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Detail Pages
The Shakespeare, Manchester
Manchester
M2 2AA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Shakespeare
I'd read about this in a newspaper article - oldest pubs in Manchester kind of thing - and couldn't place it. Vowed to track it down for the architecture - although I had a feeling the pub itself would be a disappointment.
The building started life in the C17th in Chester and was moved to this location in 1928. Ghosts followed with it.
I entered and was met by the smell of a thousand fried dinners. Looked at the offering and two cask on. I should have gone keg, but convinced myself to try a half of Scrum Down.
It was vinegar. I checked it into untapped. Greene King customer care tweeted for more information. I tweeted back I wouldn't even put it on the huge pile of chips, nachos and wings being consumed at my neighbours table.
What made it worse was 5 mins after being served, the pump clip was turned around. They obviously knew it was on the turn and a decent landlord would have tracked me down to offer a replacement.
On 19th February 2023
- rating: 1
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Shakespeare
The central bar counter at the Shakespeare faces seating across the leaded front windows and there is seating either side of the bar to create an L-shaped interior. During a recent early evening visit there was background music playing whilst the televisions on both side walls aired muted Pointless. Live football is shown when being played. More seating is found upstairs in a long room that runs the width of the pub. Another television was up here playing Pointless to the empties on most tables, at least it must have been busy at lunch. The food is very reasonably priced with the burgers and chips starting at £8.
The bar supports premium keg alongside Carling and the two hand pumps were drawing Joshua Tetley Shakespear Cask Ale and Butcombe’s Chris Moose. It wasn’t as busy in here as its peers, which I could understand because I couldn’t get comfortable. I don’t plan on returning.
On 6th December 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Shakespeare
A very impressive looking pub a decent enough interior. Two distinct drinking areas its quite pleasant. 3 real ales including their own Shakespeare beer. Though it is only very early November, and the music selection that was on, I was sick of Xmas by the time I left. And I only had 1 drink.
On 4th November 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about The Shakespeare
Used to have area meetings here when we worked for Scottish And Newcastle its a nice pub but what spoilt it was a big fella f-----g and c------g every other word wanting to fall out with every one tried to kick off with two lesbians. The young lad behind the bar got the manager he refused to serve the girls again and told them to go. We found out then he was the managers mate it looked like the manager was frightened of him he emptied the pub of about thirty customers in a couple of minuets. It will be a while before we call in again
On 20th December 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Shakespeare
Called in on Saturday for the first time for a while. When we got inside I remembered why. It's a great looking building on the outside and there are still a couple of interesting features on the inside, but the rest has gone away. It was full of shaven headed, steroid pumped numpties who all appeared to be friends with the bouncer, who looked just like them. They were using plastic glasses, even for the wine, which says quite a lot about the place. Surprisingly my pint of Bombardier was very good, which will add a point to the score. Won't be calling in for a couple more years though.
On 23rd May 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Shakespeare
This is one of those places that is better from the outside than it is on the inside, its black and white beamed old looking exterior, and decent pub sign of the bard looking very inviting as one of the few traditional places left on the high street.
Internally it is a bit small, and not helped by the several groups of shoppers and their copious amounts of high street store bags. But then it was Saturday evening, so what should I expect. There are some nice period features but the whole place just feels like it could do with some TLC, especially the toilets..
Three hand pumps on the bar, but nothing exciting for a southerner except for the Boddingtons on cask which was complementing the Bombadier and Spitfire, and as the former ‘Cream of Manchester’., it had to be tried. Unfortunately it’s not a lot above caramelised water nowadays and the pub can’t be blamed for that, but it didn’t add to the overall experience.
On 6th February 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Richard Arwkrite left this review about The Shakespeare
Cramped ground floor bar with food at lunch times. A couple of ales. During the day it can get over run with ladies who shop and their designer carrier bags. I can see the previous posters point. There are better and more comfortable places you can drink in.
On 23rd September 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 197 recommendations about 185 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mat Nichol left this review about The Shakespeare
One of those pubs where you ask yourself, "why did we come here?"
Maybe its down to its location, but it really has nothing good to say about it.
On 5th December 2006
- rating: 2
[User has posted 115 recommendations about 115 pubs]