068. Wellington, Cathedral Gates

Wellington, Cathedral Gates, 2010. (c) Pubs of Manchester.

Similar to Sinclair's, in that the premises at the previous Shambles were taken apart brick by brick, and rebuilt 100 yards down from the original location but this time on a right angle to Sinclair's rather than directly adjoining. This has lead to a drinkers courtyard being formed, though this is enclosed and patrolled by bouncers at the front entrance.

The good, the bad and the ugly (in any order), 2010. (c) Pubs of Manchester.

The pub again tried to reinvent itself as a restaurant, but I'm pretty sure its given up on this idea other than on weekday dinner times when they get the office and shoppers trade still. One plus point for them, they do actually have real ale on, but its served far too cold and in plastic squashy pint pots at the weekend, so it ain't all that. Shame in respect of both pubs really. However, during the week the Welly serves in pint pots and occasionally the dimpled variety.

Wellington, Shambles Square, 1989. (c) markamis.

The building itself has existed since 1552, owned by the famed Byrons as a dwelling and drapers shop, and is often claimed to be the oldest building in Manchester (though I doubt this as the nearby Chetham's College and Hanging Bridge are surely older). The building wasn't actually licensed until 1830 as the Vintners Arms then Kenyon Vaults. By 1865 the Wellington occupied the ground floor and firstly a mathematical instrument makers then 'Ye Old Fyshing Tackle Shoppe' were on the first and second floors, as seen in the pile of old photos on the Image Archive.

Wellington, Old Shambles. (c) F. Greenwood, courtesy of David Pryer [1].

In 1974 the buildling of the Arndale Centre meant that Market Square had to be flatted so, rather impressively, the Old Shambles pubs were raised and moved to Shambles Square, side by side as shown below, with the pub a Bass house for a time. Then the IRA's 1996 bomb necessitated the move to where the Wellington is today.

1. F. Greenwood in The Story of the Old Wellington Inn, Cornbrook Brewery, 1950.