A Manchester boozer famed amongst locals for being the smallest pub in the city has rebranded itself as a ‘husband creche’.
The Circus Tavern on Portland Street – for years emblazoned with the tagline ‘Europe’s smallest bar’ – has taken on a new identity of late.
The bar, first established as a boozer in 1840, is still tiny inside with room for just 18 punters at once.
But the chances are, from now on the majority of drinkers in there will be lonely husbands abandoned ‘under supervision’.
New signs erected outside have begun advertising the minuscule pub as a dedicated ‘husband day care centre,’ with a bright red A-board placed on the street asking passers-by: “Need time to yourself?
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“Need time to relax? Need time to go shopping?
“Leave your husband with us! We look after him for you! You only pay for his drinks!”
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Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
The Grade II listed Great British Tetley pub is one of the city’s quirkiest and most famous, thanks to its tiny two-room layout and record as one of Manchester’s oldest pubs.
Its small quadrant bar at the front manages to serve lager, cider, and John Smiths Smooth, along with one handpump serving Tetley’s Cask, whilst the pub itself is something of a time capsule – with its walls covered in memorabilia and local history.
Owners collect historical images to show how the city has evolved around the Circus Tavern over the years, with a collection dating from the 1800s of Picadilly Gardens.
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Further images show Manchester Library in its construction, as well as how Market Street, Manchester Docks, Manchester Canal system, The Apollo, Didsbury Train station, Stockport Bridge, and Portland Street have over the past 200-odd years.
In the back room, meanwhile, the history continues – this time dedicated to football, making it very popular with tourists and bored husbands alike.
Its hallway is decorated with dozens of sporting photos and paraphernalia including photos of famous Manchester United footballers such as George Best, who was a regular at one time.
Popular with football and rugby fans alike, who quickly fill the pub before matches, we think any lonely husband should be well at home here.
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As the owners say, they’ll look after him well for you. All they ask in return is that you ‘pay for his drinks.’
Featured image – The Manc Eats
Eats
New pie shop with Indian-inspired fillings opens at Greater Manchester train station
Emily Sergeant
At long last, Patel’s Pies – the proper pie shop with Indian-inspired fillings – has got its very own site, and we couldn’t be happier about it.
The business is already a familiar name (to the blue half of the city, of course) thanks to its matchday spot outside the Etihad Stadium, but now, Patel’s Pies will be serving its delicious savoury bakes to the people of the Heatons too – with its brand-new pie shop now opene at Heaton Chapel train station.
Here you’ll find their legendary curry pies with homemade pastry – filled with the likes of keema, butter chicken, and beef madras.
You can grab hot and cold pies to take away, all setting you back an affordable £5.95 each.
Patel’s Pies is now open at Heaton Chapel train station / Credit: The Manc Group
From 11am-2pm, you can also get your hands on the lunch deal, which is any pie, masala mash, spiced mushy peas, and gunpowder gravy.
Patel’s Pies has teamed up with Manc legends Gooey, so you can grab the bakery’s famous cookies and doughnuts here too.
There’ll also be local beers and canned drinks up for grabs.
All pies will set you back an affordable £5.95 each / Credit: The Manc Group
Inside, the shop keeps things traditional, complete with classic pie warmers on the counter and hand-painted signage by Cactus Sign Painting, giving the space the feel of a proper old-school pie shop with a modern twist.
Announcing the new venture, Steve, the owner of Patel’s Pies has said: “We’d love for you to come down, say hello, and support our new venture. It’s our very first day, so please bear with us as we get settled in, we can’t wait to serve you all.”
Patel’s Pies is open now at Heaton Chapel Train Station on Tatton Road South.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Eats
Trendy Ancoats wine bar Blossom Street Social to close after six years
Emily Sergeant
Trendy neighbourhood wine bar Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after nearly seven years serving the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social first opened its doors back in 2019, just months before the country – and the res of the world – was plunged into the COVID-19 lockdowns, but despite all the challenges during the early days, this wine bar went on to become a true staple of Ancoats life – hosting events, exhibitions, wine tastings, and everything in between.
But now, the owners have had to make the heartbreaking decision to close, saying they’ve ‘danced our last dance, played our last record, and poured our last glass of wine in Ancoats.’
Announcing the news in a statement to social media this week, Blossom Street Social said: “Blossom Street Social closes its doors after six and a half years at the heart of the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after six years / Credit: The Manc Group
“When we opened in 2019, just months before the world changed forever, we couldn’t possibly have imagined the journey ahead. Through lockdowns, uncertainty and everything that followed, we somehow managed to build something that became far more than a wine bar.
“Wine was always at the heart of what we did, but so were the conversations, the music, the art and the community that grew around it.
“We’ve hosted tastings, exhibitions, launches, celebrations, social sessions and countless memorable nights. We’ve introduced people to wines they’d never tried before, watched friendships form and shared in some truly special moments.
“We’ve watched first dates become engagements, engagements become marriages, and couples return with babies in tow. We’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, new homes and countless milestones alongside you. We’ve shared conversations, laughter, music and moments that mattered from our little corner of Ancoats. We will never forget them.”
The team then went on to thank ‘every customer, artist, DJ, supplier, collaborator and friend’ who became part of their story.
The owners also gave a special thank you to the staff members who stayed ‘to the very end’ and ‘showed up when it was hard’, admitting that they couldn’t have done it without them all.
Georgina Pellant -
5th July 2023 
