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Sawyers Arms, Manchester
Manchester
M3 2BA
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Rob Hunter left this review about Sawyers Arms
I wasn't really planning on visiting the Sawyers Arms but ended up with a bit of spare time after finding the Rising Sun closed, so thought a revisit to this grand looking corner pub was worth considering. Knowing full well it's a Nicholsons pub I was not expecting miracles on the ale front but they did have Signal Kingmaker, brewed especially for Nicholsons to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III (bear in mind this was back in May). This was a bit wishy washy but certainly inoffensive. I won't be rushing back but as ever it was good to call in again and refresh my memory of the place.
On 21st August 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 750 recommendations about 598 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Sawyers Arms
The Sawyers Arms is a wooden floored Nicholsons pub with a large curved bar that supports eight hand pumps. During a recent Tuesday evening visit these were drawing Laine Brewery’s Breaker Pale Ale, Black Sheep’s Twilighter, Nicholsons own Pale, Wychwood’s Hobgoblin Ruby. The Sharp’s Doom Bar on two pumps was off and two pumps stood unused. Standard and premium keg is also available, as is food that can be eaten in the bar area or the upstairs restaurant. The interior is very simple with high tables between the bar and the entrance, and a raised seating area left front. Sky Sports is shown on a couple of televisions and some hardly audible background music was playing. The service was very polite. I’m normally a big fan of this chain’s pubs, but I think this place with its large curved windows has a more interesting exterior than interior. That said, I would return for another pint, but I wouldn’t stay all evening.
On 23rd December 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Sawyers Arms
like other reviewers, I found the inside a little bland though with some very nice features. Bright and laid back, friendly service. But it’s another Nicholsons pub with a poor selection of real ale - just Mad Goose, Doom Bar and their own pale ale today. I also noticed only bar snacks were available on the paper menu. Not bad, not great, an inbetweener pub on the way to better pubs. And the other clientele seemed to be thinking the same.
On 13th September 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Sawyers Arms
A Grade II listed building and one of the oldest pubs in Manchester, having first gained it's licence in 1730. Eight pumps on our visit, which included two Nicholson's Pale Ale. Luckily for us they had a Vocation Cooler Shaker on, so we went for that. We took our drinks upstairs and took in the view of the upper nine sash windows, some of which were incorporated into the curved corner. Lots of ornate timber work and etched glass, the upstairs bar was the main feature in here.
On 28th July 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Sawyers Arms
I came here post PuG crawl on a Saturday morning,a large Nicholsons corner pub with a distinctively ornate exterior, inside I found it to be relatively bland, a single opened out split level room with plenty of sensible style seating. Eight Handpumps with five beers on, two from Ilkley, including my choice of Smoked Witch, Moorhouse White Witch, Doom Bar and Nicholsons Pale. A functional but not very exciting pub.
On 24th October 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Sawyers Arms
Another chain pub on a busy street, but a few nice touches like etched glass and some plaster work give something of a pub feel to it. Upstairs bar also. A fair selection of ales on offer and seemed in drinkable condition.
On 19th October 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Sawyers Arms
Visited on a Friday lunch time and at the bar were 8 hand pumps, two of which were clipped as Mary Jane by Ilkley but after attempting to order this it seemed both pumps were off. I went for White Witch by Moorehouse's as my second choice. Also on the pumps - Doom Bar, Dizzy Blonde, Purity Ubu (labelled as coming soon), Nicholson's Pale Ale and one pump was blank. If the White Witch had been off too, I think I would have just left it.
Service was not that friendly. Appeared to be only one lady on front of house so she was probably quite busy between taking meals to tables and working the bar, but it doesn't take more than a couple of seconds to say thank you or something to a customer as you hand over their change.
The pub was not rammed but most of the tables were taken. There were a couple of gents stood (separately) at the bar.
There is a further area upstairs which is signed as "additional dining seating" which was empty at the time of my visit.
You would think that more of the pumps would have been in use when revving up to the weekend, so was a little disappointing, although the White Witch was fine.
On 11th January 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 750 recommendations about 598 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Sawyers Arms
A Nicholsons pub and while its not their best it is a nice pub. 8 handpumps dispensing 8 different beers is a good start. Its a decent pub and I wouldnt deter anyone from going. Has an upstairs bit which I didn't notice until I went for a piss, despite a set of stairs by the entrance.
On 29th October 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about Sawyers Arms
We nearly took this pub 25 years ago when we managed for Scottish and Newcastle daughter was to young for manchester city center alway wished we had done what's happened to this pub theres a saying if its not broken dont try and mend it and thats whats happened here 12 pm Monday dinner time not a customer in great big pizza oven at the back yes its got Orchid pub co wrote all over it. The bright side of it nice and clean and warm on a cold January day
On 15th January 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Sawyers Arms
Called in for one last Friday. The decor is still a mess but the beer selection had improved with 3 decent beers on handpump including Northern Jewel which is what I had. Pretty good it was too. Up a few points for me on this visit.
On 15th June 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]