Pubs of Manchester: 005. Crown & Kettle, Oldham Road

Crown & Kettle, Oldham Road, 2010. (c) Pubs of Manchester.

The Crown & Kettle is a huge, imposing public house sat on the junction of Great Ancoats Street and Oldham Road near to the old glass-fronted Express Buildings.

Crown & Kettle, Oldham Road, 2010. (c) Pubs of Manchester.

A pub has stood at this location since 1734 (previously as the Iron Dish & Cob of Coal [1]) but it closed down in 1989 following trouble between Manchester City and United fans. The pub remained closed for 16 years and suffered from vandals and at least one fire. The photo below shows it as a Wilsons house, presumably, shortly after it shut - note the three entrances, two on Great Ancoats and one on Oldham Street.

Crown & Kettle, Oldham Road, 1991. (c) deltrems at flickr.

Here's an older image from the Archive and here are the public toilets which used to be in front of the pub. Note the long-gone monument which may be the "New Cross" which gives this part of town its (under-used) name. Below the Crown & Kettle looks a sorry sight prior to restoration:

Crown & Kettle, Great Ancoats Street, closed. (c) Aidan O'Rourke.

Following a restoration and lots of hard work on behalf of the new owners the pub re-opened in about 2005 and set itself out to be a new cool type of real ale place, they usually have at least five different real ales on, and all are kept in excellent condition by the friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Crown & Kettle, Great Ancoats Street. (c) Manchester Pub Surveys [2].

The original pub was a large open premises with an imposing bar in the centre, but this has now been replaced with three different rooms (two best rooms and a small vault). The original ceilings are still in evidence, at the behest of English Heritage, which is a nice touch.

Crown & Kettle, Oldham Road, 2010. (c) Pubs of Manchester.

All sporting events are usually shown here and it gets a good mixed crowd in most days. Well situated for Eastlands, it can be popular with football fans on a Saturday heading to the match at City. Live music is provided on a Fridays by way of a jazz night.

Crown & Kettle, Great Ancoats Street. (c) Manchester Confidential.

Due to its location next to the Express Buildings, the Crown & Kettle was popular with journalists and print workers, along with the many other pubs along Great Ancoats Street, most of which are now gone. In The Other Fleet Street, it is mentioned that the Daily Express photographer, Jack Kay, had a pet duck which he took to the Crown & Kettle; a pint for himself and an ashtray of water for the duck [3].