Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Circus Tavern, Manchester
Manchester
M1 4GX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about Circus Tavern
Not sure I would attempt on a weekend or an evening, but something rather special about a Thursday afternoon of illicit drinking. Goodle suggest it opens at 2pm but found it all bolted. Went next door and heard the barlady saying they were "keeping off hours". It was open at 3pm.
Already full :-)
A young barman dealt with the drinks (Tetley or Wainwright) on cask, whilst the landlord did a fine job of shoehorning as many people as possible into the two tiny rooms.
Thankfully table service from there on - as once wedged in, you need to be brave to wedge yourself out.
The Tetley was in fine condition and everyone seemed really pleased with themselves for getting a seat. Led to a very jovial atmosphere.
Quinno sums it up nicely in his last line!
On 29th July 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Circus Tavern
Blink and you miss it place; very narrow, squeezed back from the road in a terrace and listed in the CAMRA National Inventory. There’s a corridor to enter with a teeny servery at the end which appears to be part of the understairs cupboard. Two little rooms off to the right of the corridor, both with fires and traditionally furnished in a basic manner with bench seating and old bell pushes. Two cask, Wainwright and Tetley Bitter. My Tetley was in fair nick for what is now a shite brew (NBSS 3). I liked it here, despite its obvious limitations…time your visit for a quiet period else you’ll easily end-up standing in the corridor. Perhaps file under ‘do it to say you’ve done it’.
On 20th February 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Circus Tavern
One of the great things about doing no research before I go on a crawl is that I’m sometimes genuinely surprised by what I find, and my visit to the Circus Tavern was one of those times. I walked up the front steps to be met by a friendly lady who was standing beside a bar that had been set up in the cupboard under the stairs. Tetley’s and Wainwright were the two cask options and there were a couple of keg fonts.
Along the right wall are two small seating areas, I was directed to sit in the one nearest the entrance. In here three gentleman were quietly supping on their pints whilst the large TV on the wall was playing All Saints, “I Know Where It’s At”. I actually laughed out loud as I sat to wait for my pint opposite the coal effect gas fire.
Yes, this is a historic pub and a must visit, even if only to drink in a tiny pub (my rating reflects this), but now that I’ve done it I don’t plan to return.
On 15th February 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Circus Tavern
still positively unchanged, a real iconic Manchester pub with the tiny bar and two rooms with no space to swing a cat. Two hard working friendly barmaids brought the pints out - don’t rush here for the beer, Tetleys Cask and Wainwrights this time. But rush here for the atmosphere and inevitable conversation with strangers. Best enjoyed at busy times actually when it really becomes a unique experience, it’s a homely unpretentious place that defines what a ‘public house’ is supposed to be.
On 10th October 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Circus Tavern
Very small very Victorian pub, apart the upholstery and football posters not much has changed, there’s a big screen, Engerland flag and some other 20th century bits. The woodwork, some glasswork and maybe the fireplaces could well be original. Just two pulls on the small quadrant counter , I had an indifferent Tetleys, fortunately just a half. Amazingly there are two “rooms”.
On 13th March 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Circus Tavern
This is one of those pubs you have to go in, just to say you have been. My last visit was about five years ago so thought it was about time to refresh my memory and paid a visit last Saturday afternoon. Although the building must be about the same size as the Grey Horse, the Circus feels a lot smaller inside and this must be down to the layout which I assume has not been touched much over the years. The (tiny) bar is straight ahead as you enter, with two rooms to the right, front and back. Two hand pulls for cask ale, offering Tetley Cask and Dizzy Blonde. I went for the Tetley as I could not remember the last time I have had this, suffice to say I won't be in a rush to have it again but it was perfectly drinkable.
It was fairly busy at the time of my visit, though it doesn't take much for a place this size to feel busy. However we managed to grab the other half of someone's table and as we supped our drinks other people came and went so there was a fair turnover of customers meaning you probably wouldn't be waiting for a seat for very long.
The sign outside reads, "The smallest bar in Europe, the biggest welcome" but unfortunately I found the lady serving to be a bit disinterested, though not unfriendly. She was busy talking to her friend who was stood in front of the bar, and anyone who has been here will know there isn't really the room for that on top of two customers being served and someone else trying to squeeze down the corridor.
I can't say I dislike the place but I can't help thinking it trades off its "smallest bar" claim and once you've done it there isn't a great deal to rush back for.
On 16th August 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 830 recommendations about 657 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Circus Tavern
Tiny two-room pub with the smallest servery you've probably ever seen (just wide enough to accommodate two handpumps and a keg fount) in the wood-panelled entrance corridor. Limited amount of basic seating and some sports and music pictures on the walls. Two real ales on offer: Robinson's Dizzy Blonde and Tetley Cask (£3.50). Oddly good.
On 18th February 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Circus Tavern
I called in here on an absolutely filthy evening with rain bouncing up off the pavement, a warm friendly welcome inside and the patient barmaid waited while I shook myself down and my steamed up glasses cleared. It really is a tiny place, a short corridor links two small rooms with the squint corner bar occupying a corridor corner. Tetley Bitter and Robinson's Dizzy Blonde are clearly the regular beers. The back room has football related stuff regarding the two Manchester teams with a montage also to George Best, Best, Law and Charlton feature in the front room where there are also appreciations of local actors. Dark stained wood panelling, old tiled fireplace with a small telly above.
I settled in the front room and was straight into the chat with a Scottish bloke and a trio of American women who were fascinated by pub culture and football. A very enjoyable visit to another Manchester iconic institution.
On 15th November 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Circus Tavern
Right by the coach station this pub has probably the tiniest bar in existence. Used to have a couple of poor overworked girls ordering for people. A good pub.
On 19th June 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
General Staal left this review about The Circus Tavern
Definitely a tiny pub. It is, as described below, a corridor with pine panelling on the ceiling and two tiny rooms on the right formed by wooden partitions. The bar is tiny. The plaque outside describes it as being a Tetley Heritage Pub. It looks Georgian.
Beerwise it serves Tetley Cask and Robinson's Dizzy Blonde as well as the usual tap stuff.
Compact and bijou, but very friendly, both staff and customers. I liked it.
On 28th July 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 142 recommendations about 125 pubs]