Hillary Step, Upper Chorlton, Manchester

Official site of Hillary Step - www.hillarystep.co.uk

Official site of Hillary Step - www.hillarystep.co.uk

The Hilary Step has covered seating out the front and through the entrance are booths on the left wall and a long bench up the right. Two steps lead up to the bar that runs along the right wall facing small high tables that run up the left. At the rear is more seating. The bar supports a premium keg range as well as five handpumps. I couldn’t read the font on the blonde clip so can only report the presence of Thornbridge’s Jaipur, Thirst Class Ale’s Bitter Me Up, Green Bullet Pale Ale and Blackjack Brewing’s Dearg Dawn. The barmaid didn’t seem to know what she was doing, but the barman was assisting and there was a bit of banter at her expense, all good hearted though. I liked it in here and would return.

Modern bar with bare brick walls at the front and a red painted wall further back. This bar is narrow but goes back quite a way into an extension that has the feel of a conservatory. It's very girly friendly and there were more women than men in the bar on my Friday early evening visit. There are 5 handpumps with one changing beer from each of Phoenix, Thornbridge & Thwaites always available. The other two pumps serve a selection of varied breweries beers. I tried a Salamander Lambzilla which was in good nick. There's also a short foreign bottled beer list. Live jazz features on a Sunday. It's a very good bar and features in the CAMRA GBG2013.