The Angel, Manchester

The number of hand pulls at the Angel has now been reduced to seven - this had previously been 11 or so from memory - with six in active service at the time of my visit. A good selection of styles represented including a rather interesting cherry ale. There's a chalkboard behind the bar listing the available beers.

Seems much diminished from former visits, only four beers on and everything looking tatty. The beer wasn’t bad. They weren’t able to take card payments on this occasion either, the place has more of a run down feel which doesn’t bode well.

Visited on Saturday evening and the Angel seems to have bounced back since the various lockdowns of the last couple of years, and was busy with standing room only at the bar (although a table later became available). Seven cask ales on at the time of my visit, plus one cask cider (badged as Angel Cider, 7.4%). Wily Fox and Rooster's seemed well represented on the ale front. As reasonably priced as ever, and the ale quality was spot on.

Visited on Saturday evening. Of course at the moment it is all table service at this stage of the lockdown roadmap. The pub itself was full, but there was plenty of outdoor space. Now this is not a beer garden, but more of a junk storage area with a load of rickety wooden bench style fold-up seating. While some pubs have used lockdown to spruce up their outside drinking areas, no such effort has been put in here. In a way though, that's part of the charm of the Angel, it's quite "rustic" on the inside in parts and so at least the outside area matches. After taking a seat the chap came and found us and took our drinks orders. He knew what was on cask - and this consisted of Bowness Swan Blonde (apparently their house ale), Rooster's Tropical Assassin, and a dark beer that the chap was a bit vague about but I suspect could have been Saltaire Triple Choc as they often have that on in here. The beers came out and payment was taken on card. I had the Swan Blonde, which was fine. We would have stayed for another drink but we struggled to get anyone's attention. Unfortunately the operation was far from slick and efficient, with people coming and clearing glasses but not taking orders - so one chap seemed to be taking all the orders as well as clearing tables and I guess was rushed off his feet. Surely it would make sense to allow all staff to take orders and for them to be a bit more proactive in asking tables with empty or almost empty glasses if they want another drink. I believe this is their first weekend after reopening so there may well have been some teething issues, but unfortunately I can't see me coming back until all restrictions have been eased and you can order at the bar like normal. I had been looking forward to paying a return visit to the Angel and I have to say I left feeling a bit disappointed. On the upside, the prices seem about the same as on my last visit over a year ago.

Visited on Saturday evening. Not as crowded as it has been on previous visits, but this meant we got a seat in the better half of the pub. Those who have visited over the past couple of years will be pleased to learn that the gents toilets are back in action and you are no longer redirected to a shipping container in the back yard. At the bar are 11 hand pulls for real ale, two of those being off, with a variety of styles and reasonable prices (most between £3.50 and £3.80 a pint, one 6%er at £4.00). In addition are two hand pulls for real cider, with one off at the time of my visit. A diamond in the rough, or a bit of a rough diamond? It's unpretentious and has plenty of real ale, and I like it.

Bit shabby inside and out and the front door doesn't close properly, not over friendly either. There is a piano inside and the seating is a little haphazard. Ok beer and in Good Beer Guide 2020

The new builds looming over the pub only highlight the peeling external plaster and down at heel external appearance. Inside, its fine - all traditional pub seating and wooden floors. Good beer guide 2019 entry and you can pop in on the way to the more celebrated Marble Arch. On a Sunday Tea Time, the number of hand pulls outnumbered punters 3-1. 10 ales on. None heard of. Samples provided. Acceptable condition.

This area of Manchester on the edge of the Northern quarter has undergone a lot of change since I was last in the Angel many years ago so it was very good to still find it hanging on in area that has been completely remodelled in recent years. It still looks a bit tatty from the outside, but inside is a fine Ale house with a fine selection of ales of differing styles as can be seen as reported by Moby below on the recent PuG crawl. I went for the Stout Keith and very good it was too.