The Gaslamp, Manchester

Good Beer Guide 2019 entry. Easy to miss, as its a subterranean cellar bar housed in a building that used to be a children's mission. Once down the steep steps, it opens into nicely tilde wide spaces with woodend tables. Bit disappointed with my visit. Two out of the three hand pulls in operation but mainly, its catering for very expensive bottled beers. One of the hand pulls was a port from Ilkley brewery - which was in good condition. The tables were filthy - a combination of no beer mats and staff not clearing up the debris from the last occupants (who admittedly should be returning their glassware).

I’m all for former Victorian buildings of a different use finding new life as a pub or bar and in this case the basement of the former Manchester & Salford's Children mission building now lives on as a craft and cask bar. Well described by others it’s an interesting cellar bar to drink in with its Victorian glazed brick walls with little additional decoration. In fact, the only issue I had with it was the internal layout for the bar area with the sparse bar with its craft keg wall and four ale hand pumps tucked away against the far front wall meaning that you have to queue through the tables during busy times, as we did. On the ale front there is a good focus on smaller independent breweries from outside the Manchester area and my half of Beatnikz Republic Leather Soul was on fine form.

After a busy Friday night visit, I returned the following day just after opening time and being the first customer of the day I was better able to appreciate my surroundings than I did the evening before, the fact I was sober this time round also helped greatly. As described below this is a cellar bar clad in white tiles throughout, that are slightly yellowing due to the passage of time.A corridor leads through to more seating in a room to the rear, there are framed black and white pictures on the walls, many relating to the buildings past as a children's mission building. The lighting is of medium level, no doubt the tiling prevents it being gloomy which is a bonus. There are four ale handpumps and ten craft keg taps, my pint of cask Pamona Pale was in good shape and refreshing. The bar began to fill up slowly during my half hour second stay but this place is quite atmospheric empty or full. A brilliant bar.

I'm not a great fan of cellar bars but made an exception here. It consists of two rooms and is fairly dimly lit. It was busy on a Friday evening. I got a seat in the front room where the bar is but couldn't see all four clips in the dim light. I managed to make out a Brewsmiths Gold (£3.40) which was cheaper than expected and in good nick. I thought this place seemed reasonable.