Common, Manchester

Had 2 cask ale pumps on. Very much a cafe style place and yet again I'm not trendy e ough for these kinda places. Cheaper than over the road today.

The Common is in three sections with a bar and seating area to the left and a couple of quieter seating areas to the right. There is a distinct common room feel given by the décor and hoards of students that had mobbed the place during my recent Thursday evening visit. I managed to stumble in during the opening night of a six month exhibition by the Common People’s Party. I thought I’d fallen into a time warp and been deposited on Tooting Broadway and I must confess to be a little confused the next morning when in my pocket I found a memo from the office of the prime minister of the common world. The part of the exhibition that I saw was some blown up photos with a meaningful title that were available for purchase at around £50 each. To be honest I could have taken most of them and I’m no David Bailey. After standing at the bar for a while wondering when the British forgot to queue I was served a decent pint of Brightside Brewing Company’s Odin. I also noted the presence of some premium draught products, but I failed to see the second hand pump mentioned in previous reviews. The music was a little loud, but it was right up my street with the likes of the Jam and the Clash being played. This isn’t really my sort of place so I’m not going to plan a return visit.

This looks as if it’s been converted from three shops. I thought the music was overly loud, but I often think that about pubs, and the mainly young crowd here seemed to be quite content with it. I guess I was in the minority about the ambience in the place, as well demographically. This is not the sort of place that looks as if would serve real ale, but it does – Titanic Black Ice and Hard Knock Light on my visit the other evening. All strength to their elbow in giving a more extensive choice to consumers than is usual in these sort of bars catering to a younger clientele.