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.
One of the biggest and best new beer gardens in Manchester drops just in time for the World Cup
Danny Jones
You heard us right: what could very well be Manchester’s favourite new beer garden has just landed over in St John’s, and all can envision is non-stop sun, suds and sporting action all summer long.
This, my friends, is ‘The Green’.
Capturing a kind of mix between the simple combo of wide open space, booze and hopefully sun on the Stevenson Square we all know and love, with a bit of the Boxpark fanfare that will make it perfect come World Cup, we’re big fans of what they’ve put together here.
It’s also worth noting that this place is significantly bigger than you’ll find in most corners of central Manchester, complete with plenty of room to perch, from the rows of deckchairs to even tiered step seating that runs along the edge.
There’s new artificial turf laid down, complete with fresh wooden borders, lamp lighting, big benches perfect for squeezing plenty of mates on each side, as well as a decent number of small parasols. There are even QR codes to save time ordering at the bar.
Speaking of, the bar is already full up and running with a very solid lineup of summery drinks, for beers and fruity ciders to Aperol and plenty more. You are paying the expected St John’s prices, but when the rays hit just right, the footy’s on and you’re with your mates, you won’t hear us complaining.
Not just batch stuff being proud from the tap either – they’ve got cocktails, creative twists on frozen margs and lots of other stuff still in the pipeline.
But understandably, the instant start of the show is that large screen, which has already got us dreaming of the World Cup and tournament season year in year out, for that matter. And when we say large, we really mean it…
Just picture the scenes…
The lawn itself is plenty long, and the massive monitor is high up enough on the old studio wall that not a single soul will be missing a second of that action.
Be it the footy, Wimbledon, F1, rugby – whatever the discipline happens to be, we can’t wait to find any excuse to watch it all here (weather permitting). Only a short distance from Deansgate, Spinningfields, Castlefield and more, we feel like this spot is about to blow up.
You’ll also be glad to know that while you can’t take food and drink from other venues around the beer garden itself, they’ve got a food lineup all of their own coming very soon, centring around Manchester locals and regional indies. That’s what we like to hear.
It’s just what that Grape Street area needed, and regardless of whatever potential seasonal shifts it might need to make, we hope it stays here for a very long time. Good vibes all-round.
Inside the lavish Grade II-listed Cheshire mansion on the market for an eye-watering £7.5m
Emily Sergeant
A lavish Grade II-listed Georgian mansion surrounded by Cheshire countryside views is currently on the market for an eye-watering £7.5 million.
Again, we know this one is a little off patch for us – but it’s such a grand property, we couldn’t not share it with you all.
Before we get carried away though, it goes without saying that the vast majority of us won’t have the money to buy this house just sitting in our bank accounts, but if like us, you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.
This is Stretton Hall, and it’s described by estate agents as being ‘genuinely is one of the great representations of Cheshire‘s heritage’.
This is Stretton Hall / Credit: Dee Distinct Estate Agents
Found in the picturesque village of Stretton – which benefits from being close to both the amenities on offer in the neighbouring towns and cities of Malpas, Chester and even Wrexham, and stunning surrounding countryside, as well as good local schools and easy-access to motorway links across the North West and beyond – Stretton Hall is one of those properties truly deserving of its Grade II-listed recognition.
“Take just two steps through the front door and you can’t help but be impressed by the fact this is one of the warmest and most welcoming homes on the market right now,” estate agents declared.
Approached via a sweeping driveway and surrounded by mature grounds, this ‘distinguished’ eight-bedroom home is an exceptional country residence that combines historic character with refined modern living.
It’s a lavish Grade II-listed Cheshire mansion on the market for an eye-watering £7.5m / Credit: Dee Distinct Estate Agents
The property is packed with elegant period architecture around every corner.
Think beautifully proportioned rooms, high ceilings, exposed beams, original fireplaces, detailed joinery, and an abundance of natural light throughout, all to create a home that’s described as being both ‘timeless’ and ‘comfortable’.
At the heart of the house lies a generous kitchen and family space, as well as several reception rooms that are ideal for entertaining, while upstairs you’ll find multiple bedrooms and bathrooms arranged to suit both family living and guest hosting.
It’s set amongst regal grounds and surrounded by countryside views / Credit: Dee Distinct Estate Agents
The property is just as impressive – arguably even more so – once you step outside, as it is on the inside.
Externally, the property boasts well-maintained gardens, lawns, and outdoor entertaining areas, all enjoying far-reaching rural views towards the Welsh Hills, as well as there being established equestrian facilities on site too.
There are also a number of additional outbuildings on the land, which provide excellent potential for future refurbishment.
Stretton Hall is currently on the market for £7.5 million with West Kirkby-based estate agents, Dee Distinct, and if you’re keen to take a look around for yourself, then get in touch. Otherwise, you can just have a look around on Rightmove instead here.
Harry Quick -
23rd August 2024 
