, quite cheap and full of people having fun. Thats really all you can ask for a pub, but this one offers more. Its got a lovely little beer garden under the bridge around Oxford Road train station and although its very central and along a main road, this little seating area is surprisingly peaceful. They also have live music here sometimes, often in conjuntion with club nights. Some really cool music is often heard blarring from this great establishment. Plus its in a great location for bars, clubs and pubs, meaning that you can certainly makea big night of it and only walk about 20 yards. Definitely worth considering as the place to start your night, or indeed end it. read more

Oxford Road is great for a casual night out. It's full of students and creative types, and everything's within easy reach of the train station. As for the Scholar, well, you only have to fall out of your train and you're pretty much through its doors. It's THAT close. Since I did my review the Scholar's had a humungo revamp and is now doing a great range of food, incorporating vegan and veggie options alongside some lovely fresh cakes that you can have with one of many kinds of brews - camomile, peppermint, regular, the whole gang. So not only is it a good place for a few sharpeners in the evening, it's a great place to hang out at during the day. The outdoor seating looks rustic and artsy, surrounded by murals, and inside is so cosy and cavernous you'll never want to leave. Perfect for summer and winter alike. The range of beers is immense, and I've recently taken to sharing bottles of Erdinger with the husband to be. Branching out. And as well as awesome bands playing most of the time, I've thoroughly enjoyed the quizzes here. One of the best pub quizzes I've partaken in... There have been pirate-themed ones, where all the acts who played after the quiz had a seafaring theme. The quiz itself was superb - both traditional and modern, with a pictures round and an intros round (with GOOD music - thank you Dad for having me grow up with Frank Zappa, I think I was the only person in the pub that knew My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama). And now the Hotchpotch festival's been taking over Sundays, which looks all kinds of amazing. Make your own musical instruments, anyone? There are more reasons to visit the Scholar than there are fingers to count on, so don't even try... just go. read more

I love the scholar- great place to meet friends if they are smokers, outside decking area under the arch is usually heaving friday/saturday night and with good reason! Great music, rock, soul, ska, motown, metal and others and very reasonably priced drinks, in summer a pint of scrumpy will set you back £1.20! (if you dare drink it) Great selection of bottled beers and they make a decent bloody mary! There's always plenty of bar staff on so that's good, the music isn't played too loud so you can still have a decent chat/ catch up with friends. It attracts mainly older students & rock fans. One of the 3 in my rock pub golden triangle (scholar/gc/salisbury) read more

The first thing that you will notice when you walk into The Thirsty Scholar is the dank. And the dirt. And the awful Metal band who are usually playing in a very noisy ramshackle way in the corner. But, some people would argue, this only adds to its charms. And is certainly is a stalwart of Manchester, having been happily doing its own thing underneath the Oxford Road railway arches for as long as I've been alive. Its low ceilings and little nooks mean that it's certainly a cosy little place, and its selection of drinks won't ever break the bank. Its sheltered outside area is also a great place to settle down for a drink during the Summer months, as you're in a perfect position to just sit and soak up the ambience of the always bustling Oxford Road. Its food leaves a lot to be desired though - the last time I ordered chips in there, they were cold, flabby and thoroughly disgusting. Don't go into The Thirsty Scholar if you're expecting cutesy charm. But if you're looking for somewhere to drink a decent pint which is filled with bags of atmosphere, then you could do a lot worse. read more

The Thirsty Scholar is small, a little bit grimy and packed with character. It's a legendary student haunt and I've spent many an evening, pint in hand, listening to whatever entertainment was on that night. Reggae, poetry, folk music, metal. Usually done badly but with such enthusiasm that you couldn't help but enjoy it. The prices are cheap, the selection of beers and ciders is average and the cleanliness of the toilets leaves a lot to be desired. But it's an institution and I hope it never changes. Oh, and as someone else said, avoid the food at all costs. Certainly if you value your health and/or tastebuds. read more

