Victoria Tap, Manchester

Sister pub to the outlet near Piccadilly Station, and certainly a great addition to the Victoria Station offerings. Limited seating in and around the narrow bar area, but there's also a covered seating area of similar size at the back (if you don't mind the squeaky trams passing close by). Five interesting cask beers - including my Northern Roots from Green Arches (£3.90) - plus a cider from the six handpumps.

Despite having visited this new bar within its first week of opening, I've only just realised that I haven't reviewed it. We've visited at least 4 times since as well, so it's becoming a regular stopping off point.A small bar, quite cluttered with assorted stools and high tables which doesn't leave much room, there's also usually at least one dog in taking up more room. It can be absolutely hammered around tea time, so we usually visit first or last on any Manchester pub crawl. Five handpumps serving mainly local beers and I've never had a bad pint in here. A very good addition to the Manchester pub scene.

The Victoria Tap is a small hidden away station bar that I had real trouble finding for a recent midweek visit. I mentioned this to the barmaid when I finally did wander in, she retorted that she had the same trouble and was actually late for her very recent interview. My visit was quite late so it wasn’t busy, but I could see that any more than ten people would have this place feeling busy. The five hand pumps were drawing Runaway Brewery’s Manchesters Best, Green Arches of Manchester’s Sunset, TT Dark Mild, Bank Top Brewery’s Draymans Draught and the excellent Kirkstall Brewery’s Black Band. I also counted twenty fonts across the back bar that were drawing craft lager. I liked this place with its weird music and transient crowd. It all felt a bit surreal if I’m honest. They should make a documentary, I’d volunteer to be in it for some free beer.