Ape & Apple, Manchester

Large Holts pub with several of their beers on plus 2 guests and a cider. 12 handpumps on the bar. Its quite nice inside with a mix of clientele.

Called in 14TH january not been in since it had a refurb very nicely done its not been spoilt and made modern. The down side it was 1-30 pm only one customer in the barmaid was reading a magazine had to wait for her to finish the piece she was reading asked for a gin and tonic sorry no tonic water asked for a bacardi and coke sorry no coke asked for a glass of white wine sorry no wine then she told me they had not had a delivery since before christmas find that hard to believe it a busy city center pub in the middle of January had not had a delivery since before christmas.But will call back

Thought I should try out the Holts beers whilst in Manchester so picked out the Ape and Apple as it has been in the GBG for the last couple of years. Fairly quiet on the mid Sunday afternoon when I visited, and those who were in were fairly mature. But there was enough going on that I could relate to the various descriptions of this being a traditional style Holts watering hole in the centre of town. A traditional pub interior with what looked like some original features, but somehow lacked a bit of character and gave you the feeling of one of those modern chain pub ‘traditional makeovers’ rather than the real thing. Four hand pumps on the bar dispensing the Holts ranger including the Bitter and Mild. OK but far from inspiring pint, but as this was the first time for Holts beers I can't really comment on whether it was a not very good pint or whether it’s meant to be like that, but I certainly won’t be going out of my way to try them again. But it was certainly one of the cheapest pints I had in Manchester and as a pub I liked it and it worked well .

Nice pub this - pleasant interior and cheap. Shame the beer wasn't up to scratch. The Mild was in pretty abysmal nick, as was the bitter. Our group beat a hasty retreat, a shame as with a bit more attention this could be one where we stayed all evening.

A rather ornate Holts house, there are high ceilings, lots of wood and standing areas and background jazz/rock. Holts beers are not to my personal taste, but this is a fine drinking/meeting house and really rather nice.