The Thirsty Scholar is one of the best places to watch live music in Manchester. Most evenings feature an open mic or performances by bands and solo artists, often for free! Tuesday nights with Tony are particularly good, especially when he has free live music on above the pub, too. The pub's upstairs venue is called the Attic and it usually has a club night or gig on. However, there's often an entry fee up here. Aside from the great music, though, there's not much else to mention about this pub. They have some really nice wines, spirits and beers, including a good range of real ales. But I think the prices are a little high for the grimy environment you're drinking in. Put simply, it's a traditional pub, but without the traditional prices! However, there is quite a good outside drinking and smoking area here. It's under the railway bridge, so you won't get much sun. But there's lots of seats and quite a good atmosphere due to people passing by on Oxford Road or spilling out of the nearby pubs and clubs. read more

The Thirsty Scholar is a dive. Now, as a pre-gig/pre-club pint, it's absolutely perfect. It's a music pub, that's for sure and being under a railway bridge, complete with a large decking area, it's a good place to hang if you are a smoker. Alas, if you're wanting something more upmarket, 'The Scholar' will make you weep. As for the music - recently, it's veered toward harder rock, becoming something of a metal triangle with The Salisbury and Grand Central. However, what the Thirsty Scholar does is branch out into other tunes, notably mod, soul, ska and indie. It's a bit dank, but there's always a load of staff on, which means you don't wait too long for a drink... a drink, incidentally, which may surprise you at how cheap it is. It goes without saying that this place is a bit of a student haunt, but the vibe is bright without being too in your face. Worth a visit, but far from brilliant. read more

This is a definite winner if you're on Oxford Road. First off it's right next to the train station which makes transport easy, and that includes buses from the suburbs. Second, the location's really cool as being under the railway bridge really adds something to the vibe. Thirdly, they've got a massive courtyard for outdoor drinkers and smokers, with plenty of benches to sit and patio heaters for the colder times! But maybe most of all, the Scholar's great if you're a musician. It's a wicked venue to play at, and most Manchester and uni bands do at some point. You can see anything there from a one-man band to a punk rock four-piece, and the space is very nice. Plus on a musical note, the tunes are cool too! On the busier nights you'll often hear a lot of Motown and blues which can be just what you're in the mood for. If you're not on a night out, it's a very chilled place to just relax during the day with your laptop, a book and some coffee as it has comfy sofas aplenty. There are some really nice beers to choose from too. Overall, one of my Oxford Road faves! read more

Located underneath the railway arches, The Thirsty Scholar is a traditional looking pub with an emphasis on rock music. Its definitely not a place that will suit everyone, its quite a grimy place so if you like ultra clean and sleek modern bars, this place isn't for you. There's a great selection of beers on with a couple of real ales too. This place hosts open mic nights fairly often so its a good place to see some local musicians read more

Good for: Good beer on tap, street art, open-mic, prinking Bad for: Happy Hour, outdoor drinking, Bank Holiday's read more

Popped in for a quick drink before catching the train last Friday and it was a great place with a nice atmosphere. There was also a rather funky soul DJ playing some mean air guitar and trumpet :D Nice outside bit as well that I bet is good in Summer. read more

Finally managed to be a proper student and get some day time drinking in as the year and assignments came to an end. This was one of our watering holes of choice for the day and it's a good one! I'd imagine it's generally rammed but as our exam was on the first day of exam time for the undergrad student population we nearly had the place to ourselves! Great selection of local ales at reasonable prices. Cosy alcoves and friendly staff. Some live music started up later on that made us skip off elsewhere so we could chat rather than shout. The music was good though, a small local band, just not what we were after. Impressive for a Monday night though. I'll be back! c* read more

They have a vegan cafe pop up thing 'Mod Cafe' that has random opening hours (a poster with current hours is displayed in the pub) so, unfortunately, I didn't have the time window to end up eating here, but stopped in for drinks on a Friday afternoon. Happy hour! A pint of raspberry 'Hit & Run' beer was about £2 before 8pm. It was delicious! There were a few other drinks on their happy hour promo listed behind the bar. Can't really say much more as was just a quick stop while visiting Manchester for the weekend but it felt quite relaxed, quite spacious and seems fine for standing with a pint if it was really busy, and would be happy to go back. read more

