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Beer of the Week (w/e 5th May 2024) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Angel, Manchester
Manchester
M4 4BR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Angel
A lot has already been written about this pub ,so I won't dwell on too much detail.I liked the human scale of the pub,with it's low ceiling around the bar and charming side section with bench seating.Original features remain ,although the front area onto the Rochdale Road looks more like a cafe with the exterior run down.There are 10 handpumps ,with quite a selection from Keith Brewery,a house ale and more I failed to note but the style range across the 10 handpump choices was good and my Keith Stout was in great nick.An obvious double header with the Marble Arch,I will most certainly return in future visits to the Northern Quarter.
On 13th October 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2737 recommendations about 2737 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Angel
As others have said, from the outside it doesn't look much but it is much better inside. Fairly open plan, with what feels like two distinct sections to me - a more comfortable arrangement of tables and chairs in front of the bar leading down to a nice fireplace, then the area to the side of the bar leading to the patio doors which feels more basic and a little run down with evidence of leaks and damp that could probably do with some attention.
The real ale selection is a very pleasant surprise for such an unassuming looking pub, with 11 pumps for real ale and 2 for real cider, and only one of each being off at the time of my visit a couple of weekends ago. Normally the place is pretty busy and getting a seat can be a struggle, in fact even making your way through the crowd to the bar can be tricky, but worth the effort. For some reason Manchester seemed pretty quiet on bank holiday weekend so we managed to get a seat in the better area in front of the bar on Saturday night. As ever a good selection of real ale to choose from with a variety of styles meaning something for everyone.
On 7th September 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 761 recommendations about 606 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Angel
Funny one this. Located down a less-than-lovely road and looks a bit battered from the outside. Inside is a pub of two halves – a straightforward locals pub in terms of clientele but with a baby grand piano in situ. The interior is L shaped with a varnished floor and boxed wood ceiling. Main reason for visiting was the ale - 13 pumps with (perhaps sensibly) seven on which were a mix from Liverpool Organic, Howard Town, Kelham Island and Plain. No complaints about my Howard Town Shining Clough. A decent, if odd, place with a tidy ale range. Worth a visit but as stated by PSM below, it’s got too much of an identity crisis to make for an essential experience.
On 1st February 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5117 recommendations about 5100 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Angel
A very unassuming pub from the outside but once in you are presented with 13 handpumps serving both real ale and cider. The interior is described elsewhere. Inside the pub is sort of zig zag. A very good pub.
On 11th December 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Angel
This place doesn't look like it's going to be up to much on approach, but once inside, it transpires that it's a fine ale house with a slightly chopped up interior. The pub had a traditional, two bar layout that has since been opened up, with a few traces of the original floor plan still very much evident in the form of various pillars and sections of partitioning wall. The front part of the pub is bare boarded and offers standard table and chair seating in an open space with plain windows and a white wood strip ceiling. One pew here perfectly fits into a gap between two sections of the former partitioning wall, creating a natural barrier at this point that further emphasises the previous layout. The servery is on the front wall, to the left of the entrance and has lots of dark wood, including some attractive ceiling panels and a lot of frosted glass. Opposite the bar, there is a much cosier and comfier looking space, carpeted and with long a banquette down the left hand wall, supplemented by standard chairs. A small fireplace stands on the end wall and has a few interesting art prints surrounding it plus a shelf displaying various champagne bottles. A staircase to the rear leads up to a restaurant, although no-one seemed to be heading up there and a few folk were happily eating in the bar area. The menu seemed pretty decent, with snacks costing around a fiver and the mains a tenner. A jazz-funk soundtrack played through much of my stay and there is a grim 'garden' out the back, complete with portaloos to replace the actual toilets which were out of order.
The beer range focussed on microbreweries, with the full range on this visit comprising Kissingate Old Tale Porter and Six Crows, Liverpool Organic Shipwreck IPA, Bob's Brewing White Lion, Hawkshead NZPA, Bright Side Topaz, Howard Town Kerala, Saltaire Raspberry Blonde and Pictish Alchemist's Ale. I tried the White Lion, which was in pretty good shape and appears to be one of the regular brews available here.
