Old Pubs of Manchester

So we old ladies [cough][cough] went on a pub crawl through some of the older pubs in downtown Manchester. (Funny how that happens when old friends get together.) Many are listed. That means they are old, rare, have aesthetic merits, or are of national interest. A listed building may not be demolished, extended, or altered without permission.

During the industrial revolution when Manchester's population increased tenfold and became more affluent, pubs sprang up everywhere.

The first two photos are of Peveril of the Peak which has been serving Manchester for 300 years. It even has its own ghost! I was told I had to try the Guinness here.

My friend often led me through one door and out another, through passages, and down twisty staircases like this one, below.

Before we go too far, I want to explain the difference between a pub and a bar. In Canada, we have bars, maybe clubs. You usually go in the evening, maybe dressed up, the music is loud, and the crowd is younger. We also have sports bars full of TV sets tuned into whatever event is on. There is the occasional neighbourhood bar where regulars hang out but nothing like what I found in Manchester. These places have the ambiance of someone's shabby chic living room and they are everywhere. They're populated with mostly locals of all ages, who if they aren't your friends, they could be by the end of the evening. While the street might be empty, the pubs were often packed. It's a whole different atmosphere and nice.

Okay, it seems we're going out the front of this one, I said to myself on the way by.

Below, we had started near here, earlier. The Manchester Cathedral is through that passage on the left.

We had to visit this little pub just long enough to check it out. It says, "The smallest bar in Europe, the biggest welcome in the world." I don't know how they crammed everyone in there.