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Pub Of The Month - October 2025 with Bucking Fastard
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by peter ashworth
Submitted on Wednesday, 29th October 2025
With picture contributions to 27380 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (23 more images)
Detail Pages
The Smithfield Market Tavern, Manchester
Manchester
M4 5JZ
Served areas
Reviews of The Smithfield Market Tavern (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Smithfield Market Tavern
Our most recent visit to Manchester concluded with a visit to the Smithfield Market Tavern, a pub I hadn't been to for over 15 years. It wasn't owned by Blackjack Brew Co. the last time I was here.
Being on the edge of the Northern Quarter, this one can get quite busy on a Saturday. However unlike the nearby Bar Fringe, we managed to not only get served but also to grab a table.
My comments on another pub site still ring true. With the pub stretching back a fair way, it does become quite dark and dingy to the rear where there are no windows and alas the table we found was against the rear wall.
Blackjack beers on were their Best Bitter, Irk Street & Cross Keys. Other cask ales were Verdant LightBulb & RedWillow Faithless 220 Riwaka NZ Pale. The cider was Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon, whilst craft beers were Blackjack Hazy Meadow, Aspin Pale, Flagstone, Dancing Saloon & Irwell Depths, Yonder Strawberry Foot & Sureshot From Meccano to Legoland. The draught cider was Broadoak Pheasant Plucker.
Bar billiards and darts can be found to the left of the entrance. Hopefully I'll be back again without leaving it another 15 years.
On 2nd November 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3270 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Smithfield Market Tavern
Somehow this is my first visit, although it never looked that enticing in its previous incarnation before being refurbished and taken over by Blackjack. Anyway, it is now an excellent tap house than has quite an attractive appearance in the various seating areas (one of which features a bar billiards table), even if the furniture and decoration remains at the unfussy end of the range. Seven handpumps offering four of its own cask beers (including the Pub Ale ordinary bitter, £4.20), guests from Bowland and RedWillow and a cider. Also has four more of its own craft keg beers from a shiny fount on the counter plus five more (and an equal number of guests) from the ten more taps on the bar-back.
On 31st May 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8928 recommendations about 8928 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Smithfield Market Tavern
Blackjack pub (as of around 2015). Fairly modern inside (2020 refurb), two areas with the servery to the left and a pleasant wood panelled area at the rear but it did feel a little sterile. Bar Billiards table mentioned elsewhere but I didn't spot it. Six cask and a cider, my Blackjack English Stout was really good and had clearly been pulled-through prior to opening (NBSS 4). I was the first customer in (and out) on Sunday afternoon so I didn’t catch it at its best but it seemed like a decent venue and the fact that the staff had the first beer ready to go to such a high standard is testament to a good ethos, so recommended for that.
On 16th May 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5754 recommendations about 5735 pubs]
View more reviews of The Smithfield Market Tavern (20)
Manchester - 18 March 2010 by Clive Thompson
Manchester crawl - January 2010 by Gill Smith
No known official website for this pub.
- Twitter - The Smithfield Hotel
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Smithfield Market Tavern - whatpub.com
Manchester Piccadilly, 0.74 miles, 14 min walk (show)
Manchester Oxford Road, 1.06 miles, 20 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : Yes last updated 13 October 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 02 November 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 02 November 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Darts : Yes last updated 02 November 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 02 November 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 16 May 2022 by Quinno _
