Rain Bar, Manchester

A large and imposing pub located just a stone’s throw from Oxford Street station, the pub covers the ground floor of the building and is largely one open plan room, although with a couple of segregated areas off of it and a separate function room where a gospel choir were in full voice on a recent Monday evening visit. The wood panelled bar counter is in the middle of the room with seating all around it. Bench seating at the rear was separated in to cubicles with wooden partitioning. Decor wise, the floor is polished wood with some chequered inlaid tiles in places and there was much exposed brick work which had been painted cream along the front wall. A tiny snug area was off to one side down a few steps, and there was another room at the front with wood panelling on the walls and a roaring fire making it somewhat reminiscent of a hotel drawing room. The menu looked to be a fairly standard pub grub affair with options such as cod & chips, sausage & mash, chilli con carne and chicken Tikka Masala as well as a number of grills, sharing platters and pies. Most of the main courses were in the £8 - £10 range. Beers on tap were predominantly from JW Lees with their Bitter, Archer Stout and Manchester Pale Ale as well as Marco Pierre-White’s The Guvnor. The solitary cider was Strongbow, unfortunately. All in all this is a solid enough pub I suppose, but there are several other options within a short stroll that are far preferable.

JW Lees Bitter, John Willie's, Brewers Dark, Moonraker (7.5%). JW's £2.90pp! Dunno where ROBCamra is drinking to say that is relatively cheap round here? Large pub with diverse areas & seating styles, woody snug to left of entrance, booths & tall tables around bar-area, small lounge beyond, plenty of picnic sets outside next to canal presumably make it a summer hotspot. Impressed by friendly staff.

Official site of Rain Bar - www.rain-bar.co.uk

Official site of Rain Bar - www.rain-bar.co.uk

Modern pub had a good meal last time we went in so called back for something to eat got a pint of John Willy's best bitter got a menu went to the bar they told us they had stopped serving food bit of a let down but will call back