I found this place has a bit of an identity crisis and couldn't figure out if it was trying to present itself as a traditional alehouse or a more contemporary bar and restaurant. To my mind, it offered a bit of both without really nailing one or the other. I still enjoyed the visit though and recognise that this is a well run enterprise and another great place to find exciting beer in this part of the city.
On 26th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Angel
An L-shaped room with the bar situated in the corner crook. There is a fireplace down one end which has a painting of a seemingly apocalyptic event above it, I couldn't make it out. Corner high shelf with Champagne magnums, a wall mounted case contained beer taps, samples of malt and a cross-section drawing of a brewery showing the various processes. It was very busy on a Thursday lunchtime, especially around the bar making the pumps difficult to view properly. Eventually I ascertained that the selection was Liverpool Organic Russian Stout, Revolution Brewery Clash, Hawkshead Windermere, Slightly Foxed Quick Brown Fox, Pictish Alchemist's Ale, Bob's Brewery Yakima Chief plus White Lion, Saltaire Triple Chocoholic and a pair of ciders, one by Farmer Jones, the other remained out of my view. Food served, hot sandwiches seemed popular.
Seating inside included upholstered benches with wooden backs while the dismal outdoor side area remains.
A deservedly popular pub with a superb line up of beers, well worth a visit.
On 18th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Angel
I didn’t know what to make of the Angel as I noticed a mix of picnic tables and café seating overlooked by a massive bill board on a small grass covered area next to the busy A664. I then noticed more seating next to a huge pile of pallets and old crates in a car park at the rear. I didn’t think it looked the most inviting of places and if a visit hadn’t been recommended I would have probably continued walking up to the Marble Arch which is further along the road.
This certainly isn’t the biggest place, but there were only a few other customers during my recent Thursday afternoon visit so I was able to settle quite easily. Conventional Seating is crammed in leaving little standing room other than around the small bar that supports twelve hand pumps. Ten of these hand pumps were drawing different ales from nine different breweries and the other two were drawing cider. There is also a range of premium and standard draught products, but I went for Kissingate’s Smelter’s Stout which was well served by the friendly barmaid.
I noted the presence of a piano and there is a dartboard in the corner that had tables and chairs on the oche. There is also a flight of stairs that climb to an advertised restaurant area that I didn’t visit.
I can imagine it getting a little uncomfortable in here during busy periods, but don’t let the outside put you off as this place is certainly worth a visit.
On 22nd August 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Angel
Lots of people sitting outside when passing this one, so had to give it a go. There were seven handpumps in operation on our visit. The pub is situated on the same side of the road as the Marble Arch. The Spitting Feathers Solstice was top notch. Well worth a look in.
On 14th June 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Angel
Definitely back up to where it used to be when it was The Beerhouse. 11 handpumps, 9 for beer and 2 for cider, all operating last night. My pint of Pictish Beaca & a half of Norfolk Brewhouse Moon Gazer were both in excellent condition. The 2 friendly bar staff were also a massive positive. A must visit pub again now. It wasn't grubby on Friday night.
02/10/2010
Originally reopened as a gastro pub in early 2009. The gastro side of the pub now seems to have retreated a bit and it now feels more like a pub than when it first reopened. Now has 8 handpumps, on Tuesday 6 were serving ale and two real cider. I had a Shaws Ashton Masher and a Stringers West Coast Blond, both were in good nick as was the other halfs Copper Dragon Golden Pippin. It's getting back to where it was again.
On 4th November 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Simon Ward left this review about The Angel
A fantastic range of cask and welcoming staff, but the bar was a bit grubby, and I had to fight my way round from the entrance to get served as the groups of customers appeared a bit cliquey. This place is about the cask beer more than anything and they serve a very good pint (well the three I had were top). If you are with a group of like minded friends this place is certainly worth a visit, but on your own, well your on your own.
On 3rd November 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 7 recommendations about 7 pubs]