The Mare & Foal, Manchester

The Mare & Foal has a central U-shaped bar counter that comes out of the front wall in between the two front entrances. This pub may have once had two separate bars, but they have been knocked through, although the left-hand side feels a lot more pubby than the right which feels like a dining area. To the left of the bar counter is a room with banquette seating and a pool table, and towards the rear is a seating area with high tables and a dartboard that was being used by a group of twenty-somethings. I saw some chilli delivered to them from the kitchen in the right rear. It was a bit early for half time league darts scran. There were also a few locals around the bar area, but the size of the pub made if feel empty. The bar counter supports standard keg alongside San Miguel and Birra Moretti. There are also two hand pumps that were drawing Ringwood’s Forty-niner and Pedigree. The service was very friendly, but I found the pub to be boring, which wasn’t helped by the non-descript décor.

A largish pub that's basically a 2 roomed pub. The main room is a L-shaped one with an offshoot room housing a pool table To the rear of the pool room is a beer garden with a dreaded "children's play area". 2 handpumps now on the bar but only Burton Bitter on.

Recently refurbished and is now quite foody, probably to compete with the nearby Millgate. It's been opened out into one room, but with a conservatory style area at the rear overlooking the small beer garden. There are also seats at the front within a perimeter wall. Mainly dining tables and chairs to the right as you enter. The left hand side appears to be more aimed at drinkers and there's a dartboard. There's also a jukebox and they advertise live bands at weekends. Three handpumps on the bar, but only one clipped with Marstons Burton Bitter which was a good pint. It's OK for one whilst passing.