Pubs of Manchester

All pubs within the city centre and beyond.
A history of Manchester's hundreds of lost pubs.

Tuesday 4 May 2010

069. Jolly Angler, Ducie Street


Jolly Angler, Ducie Street. (c) garstonian at flickr.

Located a few hundred yards due north of Piccadilly Station, hidden well away on the corner of Ducie Street and Pigeon Street, is a little gem of a pub that most people don't even know exists. Packed most nights, this is mainly due to it being about 40 square foot, but don't let this put you off as its worth searching out for a pint or two. A Hydes pub that is one of Manchester's few surviving old beerhouses, with a landlord that has also been there since the year dot, it's a friendly little place.

Sheila, Jolly Angler. (c) North Manchester CAMRA.

When arriving though, it can sometimes appear closed, so try the door, it's usually open, though they aren't keen on big groups arriving, for obvious reasons. The Angler is described as an Irish pub elsewhere, but just because the landlord and lady are of the Emerald Isle, doesn't make it so. Popular with City fans on match day as it's en route to Eastlands from Piccadilly Station, but displays plenty of United memorabilia too. Well worth a stop off for a slice of old Manchester.

Jolly Angler, Ducie Street. (c) Tony Worrall Foto at flickr.


On the 1849 map the Jolly Angler didn't exist; instead on this corner of what was then Mather Street and Pidgeon (sic) Street was the Mather Street School (Independent Sunday), adjoining the Good Samaritans Total Abstinence Hall [1].  I wonder how many boozers in the Angler realise they are drinking on such righteous grounds?

1. Manchester (Piccadilly) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

4 comments:

  1. A Manchester classic. Really is last of the old school boozers in town. Popular with the Blues but I can forgive that as their heart is Red to the core.

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  2. More open plan than when I first went in.
    I the mid 80s it was seperate rooms, one with a pool table with only enough space to siddle round and cut off pool cues as you could only use full size ones if the shot was coming in from the corridor.
    Old juke box that gave a reassuring thud as you watched through the glass dome as the 7inch vinyl slam down

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  3. Anyone else remember "Dave" the notoriously pissed landlord of the JL about 1980?

    It was a favorite boozer of my student days. A favorite memory is odd being in early on a Friday summers evening. Cloudless skies outside, and most of the regulars sitting out enjoying the warmth.

    Then the heavens opened. At which point Dave found it hilarious to lock the doors..!

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