Bowling Green, Manchester

I gained entry to the Bowling Green via the cemetery of the adjacent church which leads to the back (or maybe front) garden where picnic tables reside. Inside the entrance I was greeted by a member of staff who was standing behind a high table taking drink orders. After paying I had to walk along the short bar to pick up my drink at the other end. Like a conveyor belt. This may be time efficient when the pub is busy, but it felt a bit silly on a Wednesday evening when there were only five people in the pub, including myself and the two bar staff. The bar, found to the right of the entrance, faces high banquette seating and tables under the front windows. There is more banquette seating under the windows to the left of the entrance where there are front and rear seating areas. There are televisions in each area for showing Sky Sports, which was muted in favour of some background music. Out the front (or maybe rear) there is a fenced off picnic table area with code to get in the gate. This is adjacent to a bowling green. This is a functioning hotel so there are rooms upstairs. In addition to a premium keg range I counted seven handpumps on the bar. Two were unused so the cask ale selection was Sharp’s Doom Bar and Atlantic Pale Ale alongside Timothy Taylor’s Golden Best and Landlord (x2). Food is available, the cheeseburger is priced at £13. This is a tidy well kept pub, but I found there were a few too many rules. Order here, queue here, collect here, don’t loiter here, this TV has no sound, keep dogs off the seats etc. etc. I wouldn’t have a problem returning, but to get here from the Metro I would have to walk past two or three places I would rather drink in so I do not envisage a return visit.

A large and pleasant enough 2 roomed pub. A large L-shaped lounge and a smaller rectangular bar are your choices to sit inside. An outside drinking area is available. 5 handpumps on the bar in the lounge but sadly an uninspiring choice of Tim Taylor Landlord, Doom Bore, Cumberland and Wainwright being available. Still, it is a nice enough pub.

Official site of Bowling Green - www.bowlinggreenchorlton.co.uk

Official site of Bowling Green - www.bowlinggreenchorlton.co.uk