retiredmartin

January 2025. Manchester.

Wednesday brings a train from Rye to Ashford, and then to St Pancras (no pub stop), on to Sheffield (where the boiler has frozen), and off to Manchester for City v Brighton, whose fans have had a similar journey.

I’m also here for an overdue cut from Matt in Chinatown’s Helvete, during which my youngest son outlines his exciting travel plans for 2026. Edinburgh, Rome, Geese in Cologne; I’m jealous.

Emma joins us to say hello.

“Are we going for a pint Dad ?“. What was I just saying about the social role of pubs ?

“I’m having a day off beer Matt. Coffee ?“. Matt’s anguish is palpable.

We agree I’ll have a non-alcoholic beer in the bran’ new Head of Steam on Dale Street, in what used to be Cottonopolis.

It’s notable that a smart modern restaurant is replaced by a wet-led pub (there is a burger pop-up but I didn’t notice it). It’s on the walking route from Northern Quarter to the Etihad, so should get a fair bit of passing trade,

and City fans like their cask, so the Vocation Porter seemed a good bet.

Hey ! What happened to the non-alcoholic beer ?

One of you can work out what my pint of cask cost. With pints of Jubel and Brugse Zot Matt paid £17.85. It’s no wonder he can’t believe the prices in Sheffield.

Has much really changed since Head of Steam launched in 1995 ? Brugse Zot, Cameron Strongarm, “How Soon Is Now” by The Smiths, a lack of comfortable seating…

But that Victorian Porter is gorgeous, rich and chewy (NBSS 4). Head of Steam aren’t my favourite pub chain, but the staff are great and the cask is consistently good.