For all that's disappointing with the White Lion, the opposite can be said of The Ox. Formerly the Oxnoble ale house, this old pub was named after a popular Victorian-era potato. The barrow boys, known as Oxnoble men, unloaded spuds and other veg from the nearby Potato Wharf and supped in the Oxnoble [1]. Although these days their website erroneously suggests the simpler tale of it being named after an ox.
Seen here in 1910, the Oxnoble was a Chesters house for several decades as seen in 1959, 1970, 1972 and 1984. Whilst possibly a little too "foody" these days, the pub has a nice charming ambience about it and the beer was on top form - Skipton's Copper Dragon Black Gold, a cross bewteen dark mild and stout, superb stuff. Couple this with plenty of pictures on the wall of historical Manchester, a small beer garden out front for the smokers and good quality efficient staff, this pub ticks all the right boxes.
The Ox, Liverpool Street. (c) spottedbylocals.
I have to say the food also looked stunningly presented and whilst not the cheapest, it looks the sort of place you would happily pay a bit more for excellence. Certainly compared with up the road, it's elegance personified. The Ox is certainly one to look up for the eaters and nice for an occasional drink. Worth walking a bit further for, although there is little after this, so I'd make it the start or end of your evening if I were you.
The Ox, Liverpool Street. (c) spottedbylocals.
I have to say the food also looked stunningly presented and whilst not the cheapest, it looks the sort of place you would happily pay a bit more for excellence. Certainly compared with up the road, it's elegance personified. The Ox is certainly one to look up for the eaters and nice for an occasional drink. Worth walking a bit further for, although there is little after this, so I'd make it the start or end of your evening if I were you.
Website: www.theox.co.uk
My father acquired our dog, a Jack Russell terrier from the then landlord in 1978. It was a flatulent beast and no lover of window cleaners; the dog was a character, too. I've been in the pub recently and it is as soul-less as all the others around Castlefield. Sad that. It was a proper boozer back in the day.
ReplyDeleteMy Granddad Harold was landlord of the Oxnoble after the war up to 1960 ish. Very much a working mans pub back then.
ReplyDeletehi i was born on bridgewater street at back of the ox. around 1964 i was six and played with a girl who lived at the ox as we were around same age then. my dad played the piano in the ox then after he came home from the navy. and me mam worked at pototo wharf by the canal. what i wanted to know is who was the girl and what was her name.
ReplyDeletesorry i ment to say there was an old croft with an old black car with no wheels with running bourds on the side with old ripped leather seats. definatly at the rear of the oxnoble pub around 1964. i was born 1958.
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