ONE PUB ONLY? Marble Arch CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND? It needs a bus or taxi after the Hare and Hounds, Smithfield and Marble Arch                                                                                                                                       SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT? Marble Arch  THE BEER ENGINE HAS CLOSED                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Crescent 18 - 20 The Crescent   Telephone 0161 7365600 G Iris Phillips   F Good quality home - cooked pub food 11.30 to 2.30 Mon, Wed Sat, 11.30 to 7 Tue, Thu, Fri   TV   O 11 to 11, 12 to 10,30 Sun Later licence applies here          The Crescent is my alternative to the town centre route and is included because so many have recommended it. It is one of those places that are hard to leave. During the week the Salford University intelligentsia create a thinking persons’ drinking - den. On evenings and weekends the real ale crew come and goes sampling an excellent range of rarer micro - brews. It is made up of four very different rooms all with special character. I liked the front bar where the country - style fireplace and photos catch the imagination. Football lovers were congregated in the left hand bar sat on sofas and enjoying a critical dissection of all things United. The whole pub has historic timber - framed rooms and has a feeling of a Beer Keller complete with European beers.  UPDATE:  The pub was packed every time I visited. Real ale festivals are held four times a year. BWV 12.3.05:  Blackwater Dragon Master, Enville Womaniser, Holden’s Black Country Mild,  Hydes Bitter, Jennings Golden Host, Mill St. Stargazer, Phoenix Thirsty Moon, Northern Soul Master, Rooster’s Special, Thatcher’s Scrumpy BWV 27.4.06:  Archers IKB,  Bazens’ Black Pig Mild,  Fugelstou Full Strength.  Hydes Bitter, St. George’s Bitter,  Marston Moor Purveyor General,  Milestone Olde Home Wrecker,  Rooster’s Special,  Rudgate Erik the Red,  Thatcher’s Scrumpy Hare and Hounds Shudehill  M4 4AA   Telephone 0161 8349088 G Anita Bowles F Sandwiches plus pickled eggs and onions   MP    TV   BM   P   D O 11 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun            The Hare and Hounds has national historical importance and a chance to get top quality Holts in great surroundings. The pub was described“as a mans’ pub” yet it will be a great place for the early evening pint before the cinema or in a place to chill out before a metro ride to the game. It is very much a regulars’ pub, it just happens they come from a wider area than usual. Mark of London enthuses as he says “the banter is always good humoured, the atmosphere congenial, and the beer is always spot on!” The many visitors marvel at the 1930’s refurbishment complete with tube station style tiling and glass screens. Pat reassuringly says “its not only City and United they support, it’s the game of football.” I would need to be convinced however, to join in the passion for eggs and pickles, either before or after a game. This is one of my award winning pubs for 2005 - 06. UPDATE:  Sky has gone but may return. The pub is essentially the same. Sing - along and folk epitomises the pubs character. BWV 12.3.05:   Holt Bitter,  Tetley's  Cask Bitter BWV 25.4.06:  Holt Bitter,  Tetley’s Cask Bitter Update: The Holts is excellent, even if the only brew now available. The pub is architecturally satisfying and well placed by the Arndale Centre and near Victoria Station. BWV 26/12/08: Always: Holt’s Bitter (only) Smithfield Hotel and Bar Swan St,  M4 5JZ   Telephone 0161 8394424 G Jennifer Poole   MP   SK   JB   P O 12 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun           This is a long narrow bar that manages to satisfy a wide range of real ale hunters. The landlady has a deservedly good reputation for quality ales that are different to the local norm. It will get crowded but seating soon becomes available as crawlers come and go. My visit was part of a footie away weekend and with cheap accommodation both here and in nearby guest houses you find that Manchester is a great location for a large number of teams. I would have liked to stay near here, in my case for a Rochdale away game. Places are often taken by real ale trekkers basing themselves in the Shudehill area. The great attraction is as always the choice of ever - changing guest ales and the warm, faintly old - fashioned, company you find here. UPDATE:  The local pool team continues to win all the local league tournaments. Marlene now manages the bar and the ales continue to shine. BWV 18.12.04 Robinson’s Dark Hatter, Fuller’s Jack Frost, Lodden Razzle Dazzle, Oakham Gravity, Chimera Winter Weasel, Phoenix Smithfield. BWV 25.4.06:  Coach House Squire’s Gold,  Durham Spring Goddess,  Gray’s England’s Glory,  Greenfield Pride of England,  Little Valley Tod’s Blonde,  Phoenix Smithfield Bitter,  Robinson’s Dark Hatters,  Wye Valley St. George’s Bitter From the Smithfield Swan Street becomes Great Ancoats Street leading all the way to the well-populated route to City of Manchester Stadium. BWV 26/12/08: Robinson’s Dark Hatter, Titanic Iceberg, Leeds Christ Almighty, 3 Rivers Crystal Wheat, Northern Doin’ Fine/Soul Legends, Durham Dynamite, Phoenix Humbug, Facer’s Smithfield       The Marble Arch 73 Rochdale Rd,  M4 4HY   Telephone 0161 8325914 G John Rogers   F Classic British cuisine, all home - cooked and locally sourced 12 to 7.30 Mon - Sat, 12 to 5.30 Sun   MP   JB   D O 11.30 to 11 Mon - Wed, 11.30 to 12 Thu - Sat, 12 to 10,30 Sun            The Marble Arch is the best home brewing pub in the Greater Manchester area and as a result is always popular at weekends and in the evening. You should never use the term classic to describe the pub, it is that and more, being staggeringly beautiful in its idiosyncratic style. That beauty owes much to chance discoveries of the original floor, wall friezes and ornate tiling, when this 1880’s pub was renovated one hundred years on. Whether looking up from your beer to the heavens above, or rolling up to the bar to sample the excellent Marble range of ales; every time you will notice something new. The pub has one long single bar plus a rear non - smoking space that has a view of the brewery store. The rear room is often the place that has to be used because it gets so busy. For a more relaxing visit try it on a mid afternoon session when the posties and office workers begin their post work relaxation exercises. Man City fans suggest that is busy 20 minutes to the ground by pre - ordered taxi. The pub is already a destination point for CAMRA crawlers. I have made this my final point of call whenever visiting the Shudehill district. John has been in charge for the last year and the pub gets even better. It is very much a great pub that does good food. It would be my choice for a bar meal before the game BWV 25.4.06:  Archers Spirit of St. George,  Greene King IPA,  Marble GSB, Lagonda IPA,  Manchester Bitter, Roadrider, The Ginger Marble, Uncut Amber Ale,  Titanic English Flag,  Thatcher’s Cheddar Valley Cider NORTH MANCHESTER CAMRA CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM