Rain Bar, Manchester

This is a interesting old building, apparently John Willie Lees' flagship pub, the name Rain Bar does not reflect the regular Manchester weather but due to the pub once being an umbrella factory. A central bar with the boarded room wrapping around either side, some high tables towards the frontage and better booth type options to the rear. Down a few steps at the back is a partly separated area and the front corner has a snug which has a fire going and a picture above of some young bloke who looked rather unsettling to me. Possibly the best seats are outside, a tiered area overlooks the Rochdale canal, I visited on an unseasonal sunny Manchester early lunchtime, it was a splendid spot to sit. Lots of exposed brickwork, old beamed and unboarded ceiling. JW Lees beers, Bitter, MPA, The Governer and Drayman's Reward. Food served, I was in early doors on Friday, lots of groups were ordering food already around 12. A nice well appointed spot, bet it is heaving at night.

A large and imposing pub located just a stone’s throw from Oxford Street station, the pub covers the ground floor of the building and is largely one open plan room, although with a couple of segregated areas off of it and a separate function room where a gospel choir were in full voice on a recent Monday evening visit. The wood panelled bar counter is in the middle of the room with seating all around it. Bench seating at the rear was separated in to cubicles with wooden partitioning. Decor wise, the floor is polished wood with some chequered inlaid tiles in places and there was much exposed brick work which had been painted cream along the front wall. A tiny snug area was off to one side down a few steps, and there was another room at the front with wood panelling on the walls and a roaring fire making it somewhat reminiscent of a hotel drawing room. The menu looked to be a fairly standard pub grub affair with options such as cod & chips, sausage & mash, chilli con carne and chicken Tikka Masala as well as a number of grills, sharing platters and pies. Most of the main courses were in the £8 - £10 range. Beers on tap were predominantly from JW Lees with their Bitter, Archer Stout and Manchester Pale Ale as well as Marco Pierre-White’s The Guvnor. The solitary cider was Strongbow, unfortunately. All in all this is a solid enough pub I suppose, but there are several other options within a short stroll that are far preferable.

JW Lees Bitter, John Willie's, Brewers Dark, Moonraker (7.5%). JW's £2.90pp! Dunno where ROBCamra is drinking to say that is relatively cheap round here? Large pub with diverse areas & seating styles, woody snug to left of entrance, booths & tall tables around bar-area, small lounge beyond, plenty of picnic sets outside next to canal presumably make it a summer hotspot. Impressed by friendly staff.

Official site of Rain Bar - www.rain-bar.co.uk