Although yet another of Manchester's lost pubs, the Boatman's Home was only built in 1973 as a Tetley Walker house as seen here, and was named after the old Boatmans Home pub which was round the corner on Chester Road, closing in 1967 [1]. Described as "an old man's pub" and "a charming boozer in its own way" whilst also holding popular Irish music nights, the Boatman's Home was left isoloated by the Mancunian Way to the south and the industrial wastelands surrounding it. However, the pub was not demolished until fairly recently (it still appears on many pub websites as being in existence, so may have been in the '90s when it went). Some of the new build apartments and offices that now stand on the site on the corner of City Road (City Road East) and River Place are informally named 'The Boatmans' after the pub.
Thanks to our pal Ronnie for his recollections of The Boatman's Home: "I used to go in the Boatman's about '89-'91 but it closed and was demolished about '95 I'd say. The Boatman's was a decent little boozer, and as you say mainly an Irish pub. Used to be busy weekday dinnertimes with people from nearby offices and a probably now demolished factory. Weekday evenings it was dead but Friday and especially Saturday was busy. The main room was full of Irish and there was always some God-awful Irish band on. Best thing about it was the vault, good pool table and a local's zone. As it was off the beaten track, after-time was usually available until 1am for the Irish regulars, and select few in the vault stayed later too."
1. The Old Pubs of Hulme & Chorlton-on-Medlock, Bob Potts/Neil Richardson (1997).
Boatman's Home landlord was Jim Connell RIP, formerly of the Ardri Club now also closed down. Sunday afternoon was the best craic and old Tom Howley's band a regular feature.
ReplyDeleteOriginal landlord was the much loved jim curley.
ReplyDeleteWas up there delivering stuff in the early 90's, found the pub just round the corner and thought I'd get a bite to eat, ended up having a great time and left about 2a.m.
ReplyDeleteMy father was the last landlord of the original boatmans home [the old boatmans] ,closed the summer of 1967 but can asure you it was still a tetleys house.The new one on city road was a managed house and as my dad was a tenant never got a look in ,moved to the napoleon in openshaw also tetleys before moving over to greenhals.
ReplyDeleteRobert Hawkins was landlord at the Vaux owned Boatman Home in the eatly 90s.
ReplyDeleteDid bar work for Robert before it closed. Nice pub, good customers and happy days. Got racy on some afternoons when the strippers took to the stage for the workers. Never been able to face a mars bar since.
DeleteI to worked at Paul backhouse happy day's often popped into the boat man's.
DeleteUse to work across the road at Paul Backhouse Ltd back in the early 70s this was everyone's local at our works great little pub Happy Days and Many after work Happy nights spent in the Boatmans Home Pub ...
ReplyDeleteI also worked at Paul Backhouse and used to frequent the boatman's. Jimmy curly had it at the time and ended up at one point in the Garibaldi in Abbey Hey Gorton, !where I lived
DeleteI remember the lunchtime food as very filling and good value for money, they used to welcome all the hungry college kids from just around the corner
ReplyDeleteIn 90s no one remember Brady as landlord
ReplyDeleteI used to play in The Johnny Loughrey Band. We were resident for Jimmy Curly every Fri. sat and Sunday nights. Great times and always packed.
ReplyDeleteGreat Band. Also Tony Howley played every Sunday. Great place to go before going to the Carousel, Plymouth Grove or Ardri. Great times.
ReplyDeleteMy mum and dad John and Janet brady was the last to run the boatmans home before it was turned into apartments
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