Manchester: Levenshulme, Longsight, Gorton, West Gorton and Ardwick Crawl, 4th July 1992

This was to be a crawl around the inner South and East areas of Manchester. It was the usual early start on the Trans Peak bus from Nottingham and I met a work mate who wanted to do the crawl with me when the bus stopped at Derby. The bus stopped in Levenshulme, so not too far to walk to our first pub and a short wait for the 11:00am opening time.

Levenshulme

1: Church Inn

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(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a smart looking Greenhalls tied house situated at the North end of Levenshulme. The pub was quite smart inside, and we had a drink in the front room which was smart and comfortable, though there were other rooms in this pub. We had a drink of Greenhalls Bitter which went down well after the long bus journey up here. The Church Inn was a decent pub that has since been pulled down, but why?

We took a short walk through some back streets and into the Longsight area to do the next pub.

Longsight

2: The Garratt

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a typical looking estate pub that was a Joseph Holts tied house, so as a Holts fan I was well pleased. The pub had the usual two room layout with a bar to the front and lounge to the rear. We had a drink in the bar which was fairly basic, but the Holts Bitter went down very well. It's such a shame that this pub has now closed down.

We were now walking north towards West Gorton and found our next pub.

3: The Longsight

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a modern looking 1980s built pub that was fairly close to Belle Vue speedway track. The pub was quite smart inside with an open plan room. The pub was a Banks's tied house, and I had a drink of Banks's Bitter which was a decent drink. This is another pub that is sadly closed down and gone.

We were now walking onto the Hyde Road for our next pub.

Gorton

4: The Midland

A decent sized Bass tied house with a few different rooms inside. We had a drink in the bar which was decent enough. I had a drink of Bass which was a fine drink. Sadly I forgot to take a photo of this pub. Long gone, and a pity I did not take a photo of it (see Pubs of Manchester for a couple of images of the Midland).

After a short walk and going off the Hyde Road we found our next pub.

5: The Pineapple

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a large estate pub that looked like it was built in the early 1980s. The pub had two large rooms inside, and we had a drink in the bar which was quite smart and comfortable. The pub was a Hydes tied house so i was well pleased. I had a drink of Hydes Bitter which went down well. Sadly this pub is now closed down.

After a short walk along Garratt Way we found our next pub.

6: The Suburban

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a decent sized pub that looked like an early 1980s estate pub, but is in fact an original pub that has undergone external work. It was very handy for Gorton market and the shops nearby, but has since been almost swallowed by a Tesco. The pub had the usual two decent sized rooms, and I had a drink in the bar which was a decent room. The pub was a Lees tied house, and I had a drink of Lees Bitter which was decent enough. I think this pub is now closed, what a shame.

After a short walk along Garratt Way we found the junction with Wellington Street where we were told there were a couple more pubs to do. My mate was flagging by now so said he would miss a few pubs out and go in ones nearby and wait for me.

7: The Angel

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a Geeenhalls tied house with a couple of rooms. I had a drink in the main bar room which was decent enough. There were two real ales on, and I had a drink of Greenhalls Bitter which was bland but drinkable

8: Cotton Tree

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a decent looking town pub that had Websters signage outside. Once inside the pub had two rooms, and had a drink in a decent bar. There were no Websters beers on the the bar, but there was Wilsons Bitter on which was a decent drink.

9: Royal Oak

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This is a nice looking pub that is very close to the Cotton Tree but on the opposite side of the road. The pub was quite smart inside with a couple of rooms, and we had a drink in a very comfortable lounge. The pub was a Boddingtons tied house when we did it, and the Boddingtons Bitter went down well.

We were now heading back onto the Hyde Road to find some more pubs.

10: Vale Cottage

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a really nice looking pub that was situated just off the busy Hyde Road. Once inside the pub had a couple of rooms and had a proper pubby atmosphere to it. The pub was a Wilsons tied house when I did it with two real ales on. I had a drink of Wilsons Bitter which was a decent beer. This was a very nice pub to have a drink in.

