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

A deceptively large Wetherspoons. It has numerous handpumps along the bar which stretches around the back. An upper level is also to be found. Its a good Wetherspoons to be honest.

Called in last night for the first time in a while. The service was pretty good last night which has been a major problem in the past which is why we hadn't bothered visiting for a bit. A reasonable range of beer on the bar and my pint of Bateman's Hooker was in good nick. If last night was the norm now then we'll call in again soon.

Called in on the 23rd of Feb I agree with Rex i call in them every now and them you love them or hate them but if you all are taking notice the prices are not much cheaper now in a lot of them 3.40 for a pint of Carling i can get it cheaper

Apparently this Wetherspoons is a cinema convertion – and it looks it. It occupies an enormous space. The front area is essentially a drinking barn with the usual ‘spoons’ furnishings, including a row of booths on the left. There’s another seating area right at the back up a few steps, as well as (I’m told) another large area upstairs although I didn’t venture up there. Concealed green light on the the ceiling in the front area gave it an eerie look. The usual ‘spoons’ menu and ale choice are available, at typical prices. This is a typical ‘spoons’ drinking barn. Fair enough if that’s what you like, but it really doesn’t have any pub character. Having said that, it does what it says on the tin – provide standard pub grub and decent ale at reasonable prices.

This is another Wetherspoons conversion of an old building into a pub, this one being the former Deansgate Picture House. As mentioned below it’s a fairly unimposing frontage, but has the full Tardis effect going on inside. However you could completely miss this if you were not aware, as the front bar is fairly plain and uninspiring, although it does have some nice booths on the wall opposite the main bar, but the rest of it is a fairly uninteresting space and the hand pumps were only dispensing the usual ‘Spoons house ales. But take the few steps up to the second bar area , which is better and has another six hand pumps, all with guest ales. And then take the large staircase up to the third bar area which in my opinion was the best of the lot, again with six hand pumps dispensing the same guest beers that were in the second area. No problem getting a seat in the top room on the early Sunday evening I visited and the Roosters Wild Mule was a well kept pint.

Doesn't look much from the street, with a relatively narrow frontage and just a few outside tables. However, once inside, you see a large bar with eight handpumps which extends back some distance. Nothing unusual in that, but once you realise that there is more than a few extra seats up the four steps and explore further you will find the larger back bar with another six handpumps in use. Again, that's not all, because if you look up you see a substantial balcony area which includes a third bar (with a further six handpumps available). Another notable feature is a rather grand full-height stained glass window at one end of the back bar. Considering that it is branded as a Lloyds No.1 bar, the beer selection is excellent with guest ales (e.g. Ninja Beer from Summerskills Brewery) well priced at £1.99. Overall, pretty impressive for a large chain establishment.

No problem with wheelchair access at this place it is massive everysense of the word. Not certain about access to the upper floor though. Staff are on the ball and it is only when the place is packed out that standards start to drop, but it really does take one hell of a crowd to fill this place.Usual good range of beer and standard menu available. Due to the accoustics of the place if you stand on the top floor and look over ,the the place sounds if it is filled with birdsong like the inside of an avairy. At the end of the week the place fills up quickly with young ladies working upto Manchesters famous clubbing scene. Very nice to but at this time my Mrs drags me back to the hotel before hypertension sets in. Spoilsport.

Official page of the Moon Under Water - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk