Bar Fringe, Manchester

what has happened to this once fine pub called in last week to find the beer in poor form and very quiet

Even though Bar Fringe had been recommended to me I still nearly walked past. The frontage is understated and I only took a second look when I saw the A board out the front that states that CAMRA had given it the North Manchester cider pub of the year award. Inside there is a raised seating area by the front window and the bar on the left hand wall faces some bar stools that line a shelf on the right hand wall. There is more seating at the rear and out the back are a few picnic tables. The décor is very quirky and busy, but I managed to get very comfortable as it wasn’t very busy on Thursday afternoon a couple of weeks ago. At busier times I can see it being a bit of a squeeze in this small thin bar. The bar supports five hand pumps and I had a decent pint of Phoenix Brewery’s White Monk. Food is available from midday until 16:00, but I didn’t see any menus as my visit was after this time. This place is worth a look if in the area.

This bar is great, I found it by accident on my way to the Northern Quarter. Very eccentric decoration, which if you look at closely, is taking the mick out of it's self and the customers. A warm atmosphere with prompt friendly service even on a busy Friday night. They had nine traditional ciders available plus five cask ales plus loads of bottled beers and tap beers from Belgian and Germany. Not as expensive as the Port Street Beer House and with customers that are a bit more down to earth. The only problem was finding a seat inside. I agree with Rex, it doesn't look much from the outside, and they could use a heat lamp in the beer garden at this time of year, but it was buzzing inside and every drink we had was good quality.

This place really doesn’t look much from the outside – in fact it doesn’t really look like a pub – but inside it’s a different story. I’m not sure how to describe it, but I think I can safely say that the interior decor is, bizarre, quirky and eccentric. There are plaster faces emerging from a wall at the back, a lifesize photograph of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, black rats and bats hanging from the ceiling and walls, a motorcycle suspended above the doorway, a rather nice picture of Jane Fonda as Barbarella, etc, etc. I reckon it’s worth a visit just for a butcher’s at the myriad strange things on display. There were also five real ales available. I had the rather excellent Monkey Town Mild. A pub (or bar perhaps in this case) with eccentric decor and a decent ale selection must have something going for it, but I have to say that this place is nothing like a traditional pub.