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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Medicine Tap
Mighty Medicine tap housed in the very grand main post office, with quite an attractive, light, semi-traditional in the main bar area and partitioned side Dining Lounge. Big display of craft keg taps on an elongated hooped fount in the centre of the counter, and a bank of eight handpumps on each side of this. However, only five of the latter proved to be operational, and only one of these dispensed a beer from the owning brewery. Furthermore, the Madchester Cream (£3.80) proved indifferent, and although trade was very limited on a Monday evening, you would think they would still look after their products better?
On 22nd March 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Medicine Tap
A huge place situated in an old Post Office and looks the part from outside. Opened-out and a bit of a barn inside but the wood panelling, original fanned windows and carefully painted moulds salvage it somewhat. 16 pumps(!!) with a more sensible five operational (mainly from Mighty Medicine who run the place) and a plethora of keg on a huge gantry. My Mighty Medicine Madchester was in decent shape (NBSS 3) but not a particularly good brew. Some incongruous music choices and the lack of custom made things a bit flat, though I did visit early afternoon on a Friday I suppose. I’d give it another go.
On 18th March 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Medicine Tap
The Medicine Tap feels more like a bar/restaurant than a pub but has 8 hand pulls to the left hand side of the bar (of which 6 were in active service) plus a further 7 unclipped over to the right hand side. Two of the available ales were from the Mighty Medicine brewery, which I assume has a connection to this establishment. There are aso at least 20 keg taps though I didn't take much notice of those, but a cursory glance as I was leaving allowed me to observe a mix of premium lagers, some crafty type stuff and Leffe - so probably fair to say there is something for everyone here.
This is a former Post Office which has been nicely converted. There is a separate caged off area for dining though it appeared that dining is also permitted in the main bar area.
There was only one person working the bar and she was also dealing with diners, so there was a small delay in being acknowledged and served, but certainly not unbearable.
Probably worth an 8/10 from me just for the beer selection alone, and I daresay it gets a bit more atmosphere of an evening or at weekend. My half of Madchester Cream Ale set me back £1.90 which isn't unreasonable.
On 24th November 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 750 recommendations about 598 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Medicine Tap
A very fine and large former post office in a prime location in Rochdale town centre it has a significant interior with a double height ceiling,wood panelling,some plasma screens but not for sport and a bar running most of the length of the building.In addition to a large array of handpumps with 8 choices on my visit,there is the longest keg beer gantry I've ever seen.
On the ale front expect some house Mighty Medicine brews and/or Strata brews who cuckoo brew at MM.My Strata Strike was decent (NBSS 3.5).My visit was brief ,breaking a journey from The Flyer to The Baum so I failed to note the full ale range.A revisit will be on the cards when next in town,it's a worthy real ale crawl venue and features in the GBG.
On 15th July 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Medicine Tap
The Medicine Tap is a large rectangular high-ceilinged pub/bar that used to be the town’s post office. The long bar on the back wall supports sixteen hand pumps and an array of premium and craft keg. I went for half a Paulener which set me back £2.15. The bar faces some old barrels made into high tables and normal seating is found either end of the bar. There is lots of standing room, so I imagine it gets busy in here at the weekend. I was one of two customers during a recent Monday evening visit. There are plasma screens on both side walls, one showing the list of available beers and the other advertising food and drink deals. There was some low background music playing. The door to the right labelled ‘Cocktail Vault’ was closed. I found the service to be polite and would return if in the area.
On 4th September 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Medicine Tap
A large former Post Office opposite Rochdale's magnificent Town Hall. I think the red post box gave it away. This is a very respectable pub and the staff were very friendly and courteous, giving the pub a slightly upmarket feel to it. The bar faces you on entering, positioned along the back wall. There was two banks of eight handpumps serving six Mighty Medicine ales plus a couple of guests. We went for the Manchester Cream and the Pirate Juice IPA. Both were fine and not overpriced at £3.40 for the centre of town.
On 30th July 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Medicine Tap
I was surprised, after reading the review below, to find a total of zero beers from Mighty Medicine brewery. At the time of our visit there were two mainstream beers, plus five from northern micros and Old Rosie cider (see photos). The Greenfield Bitter was disappointing, with not much flavour and no bitterness discernible to my palate, and as I drank further down the pint there was a slight butterscotch off flavour. I wouldn't let this put me off coming back here another time though.
On 5th November 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Medicine Tap
Now this pub has settled down a bit I'll review it. It's been open about 6 weeks now and I was in on the opening night. We've been in several times since and it's now a good addition to the local pub scene. Originally Rochdale's main post office, it's been sympathetically converted with lots of wood panelling around the walls and the bar back. A couple of the guys behind the bar have worked in several local pubs and so are familiar with many of their visitors. There are 2 banks of 8 handpumps, all doubled up and always featuring a Mighty Medicine beer or two as you might expect. Over the last few week there have been beers on from Dark Horse, Great Heck, Northern Whisper, Vocation & Kirkstall amongst others, so a decent range is often available. My only gripe really is that sometimes, certainly on a Friday night, the piped music seems to be aimed at teenagers, when there aren't any in the bar as it attracts an older clientele. Motown, Northern Soul and 80's music have also been playing on other nights, which is more appropriate. Overall though this is a good pub. In fact we'll probably call in tomorrow night just to check it's still OK :-))
On 23rd May 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]