Pie & Ale, Manchester

For some reason, Pie & Ale was absolutely dead on our latest visit (which was a Saturday night). I have genuinely never seen it so quiet. Six cask pumps, five of which were on. We stayed for a couple - certainly enough to choose from on the real ale front - and then moved on. I do hope business picks up as this is a bit of an unexpected hidden gem for real ale.

Official site of Pie & Ale - www.pieandale.com

Official site of Pie & Ale - www.pieandale.com

Further to my previous visit, a return trip was made on Saturday evening and made we made our way to the "other" bar on the right hand side of the main entrance. In this second bar were six cask ales plus one cask cider. Breweries such as Blackjack, Anarchy, Beatnikz, Weird Beard and Thornbridge featured, plus a "Yippee Pie Ale" which I assume to the house beer. A bit of research suggests this is brewed by Eagle (Charles Wells). My Salted Caramel Lucaria by Thornbridge was spot on; my drinking accomplice had the Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream Pale by Weird Beard. Two unusual ales and very drinkable. A much better experience than our previous visit.

Pie & Ale has re-opened after a brief period of closure. Very busy on our Saturday night visit at the end of May. We sat outside but you are basically sat in a dark alley full of smokers and vapers. There were a handful of cask pumps at the bar and we had something by Vocation. Only once sat down did we realise there was another bar in what almost feels like a completely separate building, with a bigger selection of hand pulls. Will know for next time!