Barlow Croft, East Didsbury, Manchester

Barlow Croft is a large Greene King pub sandwiched between a Travelodge and a Wacky Warehouse soft play centre… Strewth! The bar supports a standard keg range and GK IPA and Old Speckled Hen were available on cask. To the left of the bar is a carvery and there’s lots of seating for dining families. The only time you’d catch me in here is if I had to attend an event organised by extended family, I’d be the miserable bloke on the corner of the table mouthing “kill me” to anyone that wandered past.

If i'd been asked to design the blandest pub in the world, I would have designed this. A square box with an adults only area tells you all you need to know really. WhatPub claims that they have 3 real ales available. To be correct, they have 3 handpumps, with only GK IPA badged and that was turned around. The barmaid said "It was on a while ago". I had a half of fizz. As I was leaving the landlord called me over to tell me that the GK IPA was now on. He asked if I would like a free half as it hadn't been on when I arrived, which was a nice touch. Sadly he passed me a half of brown sludge which I refused. It's a terrible place.