Vine Inn, Manchester

A decent boozer with two bars, one of which one is called The Malt And Cask. 4 cask ales on on this visit.

Disappointing after City Arms next door. Blackboard outside declared ‘Country pub in Town!', hardly, and the offer of a mediterranean special supported doubt. Just 2 handpumps; I asked for TT Landlord but was told it wasn't quite ready yet, so had to settle for Hobgoblin – not my fav but, in fairness, it was in very good nick. Up a few steps to an unremarkable area with variety of seating, incl Chesterfield chair, downstairs to restaurant (also used for private functions), blackboard here offered more traditional pub fayre (scampi, f&c, stk pie…), one beerpump down here (1 of those being served upstairs). Back to the bar-room where the walls are decorated with random photos and higher walls/shelves have brass & copper nic-nacs, seating is fabric settles & stools, cast-iron brass-topped tables carrying flyers for £6.50 btl wine, or pizza + 2pints/btl wine £10 (mon-thurs, 5-8pm). Mixed soundtrack offered far more bad than good (for your grumpy correspondent). I noticed comment elsewhere mentioning darts & table football – I didn't see that - presumably upstairs where I only had a quick glance.

The other proper pub on this little strip, and it isn't at all bad. The Malt and Cask affair was closed on the Sunday afternoon when we called in, perhaps not surprisingly as we tripled the number of customers until a group of Chelsea supporters arrived to warm up for the afternoon's game. So it was, underwhelmingly, just Landlord on the handpumps. All friendly and comfortable enough and would use it if I fancied a change from the City Arms next door.

This pub has striking deep green ceramic exterior to one side of the pub and the other side is raised from the street level and hosts four large sash windows. There was lots of banquette seating and a couple of settees in one section with some book shelves. There were a few brass ornaments mounted on the walls and a wall mounted juke box and tv. The pub was quiet on our visit, two ales on handpump TT Landlord and Wychwood Hobgoblin. The Hobgoblin was fine and priced ok.

Right next door to the city arms a lot bigger had a good pint of Timmy Taylors will always call when round there