January 2026. Manchester.
A “dry” night in Manchester isn’t complete without a second pint on the way to the match, Port Street Beer House getting its annual visit on the basis you can see it from the Head of Steam.
I really should like PSBH more; it’s quirky, friendly, encourages a mixed crowd,
and the Cruffatin from Pomona is a chewy NBSS 4. I’m not actually allowed to say this (as I told lovely reader/top guy Kev on the journey back to Sheff, I like ALL beer), but it’s not quite to my taste. Should have had the Kernel.
Proper Old Skool bitter, mind, and makes a change from pale/murk/sours.
And a thoroughly modern pub, particularly upstairs where the City fans and card players congregate.
I really should visit when there’s a spare table though, the seating options always disappoint.
Suddenly famished, I make a rare pre-game stop at Tony’s Chippy, where the tiling is as good as any Black Country pub,
and the steak and kidney pudding (not pie) takes this into NP&CSS 4.5 territory. Made up for a poor draw with the Seagulls, who would have nicked those chips in Brighton.
It’s just a shame City can’t provide heated seating areas along Beswick Street to enjoy your chips and gravy before a match. What’s the point of all that oil money ?
retiredmartin 
One of my favourite Manchester places, disappointed in no Janet jokes but I guess you’re above that sort of thing. 😁
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Janet Street Port(er) ?
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That was me by the way, logged in to like then suddenly became anonymous to comment?
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Don’t ask me technical questions Mick !
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Sometimes anonymous, never irrelevant !
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Puddings are always better than pies.
Talking of which, why is the US – Trump, that is – so scared of the Chinese?
Here in blighty things are different. We’ve got sticky toffee pudding, spotted dick, rhubarb crumble, treacle sponge, bakewell pudding, jam roly-poly, and more. What have they got? Banana fritters, and from a country of over a billion too.
They’re just no match.
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There’s also pineapple fritters.
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And chocolate concrete with green custard if you are lucky.
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And if the staff can say it.
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That sounds like a primary school memory, Lana !
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So you didn’t walk down Every Street in Manchester between the pub and the ground? ☺️
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Too many Dire Straits references, Matthew !
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My grandad’s family lived just off Every Street and my dad worked as a bus conductor on a route along it in the sixties. I never tire of telling that joke, as my younger relatives will confirm!
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Very enjoyable tiling indeed. Franc and I walked by the Wythall chippy recently and pondered if people who live very near to chippys eat more of the stuff, or whether they just get tired of the aroma and novelty.
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Ha, that’s a really interesting question!
When I visit my Dad in Cambridge I stay in a house next to the bright lights of a great Chinese takeaway. It’s the lights, rather than the smell, that’s hard to resist.
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I wonder what the psychology is there ..
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