Enough of Wales. I’m back there next week, with the UK’s top pub ticker (no, not him), so expect more tales of plant watering in, ooh, August.
Next up is a place you may have heard of.
Yes, back to Manchester with Mrs RM and Matthew for a family shopping and gig weekend, if you can believe it.
Scarcely less believably, the decent Ibis budget in Ancoats was £50 for the three of us including breakfast. Half the guests were Spanish students, the other half were truck drivers from Kent.
I’m still attracted to the idea of living in Ancoats, though I doubt my octogenarian parents would feel the same about moving there from Waterbeach.
I can’t think of a worse way to spend a day in Manchester than slogging round shops like Uniqlo and Gap, but it seems that’s a precondition for Mrs RM letting me sod off on my own each week while she slogs away on IT jobs.
Anyway, loads to enjoy in the Best City In The World*, though sometimes I think it’s only me who appreciates the charms of Back Piccadilly.
One thing you notice these days is just how many European football teams have left their mark on Manchester lamp posts.
And I’m sure Mark Crilley would be more impressed with the street art than my family of philistines.
I wasn’t feeling up for a big session in town, and I couldn’t be bothered to take the train to Chorley for a tick.
But I did fancy a bit of murky craft at Track.
I’ve enjoyed Track beers, particularly the Sonoma, even if I don’t like Brewery Taps that much.
The best thing about the Track Tap is finding it. Perhaps the best advice I can give is head towards the redlight district and turn left before you get to the Cloudwater Tap (I’m not joking).
I’ve marked it on the map for you, under codename Malgras Naudet.
Knock three times, check that you’ve brought your credit card, and run up the four flights of stairs.
DON’T attempt to enter via this entrance.
If you see this, you’ve made it.
Here we go. It’s not the Circus Tavern, is it ?
But I like it.
The views are great,
the staff are really lovely,
and the beer is great (£2.50 for two-thirds).
A bit quiet, but it’s early Sunday evening. Two blokes play board games without a trace of irony.
Even better, there’s a soundtrack of the Jesus & Mary Chain and Orange Juice for the edgier ’80s popster, and Cannonball for the 90s variant.
You know Cannonball, surely ?
Not too many Sonomas before you descend the stairs though.
*Just accept it, Coldwell
retiredmartin 
You’re quite bold, really, aren’t you Martin?
This American import is surely what’s finishing pubs now though. It’s becoming endemic. I’d say it’s worse than the smoking ban. You can’t blame the EU for it either.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48635289
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good thing Nige got out, then 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, he found it easier bumming money off Arron Banks, rather than actually working for a living!
LikeLike
If he really were such a libertarian, then you’d think that he might speak up for the rights of his old workmates, wouldn’t you, Paul?
Strikes me that like Fox, Johnson, and the whole sorry shower, he’s in fact another US supremacist, who gives sweet Fanny Adams for the people of this country.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“a precondition” don’t push it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
“A precondition for Mrs RM letting me sod off on my own each week while she slogs away on IT jobs.”
You’re a lucky fella, Martin. I wouldn’t dare ask such a favour from Mrs PBT’s, tempted though I am!
LikeLike
Prenuptial agreements have their merits.
That’s a joke.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Prenuptial agreements have their metits.”
Still trying to figure out that last word. 🙂
LikeLike
Freudian slip.
LikeLike
Manchester is bigger than Leeds right? Only RC has almost convinced me that actual Manchester is only the size of Bury
LikeLike
“if you can believe it”‘
From you, I’d believe anything dear boy.
” the other half were truck drivers from Kent.”
Who were how the Spanish students got there?
“but it seems that’s a precondition for Mrs RM letting me sod off on my own each week while she slogs away on IT jobs.”
LOL. I think many of us reading that can commiserate. 🙂
“Café Marhaba, up there with This & That”
Love how they have to emphasise ‘no parking’ with the double yellow lines. 🙂
“Dutch and beer, must be John Clarke”
BREDA? Is that Manc for BRAPA?
“It’s up there”
And that colourful window shade blends right in with the redlight district.
“If you see this, you’ve made it.”
If you see it exactly as that photo implies it most likely means you’ve had enough beer.
“I can see a tram !”
And I see a red lorry!
“Is it real ale ? Who cares.”
Wales really got to you dinnit?
“Not too many Sonomas before you descend the stairs though.”
Unless you’re BRAPA. 😉
Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
> From the top floor you can see Stretford
That’ll be the Stretford End, the capital of football in the North West ?
LikeLike
> …”Perhaps the best advice I can give is head towards the redlight district and turn left before you get to the Cloudwater Tap (I’m not joking)”.
Do you mean “Hand Job Alley” ? Search for it on Google :-
https://www.digitalspy.com/fun/a465335/manchesters-temperance-street-renamed-hand-job-alley-on-google-maps/
Other articles are available too, such as one in the Huffington Post, but with URLs to long to post here.
LikeLike
Er, thanks.
LikeLike
That wasn’t me, just to be clear. 😉
That being said, should we them know they can use TinyURL to make long URLs short enough to post? 😛
LikeLike