Abel Heywood, Manchester

Paid a visit yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon and it was fairly busy for the time of day, but no difficulty in getting a seat. Six hand pulls, one of which was unclipped, four were clipped but had a "coming soon" tag on them, and one was actually available - California Red from the Hydes Provenance range. This was fine and set me back £2.05 for a half. Service was friendly. As has been noted already, this is quite a smart looking pub. It is also a hotel. It's a Hydes pub so expect their ales, including their various sub-brands! Not somewhere that's likely to become a regular haunt (and indeed my last visit was back in 2017) but it's not bad.

I have little to add to the other reviews except that this is the opposite side of the coin to the Unicorn up the road. it was ticking over with a clientele of office workers and women finishing their late lunch. 5 ales on and I enjoyed Black Country’s take on a plum porter. a nice pub but i’ll always make a beeline for the Unicorn - this place is a bit hip and gastro for my taste.

A modern traditional fit out, if that makes sense, with a mixture of old fittings, bare brickwork, high stools etc. The food seemed popular, with a further dining area signed upstairs. There is also a small outdoor terrace by the side of the road. A good range of draught ales with Hydes Original and Lowrey, Shepherd Neame Late Red, Beer Studio Burnished Gold and Kansas Avenue Smith & Tinker.