The Albert Inn is one of the few old and much-loved Maine Road boozers that is still open, and thankfully, is just as good as the old times. Tucked away on the corner of Walmer Street and Aspinall Street off Wilsmslow Road, it's a classic local's pub that seems to be doing alright since the football custom left Rusholme and Moss Side.
Albert Inn, Walmer Street. (c) Google 2011. View Larger Map.
The Albert is a classic Victorian pub with old fashioned clientele to match. Elder folks from the nearby Rusholme and Moss Side estates are mixed with a younger crowd of locals, yet despite its prime position just off the Curry Mile, didn't appear to have any diners in on a Saturday night.
Albert Inn, Walmer Street, Rusholme. (c) Pubs of Manchester.
The Albert is a tied Hydes house, but when the bitter is as good as Hydes can be, and is brewed so close by (the brewery is barely a mile away - EDIT: it's since moved to Salford Quays), sometimes a row of guests ales aren't needed in decent boozers like this. Normal bitter, the premium version (1863) and a keg mild is enough for the bar which straddles the lounge and vault.
Albert Inn, Walmer Street, Rusholme. (c) Pubs of Manchester.
The inside is like all good pubs should be, and once were. Bench seating with low stools and them hammered copper tables that seem to have all-but vanished from English pubs. All that was missed were the ashtrays. The pool room vault is still going and although they've modernised slightly with a flatscreen TV, it's still a proper throwback pub.
Albert Inn, Walmer Street, Rusholme. (c) Pubs of Manchester.
As more people are starting to realise, pubs are on their arses in general, and the great British local pub as we know it is dying thanks to - amongst others - modern entertainment and social media, scandalous taxation, disingenuous public health campaigns, and greedy and clueless pub companies. Thankfully Manchester still has a number of proper boozers that should never die, and the Albert is hopefully one.
A Manchester classic.
ReplyDeleteI was a regular to this pub in the 70's and 80's when Gerry Frayne was the landlord, Alice was head barmaid and drinking every night was still a 'hobby'. It was (and apparently still is) a real 'locals' pub (as indeed were the areas other boozers). It never was 'fashionable', but always maintained a reliable clientele.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, the Bitter could be a bit hit and miss in standard in those days (which put many off if it was a bad night), but as I haven't been in for over a decade that's hardly a reason not to visit it now.
I am glad that it hasn't hit the hard times that so many local corner pubs have over the last decade. The taxation system on pubs needs to be eased if we are not to end up as a drink at home society (with all the hidden social problems that brings), like the Aussies.
Maybe CAMRA could organise an online campaign to get pub taxes reduced (or shop taxes on alcohol increased) to make pubs competitive again.
I use to frequent the albert regularly in the 1970 & 1980 when Gerry Frayne was landlord & alice was head bar person plus in the afternoons use to do the meals upstairs the other bar persons I can remember are mary dunne jane Malone Margaret Johnson & her sister her brother was always in the to vinny johnson
ReplyDeleteGerry was a brilliant landlord. Loved playing cards with his largely Irish regulars, but also may us, students from Hulme Hall, very welcome. He was one of the best
DeleteI was thinking about pubs tonight (damn and blast this Coronavirus!!), and had forgotten that I had visited this website a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteAs well as the late Gerry Freyne, I remember Jane Malone, Mary Dunne, and Margaret from the bar staff. There was also customers such as Mike Donn, Mike Nolan, Mick Reynolds and of course 'Vinnie Johnson'.
There was also a lot of staff from the old DHSS office on Wilmslow Road, who were regular drinkers in the pub. Dave Woods springs to mind.
When the pub lock down ends I am going to make a pilgrimage to the Albert if its survived ... these are a dying breed of pubs. There were seven or eight thriving pubs in the immediate area in the late 1970's - early 1990's ... now just two left I believe.
Rather sad really.
Sadly it looks like the bastards at Hydes have sold this off (along with Jolly Angler in town). Without telling the landlords. I was told that The Albert was the first pub Hydes ever bought, absolutely disgusting. So sad to see it go. Maintained a good local crowd even in 2020, no fucking need.
ReplyDeleteIts sad that the pub was closed. It was almost the last pub left in the area (there were at least 6 in the 1970's and 80's). Its even sadder that it was the brewery rather than lack of customers that closed it.
DeleteI was a regular in the 70s and continued to return after moving out of Manchester in 81. I remember gerry v well and with his support set up the Albert chess club. I also remember vinny and many others. Sadly its gone now. I could probably write a book on that wonderful establishment. Richard walsh
ReplyDeleteIts a pub that's remembered fondly by a couple of generations of people who had once considered it their regular drinking home.
Delete