The Tollgate, Manchester

Official site of The Tollgate - www.tollgatepubmanchester.co.uk

Official site of The Tollgate - www.tollgatepubmanchester.co.uk

Walking in the area on a Sunday morning and needed to kill an hr. Thought I would take advantage of facilities and warmth :-) Didnt fancy a beer - which was handy, as it was all macro keg. I chanced my arm and asked for a coffee but in praise of the very friendly barman, he didnt laugh me out of town. Soft drink it was. Some very friendly regulars and most knew each other but were happy to include you in conversations, if interested.

The Tollgate is a large pub with a rotunda at the front that makes it look like the HQ for a sect. There’s a large Manchester bee on frono next to the Martston’s signage, maybe this is to draw in the Beelievers? Picnic tables are found around the paved exterior and there is a covered picnic table area adjacent to the entrance. At the rear is a large car park. Inside, the entrance is faced by a large curved L-shaped bar that runs around to the left rear. Here a large screen for showing live sports is found on the rear wall, but this area was roped off during a recent midweek afternoon visit. To the left of the entrance is a small raised seating area, which is situated in the rotunda. To the right of the entrance is more seating and further to the right is a sunken seating area with pool table. The televisions located throughout were showing muted Sky Sports News whilst some background dance music played. Obviously being so close to Old Trafford stadium there is some Man United paraphernalia in the walls, but it is not overbearing. The bar supports a limited standard keg range alongside Peroni. There are two banks of three handpumps, five of these were unused and the Pedigree was off. It was empty apart from a couple of locals, but it must be heaving on match day. I found the service to be very polite, but I got the feeling the governor doesn’t put up with any nonsense. To be honest I found this pub to be quite bland and it isn’t somewhere I would seek out for a revisit.

A massive Marston's roadhouse which is very convenient for Trafford Bar metrolink stop. It's an L shaped pub with loads of TV screens. There's a pool table down a few steps at one end and there's also a raised seating area. A jukebox and a quiz machine complete the non liquid attractions. Loads on handpumps on the bar, but only 3 on, which were Pedigree, Cumberland & Brakspear Oxford Gold. The Brakspear was just about OK. It's very generic and is absolutely packed when Utd are at home. They also have a barbeque here before every home match.