Great pubs all share a few key ingredients that make them a town or city’s favourite drinking den. A good selection of pints, an atmosphere that represents its community and maybe even a 300-year historical timeline of surviving world wars, terror attacks and a complete rebuild from the foundations up… Oh wait, that might just be the one pub.
Now, if you’re a fan of boozers with old-school traditional values and a complex history, Sinclair’s Oyster Bar is the time capsule of a watering hole for you. Tracing its roots back to 1720, this Grade II listed building was a Tudor institution, and it’s fair to say it has stood the test of time.
The half-timber structure has had its fair share of career changes over Manchester’s evolving generations. Nowadays we pop in for a pint, your great-grandfather might have got his cuffs altered and his great-grandfather would have picked up his pork chops for tea – straight off the pig.
Alongside The Old Wellington Inn next door, this area was known as ‘Shambles Square’, originally used as a middle-aged butcher shop where live animals were slaughtered and sold on the spot, pretty grim.
It later became a drapers shop selling fabrics for local tailors, but you’d do well to find a fitted suit in here these days and the closest you’d come is the Arndale over the road – which funnily enough is where the pair of pubs both used to stand.
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As an industrial hub, this part of Manchester was heavily targeted by German bombing in WWII, and in 1941 weathered over 450 tonnes of bombs over two days during the ‘Christmas Blitz’ creating one of the biggest mass blazes the country has seen since The Great Fire of London in 1666. 272 tonnes of bombs were dropped on the first night and 195 the following evening making Manchester the 11th most targeted area in Britain. But it would take more than the Luftwaffe to bring Sinclair’s Oyster Bar to the ground.
Sinclair’s Oyster Bar in Manchester has a fascinating 300-year-old history. Credit: The Manc GroupSinclair’s Oyster Bar is full of history. Credit: The Manc GroupSinclair’s stairs – which would have previously been in situ across town. Credit: The Manc Group
The area around it was eventually rebuilt in the 70s and is covered by modern buildings we see today, but the tale of survival added another storyline just before the turn of the century. In 1996, the buildings survived a 3000-pound IRA bomb that tore through nearby Corporation Street. With it formally being nestled amongst thick concrete buildings and its ‘built to last’ foundations, the historic little plot only succumbed to minimal damage.
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This close call resulted in Sinclair’s and the Old Wellington needing a new permanent home. It doesn’t sound like the easiest feat to move a group of 300-year-old buildings a stone’s throw across a bustling city centre but when it’s worth it – it is worth it.
The plan was proposed by civil engineer Martin Stockley and architect Ian Simpson to raise the buildings on 15-foot stilts, move them 300 meters and angle them 180 degrees to form the new square in the shadow of Manchester Cathedral.
To add a little bit of necessary complexity to the manoeuvre, the 18th-century structures had to be dismantled into over 10,000 separate parts before being photographed, labelled and meticulously reassembled over a painstaking 11-month period. It sounds like a really tedious LEGO set but for industry professionals, just imagine the feeling of putting that last piece in.
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These days Sinclair’s Oyster Bar is a ‘Digital Detox’ pub where phones aren’t allowed. Credit: The Manc GroupSinclair’s Oyster Bar still does a VERY cheap pint for Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Sinclair’s and The Old Wellington have slotted in nicely in the modern day with their distinctive architecture cutting through the monotony of the glass and sandstone surroundings.
Now, the architecture is all well and good but setting foot inside these days we’re here for the pints. This Sam Smiths pub serves up a humble selection of beers and stouts at the best prices. You won’t find a Stella Artois, a Madri or some Jungle Juice Pale IPA in here, just traditional British-brewed lager.
It boasts one of the cheapest beers in town at around £3.50 with one of the best beer gardens about – which is frequented by football fans, first-time visitors and locals alike.
The boozers uphold the values of old with its proud ‘digital detox’ slogan encouraging its inhabitants to keep their phones in their pockets and have a chin wag over a Taddy Lager and a pack of dry roasted nuts.
Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Could the reaction to Casemiro’s swansong Man United season see him stay ‘one more year’?
Danny Jones
Casemiro has arguably been up there with one of the best Manchester United signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, after the likes of Bruno Fernandes; maybe not in terms of how it’s impacted the wider transfer budget, but now he’s about to leave, most supporters aren’t ready to let him go.
Truly, if they had their way, many would happily keep him for at least “one more year”, as they continuously chanted during the most recent home game.
However, with the footballing veteran himself admitting that he’s been left moved by the response and certainly basked in the chants for him to stay following the win over Aston Villa last weekend, another one in which he chipped in with a key goal.
Casemiro scored the opener in what went on to be a vital 3-1 win in their pursuit of Champions League places, and has made it clear that, like the rest of the squad, this is his only goal for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.
But with United now looking closer to securing third or perhaps even chasing down second place, according to many (some have even gone further than that…), this current, albeit still early doors, resurgence under Michael Carrick could be the start of a corner turned for the one serial winners.
However, fans have seen many false dawns at Old Trafford over the past decade or so, and there is obviously the risk of him ultimately spoiling what should now be a fine and fitting farewell.
Then again, after speaking in a recent interview with Sky Sports, the 34-year-old said it’s been “way more” special than he was expecting since he revealed his plans to leave on a high, and stranger things have happened.
You only have to look at Mohammed Salah and Liverpool, who looked all set to go before eventually U-turning and signing a new deal – though contract terms no doubt helped swing those negotiations.
As one of the highest-earning players not just at Man United or even the Premier League but in Europe, he’s already earned serious amounts during his time with the Red Devils, so there is a belief that the incumbent INEOS board would be happy to shift him off the books and reinvest in replacing him.
#mufc are in advanced talks to sign Bruno Guimaraes for around €80m, but renewed interest from Real Madrid threatens to complicate the proposed move [@Reuters, @fernandokallas]
The likes of Guimaraes, previously courted Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Wolves duo André and Joao Gomes have all been linked with possible moves to Manchester of late.
In fact, depending on how much room Jim Ratcliffe and co. have for spending on recruitment, they could potentially even cover the wages of more than one signing in the middle of the park or other positions that they feel may require further reinforcements.
All this is still very much in theory, of course, and while Casemiro has seemingly confirmed that he will depart this summer, who knows how much of the recent reaction and outpouring of love and support from the Stretford End and beyond could potentially sway the outcome?…
Then again, do you think reconsidering the decision would be a wise move, or at his age, is four years in the English top flight enough?
Harry Quick -
23rd August 2024 
