The Moon Under Water (Lloyds No. 1), Manchester

The Moon Under Water is a massive L-shaped JDW with a bar counter that runs up the right-hand wall while supporting standard and premium keg as well as two banks of four hand pumps that were drawing Doom Bar, GK IPA, Saltaire’s Hop Selector, Hawks Head’s Gold and Bank’s Sunbeam. About to embark on a crawl of Manchester’s tourist bars I decided to stick to the fizz which I had with a steak due to my visit being on a recent Tuesday Steak Night. Can’t really go wrong for twelve and a bit quid, and I’m still in shock a few weeks later at how well cooked the steak actually was. I’d even typed into my phone while waiting for the food to be delivered “love how they ask how you want it cooked, but it always comes out medium to well-done”. Well not in here it seems! The usual Spoons décor is present, as are the high tables faced by the counter and the standard table and chairs up the wall opposite the counter. There’s raised seating in the rear and I didn’t venture upstairs. I’m in Manchester again next Tuesday so I might venture in to have a look at the first floor while having another cheap steak.

The Deansgate branch of Wetherspoon's seemed like a fairly standard version of this chain's pubs when we first arrived. I'd checked out the app in advance and decided what I'd fancy to drink. However on arrival, my chosen beer was not on any of the handpulls, forcing me to choose an alternative. The selection was Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best, Marston's Wainwright & Brewster's Decadence. It was only when I read the Whatpub description again that I realised that there were two other bars. The bar at the rear had Acorn Raspberry Porter (my original choice) and Brightside Mancunian on. I then headed upstairs for another wander and couldn't believe the size of the place. The upstairs room also had its own bar and with a really high ceiling, it felt like a ballroom. In fact, the building was a former cinema. As Quinno says, this used to be Britain's largest pub. From what I can see, that honour now falls to BrewDog's new Waterloo branch. But I was certainly impressed by this one.

Jumbo JDW and a former holder of the title “Britain’s largest pub” (says Whatpub, anyway). L shaped at the bottom with a lovely upstairs room and additional mezzanine which has some pretty architectural features and a nice view of the ex-cinema grandeur. Downstairs is a little more plain though not too shabby, classic late 90s Spoons Victoriana decor and a curved ceiling. Three(!) bars, I think – I’m an app-addict these days so I pay less attention than I should. Five guest ales on from Rudgate; Chocolate Stout (NBSS 3.5) and Tom To Tango (3) were picked by me. Mixed bag of staff. Ate here and the Wethergrub was fine. Best of the Manchester city centre Spoons based on flying visits, I’d make sure to do this one again and sit upstairs.

worth a visit at a quiet time to take in the grandeur of this pub. it’s vast and majestic though cavernous, a typical city centre Spoons barn but with good traditional decor and real ale. today all the more interesting beers were on the bar at the far side where it took a while for someone to come and serve. the selection as you walk in was pretty dismal in comparison and I didn’t bother to look upstairs. as a pub I just don’t like it, as somewhere to have your first drink and relax it’s fine.

Pretty sure this used to be a standard Spoons, but now seems to be operating under their Lloyds No 1 brand, which explains the extremely loud music, DJ and dancefloor towards the rear of the pub. The upstairs seating area with viewing gallery makes this ideal for the discerning gentleman to eye up the ladies on the dancefloor from a safe distance, before deciding whether one of the lucky ladies would make a worthy mate. I seem to remember a few years ago the upstairs area being less busy than downstairs, but on my recent Saturday night visit a couple of weeks ago, it was just as rammed as downstairs. However in years gone by I also seem to remember it being three deep at the bar, and I am pleased to say it was not quite that bad. Interestingly the real ale selection on the downstairs bar is different to upstairs, so may be worth checking both out if you have the time and inclination. As with a lot of Wetherspoon pubs, some interesting history with the building but the place is far too busy to try and take any of it in!

This cinema conversion looked more like another shop conversion when I arrived on a Friday afternoon. It's a typical long narrow room which was packed so I didn't get to note all the beers. Further back up some steps is a second bar which was much quieter. I didn't investigate the third bar upstairs. Most of the seating in the lowest bar is tall tables and chairs with some alcoves. The upper bar had a major problem in that nearly all the lagers had gone or were going off and there was nobody who could change them! The rear bar also houses the Lloyds Disaster Area with idiot booth, speakers but no lights or glitter ball that I could see. I managed to get to see the first set of hand pumps in the main bar and they had the two GK beers, Peerless Langton Spin and Seven Brothers IPA. The rear upper bar had the two GK beers, Upham Gold, an International beer from Caledonian, Oakham Bishops Farewell and Jennings Hop Commotion. I went for the Seven Brothers (£2.75) and Bishops Farewell (£2.89) before moving on to the better value Oakham Green Devil bottles (£2.99). This is one of the better central Manchester Spoons but that's a very low comparison point. Like most major cities, there are vastly better outlets in the suburbs.