We were going to walk down Hyde Road picking up any pubs along the road, and any that were close by on side streets if we were told where they were.

West Gorton

11: Coach & Horses

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a basic Robinsons tied house that was situated just off Hyde Road. Once inside the pub was very basic with a very basic bar and a lounge that was not much better. There were two real ales on, so I had a drink of Robinsons Bitter which went down well. This pub has now sadly been pulled down.

12: Victoria

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a decent looking stand alone pub that had Chesters signs outside, but in a red colour and not the usual green. The pub had a couple of rooms inside,i had a drink in a decent bar. This was a Whitbread tied house but still had Chesters Bitter and Mild on the bar. The Chesters Bitter was a decent drink. This pub has been pulled down with nothing on its site now, what a waste.

13: Travellers Call

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A very basic and small Hydes tied house set in a run down terrace of cafes and shops. Once inside the pub was quite small with a couple of small rooms. I had a drink in the bar which was pretty basic, though the Hydes bitter was a decent enough drink. This pub is still going.

14: The Aces

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This is the sort of pub I like doing - an estate pub that was in a pretty grotty area of West Gorton. Once inside the pub had the usual two room layout with a decent sized bar, where we had a drink, and a more comfortable lounge. To my surprise there were four real ales on the bar! I had a drink of Holts Bitter which went down very well, while there was also Wethered's Bitter, Boddingtons Bitter and Oldham Mild on the bar. This pub has also now closed down and been demolished, what a shame.

15: The Wellington

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a top notch estate pub situated in the middle of the grim West Gorton estate. What more could you ask for - a grim looking pub in an equally grim looking estate? The pub had the usual two room layout with a basic bar and more comfortable lounge. We had a drink in the bar which had a bit of a rough edge to it. The pub was a Bass tied house with no real ales on, so I had a drink of keg Worthington Bitter which was pretty poor. I was well pleased doing this pub, but it has now sadly closed down.

16: The Dolphin

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

The Dolphin was a decent enough stand alone pub that was very close to the now demolished Junction pub. Once inside the pub had a couple of small rooms. It was a Whitbread tied house with two real ales on the bar, and I had a drink of Castle Eden Bitter which was a very nice drink, while the other beer was Whitbread Trophy Bitter.

17: The Junction

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a really nice looking pub that had a nice green tiled frontage and it Chesters signage still in place. The pub was situated on the corner of Great Clowes Street and Hyde Road. It had a couple of decent rooms inside, and we had a drink in the bar which was a nice room. There were two real ales on, so I had a drink of Chesters Bitter which went down well, and the other beer was Chesters Mild. This pub has now been pulled down with nothing on its site, what a great shame.

18: Wellington Hotel

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This was a decent looking bare brick built pub that had a very large factory behind it. The pub still sported its old Chesters signage which I have always liked. Once inside the pub was fairly basic with a couple of rooms, and we had a drink in the bar room which was basic but we didn't mind it. There were no real ales on here, so I had a drink of keg Whitbread Chesters Mild which was not that bad. There was also keg Chesters Bitter on the bar.

We carried on walking down Hyde Road towards the city centre.

Ardwick

19: George & Dragon

(c) Photo taken by Alan Winfield

The George & Dragon was a stand alone pub that was situated on a very busy road just outside the city centre. This was a John Smiths tied house, and once inside the pub was quite smart and comfortable. There was a single room which was carpeted and had comfy bench seating. On the bar was one real ale on, John Smiths hand pumped Bitter, which was a nice drink to end our crawl on.

It was a short walk into the city centre and back to Chorlton Street bus station for the Trans Peak bus back to Nottingham and Derby. My work mate said he would not be doing any more pub crawls with me as he could not keep up with me.

I am not sure exactly how many of these pubs are still up and running, but I would have thought that most in West Gorton have now gone for good.

Next pub crawl will be a more recent one.