The Waterhouse (JD Wetherspoon), Manchester

This is a Wetherspoons pub, so the food available is exactly what you would expect, and of course there is a decent ale choice at reasonable prices. The guest ales were £2.25 a pint, which is the same as what I pay in Raynes Park, but a lot less than Central London. The food was at a decent standard as well. Apparently this pub was converted from two or more houses, and thus it has numerous rooms leading off a central hallway. The tables that I saw were all clean and tidy, and I would say that this one is above average by ‘spoons’ standards.

I thought this is one of the better ‘spoons conversions and was fit for purpose when we needed to find somewhere comfortable for Sunday lunch and a decent pint. It wasn’t overly busy, so had no problem getting served. But I do take the point from previous reviewers that the bar area and design could cause problems at busy times. In fact I did not realise at first that the bar was in two parts in separate rooms and was under the impression that there were only five beers on offer. Fortunately Thornbridge Chiron and Jailpur IPA were on in the right hand bar and both these were well kept pints to complement the usual paint by numbers ‘spoons Sunday roast. I also thought the multi room layout worked well and gave several areas of differing character, where you could sit and have a civilised conversation without shouting, which is the norm in most of the Wetherspoon drinking barns. And the upstairs toilets were some of the best I have come across for this chain. So all in all, one of the better ‘spoons experiences for me...

Sitting in the shadow of the Town Hall that Albert Waterhouse designed,this Wetherspoons outlet is strangely laid out with numerous small rooms,possibly because of it's previous occupants which were solicitors.For a change got served fairly sharp and tried the Phoenix Brewery's Porter (5.0abv)which was a decent pint.

Peerless Triple Blond, Black Hole Brewery (BHB) Star Gazer, Hawkshead Red, Bradfield Farmers Stout, Moorhouse’s Leaky Roof (‘brewed for Waterhouse’), Phoenix Wobbly Bob (6%), Elland Waterhouse IPA (‘exclusive to JDW’) x2, Ruddles, Abbot. Not been here before but impressive beer line up across 10 handpumps – note that the 2nd bank of 5 pumps is obscured by a pillar toward the ‘coffee shop’ – an area to which, pleasingly, most of the post-work crowd wanting to order food were directed. Unusual for a spoons, the Waterhouse has lots of separate areas & rooms, I was almost tempted to write nooks! Using the Kennedy St entrance I wandered a little before finding the bar, an area which is tiled with the rest carpeted. Not too busy, but very good service, and £1.95pp. Loos are upstairs and are even better than jdw’s usual good standard – stand alone granite(-esque) hand basins & airforce dryers (the only ones worth a fig, after airblade). The landing has a bookcase, and you almost feel as if you’ve been for a leak in a country house. Yes, all round impressed.

Pub has reopened and has an excellent curry night on thursday. They also play a great selection of music and have regular karaoke [edit: actioned 14/10/09]

A quieter Wetherspoons than one normally finds.Disabled access is at the rear of the premises and can be a pain. Inside narrow corridors, small,crowded rooms dont make things easier. This is an old converted building from times when the disabled were less well considered. Otherwise this is a good 'Spoons.

Official page of the Waterhouse - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Official page of the Waterhouse - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk