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
O'Connell's, Manchester
Manchester
M1 5NP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
aleand hearty left this review about O'Connell's
The Thirsty Scholar, as was, reopens 28.02.25 as O'Connell's, an Irish bar.
On 28th February 2025
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 644 recommendations about 624 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Thirsty Scholar
A true subterranean dive bar here, but it’s decorated nicely in a traditional pub style. Interesting range of clientele on a Tuesday evening from students to elderly solo drinkers. My half of Beartown Peach Melbear was excellent and my cheapest of the day after Spoons. Definitely worth a visit.
On 27th March 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Thirsty Scholar
We really enjoyed our visit here, especially when the live jazz band were performing on stage on our Thursday night visit. Plus it was free to get in, the beer quality was excellent and the prices were also good. Five handpumps with three in use, serving Moorhouse's Blonde Witch and Moorhouse's Moonbeam. Lots of students from the local Music College, with some taking a turn playing saxophone drums and bass guitar. Prices were also good for the centre of town, £4.20 a pint.
On 4th March 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Thirsty Scholar
The Thirsty Scholar is found in one of the railway arches that run into Oxford Road Station, so there is no natural light which gives the feel of a cellar bar. The bar counter along the rear wall faces a central flagstone floor and seating on the front wall where a group of, mainly, students were participating in knitting club. To the left is a raised wooden floored seating area and to the right is a raised wooden stage are where some musicians were setting up. Soft jazz was playing in the background. Four of the five hand pumps on the bar were in operation drawing Moorhouse’s Blonde Witch, Beartown’s Peach Melbear and Kahuna alongside a Lilley’s cider. I went for the Melbear, which was peachy. Standard and premium keg was also available, as was a basic food menu with the burger being priced at £8.50. For a student bar I thought this place was OK.
On 12th April 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Thirsty Scholar
Visited this cellar bar under the railway arches after the Salisbury. It wasn't on our list to do, but glad we found it. We enjoyed the Moorhouses Crosssed Arrows cask ale and it was comfortable enough seating inside with a few tables outside under the arch.
On 21st August 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Thirsty Scholar
The Thirsty Scholar has the feel of a cellar bar, being in an arch of the railway line into Oxford Road station. With the Salisbury across the way still closed 10 minutes after its published opening time, we decided to give this pub a try.
As it's name suggests, the pub is clearly popular with the local student community. They would normally have 3 real ales to choose from. On our Sunday lunchtime visit, these were Moorhouse's White Witch & Pendle Witches Brew & Beartown Peach Melbear. I ordered the Pendle Witches Brew. But it soon became apparent that it was off, which didn't bode well considering we were the first customers through the door. The Peach Melbear was nice enough though.
In addition to the beers, there was a pumpclip for Weston's Old Rosie turned round. I later spotted a box of the cider behind the bar and asked if it was on. Sure enough it was and despite pointing out the turned clip, no action was taken. Why stock a real cider, if you're not prepared to let customers know?
A couple of other customers did arrive, but it remained fairly quiet. I'd return now knowing that a cider is stocked, alongside an interesting ale range.
On 23rd November 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Thirsty Scholar
Single-room music bar located underneath the Oxford Road railway viaduct. Very basic furniture and decor around the bar and on a small raised area. Also has a dubious-looking patio area out under the arch. Two Hornbeam real ales - Lemon Blossom and Orange Blossom (£3.60), Bootleg Lawless and Rosie's Pig cider from four of five handpumps. Surprisingly quiet when I visited one evening, but probably rather busier later in the week
On 14th January 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Thirsty Scholar
Though it might look uninviting from the outside, with its front covered in 'street art', it is not too bad inside. The interior is described below with the bar directly ahead of you as you enter. Real ale available.
On 8th January 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Thirsty Scholar
Decent sized one roomed bar under one of the arches under Oxford Road Station. It's flag floored with wooden, pew like seating around the walls. There's a raised area to the right with leather look seating. The service was friendly enough, but the ale was a bit on the cold side. There are 4 handpumps for ale plus a real cider. On my visit 3 of the ale handpumps were on serving changing guest ales. There's a large outdoor seating area under the arch. There's alao a DJ rig in one corner which is used at weekends. It was quite pleasant during my early Friday evening visit, but I suspect it gets a lot busier and louder later on. I quite liked this pub and will no doubt revisit when in the area.
On 20th November 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about The Thirsty Scholar
Called in for the first time 14th of November only a few in but it felt good a young girl on the bar that could talk to customers yes it does happen it was all the time years ago before mobile phones and texting.
Had two very good pints of Glogwyn Gold from Conwy brewery will call back
On 15th November 2013
- rating: 10
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]