please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Reasonably big Marstons house on a corner below Piccadilly station. 5 beers were on yesterday - Jennings Cumberland Ale & Lakeland Stunner, Marstons Pedigree & Long Hop (third consecutive pub we'd found this one in!) & Ringwood Boondoggle. The interior has a high ceiling and feels like a typical city boozer. It's handy for the station, with only around 5 minutes needed to board a train from here.
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This pub is immaculate. I treat it as a station bar since Manchester is lacking a decent station bar unlike say Huddersfield, Stalybridge, Dewsbury, Sheffield, Cleethorpes and many more these days. So I compare the prices with the rubbish bars in the station and don't think they are too bad. Friendly and attentive staff, no wifi but staff happy to check train times on their work laptop. Mixed clientele, decent range of beers, a lovely bar. Just a good all round pub. A solid 8/10
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Forgot to mention the only downside - £3.00 a pint!! Well over the top for Manchester.
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It's a long time since I was last in thhis pub,so the change of layout and ownership was a pleasant surprise. Marston's range of beers which included Wychwood,Ringwood and Jennings (the Golden Host was very tasty). Chatty staff and a nice atmosphere and,of course,so handy for Piccadilly station. Good t see this place back to form.
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Nice pub, good range of beers, but overpriced for real ales.
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Popped in a few times this weekend while up in Manchester. Really nice traditional boozer, gaffer and bar staff very friendly and helpful, beer good (Jennings/Marstons and all well kept) and the sausage and bacon baps just what the Doctor ordered. Will happily put in on my list for future visits to Manchester.
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Was in on a Tuesday lunchtime and there was all of 8 people in the whole 2 hours i was there.I would have expected a few more office workers in considering the area.I have to agree with previous posters on the prices here,£3 for a pint of bitter from the Marstons stable of beers is taking the p somewhat.I shan't bother with this place again.
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Incomprehensible pricing - £3.60 for a pint of bitter and a packet of peanuts. The landlord is obviously labouring under the misapprehension the pub is situated 160 miles south. I stayed for one then made my excuses, and will not be returning under any circumstance. I suspect that the landlord is content with passing trade and has no desire to nurture return business.
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I agree with Mr Boswell, great pub, but HORRENDOUSLY overpriced. Mind you, someone's gotta pay for the landlord's regular monthly jaunts to the far flung corners of the earth........
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Poor old Keith and his whiskey master Dave. The staff would have you believe that it is Marston's who demand so much money per pint not the landlord, but I don't think I believe this excuse any more. It used to be a great pub; full of wonderful beer served by wonderful staff surrounded by wonderful locals. Elano Blumer, Vincent Kompany and Martin Petrov have all worked there at some point whilst training at Eastlands but unfortunately, what used to be my local and second home has become so overly expensive that neither me nor my cronies can no longer afford to drink there. It is unfortunate that if you earn under £42,000 per annum you can't afford to drink here but I wish it all the best; especially with it's new wealthy 'toff' regulars. Keith, I am disappointed I can no longer wind you up about your beer, good luck Dave.
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City-centre pub that is the nearest to Piccadilly (excluding the dreary station bars). On the corner of two busy thoroughfares and roughly wedge-shaped, It has the old Burtonwood signage and leaded windows signifying 'Smoke room', 'bar room' etc- a nice touch, however they are relevant no longer as the pub is opened up- one room , with a few raised areas but nothing more.
The range of real ales has been steadily increasing, 4-5 pumps now dispense a range from the Jennings/Marstons/Banks' stable. Pumpclips above the bar imply that an occasional microbrewery guest is available but that wasn't the case on my visit. Cocker Hoop was pretty good on my visit.
As noted, the clientele is transient which can detract from the atmosphere, and the pub never really seems busy.
Would agree with most comments- I don't mind this place, It's a decent bet for a pint as its infinitely superior to the bars in the station and the real ale is more than passable. However for atmosphere, you may wish to head for the Jolly Angler in the opposite direction.
Not really a Manchester must.
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Traditional green tiling on the outside, dark wood interior, good staff and a minimum of four handpulls from the Marstons/Jennings range on the inside - there's very little to dislike about this pub. Prices aren't too outrageous (about £2.80/pint) and the transient nature of many of the drinkers is understandable, given that Piccadilly station is just over the road. A solid 7/10.
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Very nice pub, excellent beer. Location is superb, but prices do put people off staying for long periods of time.
I suspect a fair bit of trade comes from the one or two pints before me train trade, so hence the higher prices.
Still well worth a visit if you like your real ales. Food aint bad either
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A wonderful old British style boozer with a mouth-watering array of guest real-ales if somewhat pricey. The fat, drunken, bespectacled regular at the corner of the bar with the 'Banana-Quiff' is worth a visit alone.
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I agree with most of the points already made, both good and bad. It is a better atmosphere than the plastic pubs in the train station opposite and the staff are friendly. However it is pricey by Manchester standards and the real ales are not always well kept.
I haven't been in for a while because there are better, cheaper pubs within a short distance (like the Waldorf) but I notice from the frontage that it's now a Marston's pub so I'd be interested to know what effect that's had.
m_j_t - 11 Jun 2009 08:48 |
Better option for a pre-train drink than the poor options in the station. A few changing real ales.
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A well appointed and friendly pub with a relaxed atmoshpere, literally just over the road from Piccadilly Station. A good selection of well kept real ales are available.
I first drank in the Bull's Head in 1996 and have been back on and off ever since! Always worth a visit.
alexw - 28 May 2007 16:55 |
Great bar, friendly and not-too busy. Only the prices stop me from awarding 10/10!
anonymous - 19 Apr 2007 18:59 |
Good real ales, friendly staff, very convenient for Piccadilly Station.
alexw - 20 Nov 2006 22:56 |
Smart and friendly city centre pub without the trouble. Friendly staff, excellent food and quiz night.
Keep it up!
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Decent range of cask ales. OK but pricey
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Used to be one of my favourite pubs when they had the old vault.( Covered in football ticket stubs from all over the world.)
Now it`s an overpriced,characterless place that seems to open about once a month.Which is about once a month too often in my humble opinion.
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Bulls Head opening hours are Mon - Fri 16.30- 23.00 Saturday 16.30-23.00 unless football matches changes that, i.e. depending on kick off and police advise (often advised to close by the police due to proximity to Piccadilly railway station) Sunday closed all day unless a match day when may be open, again depending on police advise
Hope that helps !!
anonymous - 1 Dec 2005 19:27 |
Love this pub (when its open)
Closed some Saturday nights, open others.
Very hit and miss so try and catch it if you can as it is a great little pub with not a scally insight.
Very true to its original interior with a friendly bar man and a great open fire(esp nice at xmas)
Next to University but seems to be more frequented by staff than students (but that was Friday night)
anonymous - 1 Dec 2005 15:57 |
The Bull's Head is closed for building work for about 6 weeks from 25/10/04.
Mike - 25 Oct 2004 15:11 |
Tried to go here on Saturday, but it was shut. Bah.
Nige - 25 Feb 2004 08:26 |
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