The Footage, Manchester

The Footage is a large split-level open plan sports orientated pub with screens located throughout for all things football, and three pool tables that are found at the rear. The bar counter on the right-hand wall supports standard and premium keg; real ale is no longer available. There is some upstairs seating with a balcony that overlooks the seating opposite the bar below, but this area was closed off during a recent midweek evening visit. There was a mix of students and older patrons, like myself, but I imagine this is a student magnet at the weekend. This isn’t somewhere that I plan to revisit.

This was our final stopping point of a small crawl on a Saturday night back in the middle of December. The last time I was in here was back in its day as the Footage & Firkin. I remember it used to be really busy and very studenty, to the extent that I recall not being let in once for not being a student (despite being in a group with some students and being of student age myself at the time). How it has changed. The place was not mad busy at all but considering the size of the place, it really felt empty and soulless. At the bar were a few cask options and some interesting keg stuff. We only really had time for a swift half but we were told they had no 1/2 pint glasses and so the barman had to tempt us into accepting 2/3 pint instead. Not sure if this was a conscious decision that they don't serve half pints (as seems to be the case at some places), or if they had just run out of glasses - but given the number of customers in I found it hard to believe their entire stash of half pint glasses would have been dirty and waiting to be washed. As it happens I think we were only charged for two halves in the end, whether that was a mistake or not is anyone's guess. We went for the Nutty Ambassador by Little Critters on keg, I have had this before on cask so was expecting great things. I preferred the cask version, but this was a perfectly decent drink to end the evening with, albeit in a pub that seems to have become a shadow of its former self.

You just know Wetherspoons would've probably done a better job of this place. Description elsewhere. However there are 3 handpumps on the bar now each with rugby based ales, Sin Bin, Hop and Under, Proper Hop. So how the review below only saw 2 I'll just never know. Ha.

Originally a cinema called the Grosvenor Picture Palace and previously the Footage & Firkin when it had its own brewery. The brewer was Richard Sutton who subsequently opened the Pictish brewery in Rochdale which is now owned and run by Paul Wesley. The upstairs area was originally the circle and is available for private hire. There are loads of screens around the pub which is massive. There are 2 pool tables and 2 quiz machines. 2 handpumps on the bar serving Robbies Trooper & Purity Mad Goose. The Purity was a decent pint. Sadly the barmaid was useless. Only two of us waiting and she served the guy who had only just arrived at the bar before me. Muppet. It's an interesting pub to have a look around, but it's not going to be on my regulars list.

Official site of The Footage - www.thefootagemanchester.co.uk

Official site of The Footage - www.thefootagemanchester.co.uk