The Smithfield Market Tavern, Manchester

Blackjack Brew pub. A lively meeting of Rochdale Oldham and Bury CAMRA on their annual post Christmas walk

A pretty basic pub decor wise and I can only assume it been done down since the last review. It does have an very good selection of real ale from 7 handpumps though. I couldn't see any smart seating and the downstairs was closed. Though I was here before 6 o'clock

I popped into the Smithfield Hotel just after 17:00 on a recent Thursday afternoon when there were a handful of locals present. Although quiet I found the service and the other customers to be very friendly and there was a good atmosphere. At the front of the pub is a pool table and a jukebox that was playing some sixties music. The bar is located on the right hand wall in the centre of the pub and there is some seating opposite. At the rear is more seating, a dartboard and a large plasma screen which was off with no signs of Sky Sports. I thought that this pub had a comfortable lived in feel, but the wallpaper is hideous. The bar supports nine hand pumps that were drawing different beers from 8 different breweries. I went for Cottage Brewing Company’s Boundary which was on top form. I would have no problem revisiting here and would include it again if on another crawl of the area.

Called in here while in Manchester in January for the Winter Ales festival as they usually have extra beers on and do cellar runs. Had Cotswold Lion Golden Fleece and Ramsbottom Whites Kent. Not too bad condition but get worried if the beer comes from the large jugs on the back of the bar as they may have been there some time. They do get a good variety of breweries though.

This pub had nine real ales on, which is a remarkable number for a pub as relatively small as this one. My companions had pints of something called Old Tom, which is a rich, dark beer at a stonking 8.5% ABV. Being a southern softy I obviously went for something at less than 4%. The rotating ale policy is advertised by the very many pump clips displayed above the bar counter on the gantry. This looks like a basic drinkers’ pub. There’s a pool table just inside the entrance, and with mainly normal tables and chairs, although there is a smallish recessed area on the left with two or three armchairs. The pub stretches back to a carpeted area at the rear, where the TV is located. The main decorative features on the walls are hundreds of black and white disembodied faces, some reminiscent of the Face of Boe. Most unusual, in an avant garde kind of way, but inoffensive nonetheless. This is a perfectly good pub in which to enjoy a range of decent ales.