The Deansgate, Deansgate

What was once Galvin's Bar has been re-jigged, the black signage is gone and a very nice building has been found underneath it.

The new pub has a completely refitted interior (the bar is in the same position as before) real log fires (although I've only seen one of them going) and comfortable seats which smell of new leather. Thankfully there are four real ale pumps, which while I was there were serving Theakston's Best and XB, a beer that wasn't labelled, and the fourth was off. There's also a restaurant area upstairs with its own bar.

So long as they go down the quality route with the likes of the Chop Houses and the nearby Knott Bar, this place shouldn't go far wrong. Clean, comfortable and nicely decorated, it's an enjoyable environment.

My only gripes include the clean but deeply stinky toilets (on a par with the Rain Bar), blinding lights in the display cabinet of empty wine bottles and the loss of any seats overlooking Deansgate from the front windows because of the disabled access ramp. Surely that could have been better thought out?

The final gripe is the biggy, though. Why on earth have they called it 'The Deansgate' as opposed to the 'Crown Inn', which is engraved in stone on the building above the door?

Overall, a good pub with a lot of potential and a decent pint of Theakston's.

19 Dec 2006 12:14

The Knott Bar, Deansgate

Three years since my first comment on this place and it's still as good as ever. The kitchen moved to the back of the bar a while ago (it was too small where it was at the front) and since then they've added an extra real ale to the lineup and created a no-smoking area at the back (mainly for those having food).

The only downside is the blinding fluorescent lighting in the toilets and up the back stairs now. What happened to the nice spotlights?

Long may the Knott continue! :o)

20 Oct 2006 13:46

Galvin's, Deansgate

Galvin's Bar is currently very closed. It was recently covered in scaffolding while some repairs were made to the roof. Now that the roof has been fixed up, all of the 'Galvin's Bar' black signage has been removed to reveal that this pub was originally the 'Crown Inn' - the name is carved into the stonework above the door and on some of the glass in the windows.

With the signage gone you can see that this is actually a very nice building with lovely stripy frontage. What's happening to the inside is a mystery though. There doesn't appear to be much left, except for some original wood and glass partitioning. I hope they're going to keep this as a nice pub...

20 Oct 2006 13:36