Christmas time is often a chance to catch up with friends and family, and enjoy a drink or two. In Manchester, pub seekers are pretty much spoilt for choice, and it can sometimes be tricky to make a decision.
Your festive watering hole choice might have been made easier this year. This comes as Historic England have published a Manchester city centre historic pub route, with six iconic establishments.
Ahead of the festive season, we’ve rounded up the pubs which Historic England have highlighted. The route includes pubs around Princess Street and Portland Street in the city centre.
Marie Smallwood, Head of Advice North at Historic England, said: “Manchester’s historic pubs have been part of the fabric of our great city’s life, and at the heart of communities, for generations. Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to discover and explore some of the remarkable listed public houses in your local area, where seasonal greetings carry down the centuries. We’d love to see your experiences of the beautiful buildings on these heritage trails and to hear your memories of your favourite historic pub.”
1. The Waterhouse
The first stop is 65 to 71 Princess Street, a row of 4 late-18th-century Grade II listed town houses on the corner of Princess Street and Cooper Street. Today, 67 to 71 Princess Street have been transformed into a pub: The Waterhouse, named after Alfred Waterhouse, the architect of the Town Hall that stands across the street. Number 65 is a job recruitment office.
2. The Circus Tavern
The pub is reportedly the smallest public house in Manchester and one of the smallest in the country. The Circus Tavern at 86 Portland Street is a small gem. A painted sign by the door says: "The smallest bar in Europe, the biggest welcome in the world!" It's also one of the oldest in Manchester, dating back to 1790. However, the building was initially a town house; it wasn't until 1842 that it became the Circus Tavern public house when a brewery took over. The Circus Tavern was given Grade II listed status in 1994.
3. The Grey Horse Inn
Next up on the route is another which could be considered on the very small side, and it's at 80 Portland Street. Like its neighbour, the Grey Horse Inn is a traditional alehouse, and another Grade II listed former town house from around the late 18th century. The upper storeys retain their garret windows, suggesting the top floor once housed weavers' workshops.
4. The Bank
Originally built in 1803 to house the Portico Library and said to be Manchester's earliest Greek Revival building, The Bank is Grade II* listed and sits on the corner of Charlotte Street and Mosley Street. The Portico Library is still in evidence on the upstairs floor. The public house occupies the ground floor, which was the newsroom, with the open-plan interior retaining many original features.