One of a pocket of great pubs, clubs and bars in the area around Oxford Road Station. The Thirsty Scholar is a pub actually built into one of the arches underneath the station. The area in front of the pub is given over to a large beer yard which is one of the best covered facilities in central Manchester, given the amount of rain we've had this summer it's a nice place to sit outside with a pint. The pub itself is fairly sparsely furnished with wooden chairs and tables, with the walls adorned with old posters and bar mirrors and other random paraphernalia. They have a jukebox with several fine rock, punk and indie albums which is free during the day. They also have a good happy hour between 4 and 8pm which has several drinks at £2.50 or less Due to its position, it gets VERY busy at weekends, and you can be waiting a long time to get to the bar. It's one of the warm-up venues for several clubs nearby, including The Attic club behind it which is owned by the same people. The pub also does occasional open mic and live music nights. Well worth a visit for a post-work pint and at other times too! read more

I went there for a couple of times to see open mic night as my mate was on there . It was fun from funky( crazy?) old man reading his poem to rock n roll music. I like the atomshpere. but the pub itself is not really clean and a bit messy. so as a girl, this place is not my cuppa really. but good to see what is on Manchester! read more

Wicked pub playing good music with friendly bar staff and a nice atmosphere. Toilets are a bit of a mess but this pub/club is one of my favourite nights out in Manchester. read more

I feel I should clarify my rating: on some nights I'd give the Thirsty Scholar 5 stars, but mostly its a 3. It generally swings on the music (open mic, gigs or dj's) which is a good range of usually local musicians. Aside from the music, drinks are reasonably cheap and the decor is a good mix of open tables and nice wooden booths. The sheltered outside area (under a brick arch of Mancunian Way) is one of the only places to sit outside on oxford road and it has a great buzz when it gets busy. read more

I like this pub quite a lot, it's alternative and draws a lot of rockers and students but it's probably one of the most welcoming pubs in Manchester. The staff are all very friendly and so are the punters. They have a good selection of beers, lagers, and spirits all quite reasonably priced. The decking area is nice to chill at in the Summer although in the winter it's inhabited with smokers. It's quite easy to spend all night drinking in this place, good meeting place too. I would give five stars but the female toilets are in need of a refurb, only two loos and one has no door - sort it out! read more

This place is rough and ready and always noisy with atmosphere. You can see some dreadful and some brilliant bands play and can also get rip-roaringly drunk and nobody minds. The smoking bit outside, underneath the bridge has a nice I'm in manchester grrr feel to it. Nice and handy in town, so you can go there before a gig etc. read more

I have only visited the Thirsty Scholar once at the Mad Ferret thing. I was slightly disappointed with the inside. When passing it looks like a cool place to get a pint, but it was bit of a dive inside and nothing out of the ordinary. read more

The Thirsty Scolar is a small pub under the arches which has a cosy feel. The music is ok, usually indie/ rock and makes a good place to go before a gig but it is a little dire. It is not very clean but it is cheap and cheerful. read more

Carved into the body of brick arch supporting the Oxford Road station line (and squatting underneath the Attic club) lies this fine boozer. There are a few pubs in this busy area which lies at the hilt of Oxford road just before it morphs in Oxford Street. Reminds me a little of a film set for a Victorian filmclearly a 'Jack the Ripperesque' flick given the look of the place. The other pubs in the area are a haven for the bikers and rock crew, which, unlike other cities (especially midlands cities) are in a minority here. The Thirsty Scholar attracts a more diverse crowd however. During that week this summer when it was quite nice, the front 'urban beer garden' was even utilised - how crazy. This is merely an atmospheric cobbled area with standing tables (i.e. no seats just tall tables for resting your ales). Inside the place is fairly small but certainly not cramped unless you choose to visit during the weekend. Good selection of beers, fantastic location and a good crowd make this place worth visiting. read more

i often come in here whenever i am in manchesster. On monday nights it is free admission and they always have great artists performing. I thin it is mainly groups or solo artists who are trying to get discovered but still they always put on a good show! The pub itself is a little bit dingy but the drinks are cheap and the staff are very nice. Sometimes you get some very odd people coming in here so you wouldn't really want to come in here on your own. Not really suitable for a quiet drink but a good place to go for a good cheap night out. read more

Good traditional pub, mainly for students. Quite small and dark with lots of exposed brickwork and low ceilings, but with lots of character. Upstairs it has the Attic where there is usual a themed night on such as indie, drum n bass, etc. Downstairs is usually busy, but you can generally get a seat. Often they host an Open Mic night, which is quite high quality and free to enter. Decent range of beers and the usual drinks. I don't think they do food. There is a new large decking area outside, which is designed for drinking outside in the summer or for smokers. read more