The Oldest Three Pubs in Manchester
Manchester is a city of culture, and you can find history on almost every street corner. There is much more to your new home than a City versus United rivalry. So if you are planning a night out, as a student, by default, you’ll probably stick to popular city-centre bars and clubs with a regular student crowd. If you and your friends fancy a break from the norm, why not try exploring some of Manchester’s oldest pubs, some going back as far as 500 years.
The Old Wellington Inn
The Old Wellington Inn is the oldest building of its kind in Manchester and was built in 1552 next to the market square, which led off what is now Market Street, which used to be known as the Shambles. Still with us?
The Old Wellington is so old that Henry VIII’s son, Edward VI, was 15 and occupied the throne when it was built.
There is, however, a discrepancy to its claim to being Manchester’s oldest pub. It’s not actually the oldest pub in Manchester (a matter of semantics, maybe?) as it wasn’t a public house until 278 years after being built – finally getting a licence in 1830. So that technically makes it 192 years old and not 470 years ago. The Old Wellington Inn was called so even in 1552, so we’ll let you be the judge. There can be absolutely no debate that it’s Manchester’s oldest building ‘now a pub’, or should that be ‘pub premises’? We’re as confused as you are!
So are there any other pubs in Manchester that can stake a claim to the prize?
https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/northwest/theoldwellingtonmanchester#/
4 Cathedral Gates, Greater, Manchester M3 1SW
0161 839 5179
The Sawyer’s Arms
The Sawyer’s Arms is the oldest that is ‘still standing’, opening way back in the 1700s and officially getting its licence in 1730. This Grade II-listed building is a short stroll from the Arndale Centre, The Lowry and Manchester Opera House.
The pub did actually close down in 1988 and was converted into shops, until Nicholson’s Pubs came along and gave the pub a new lease of life. It’s still a traditional pub but brought into the 21st century.
We’ve even more confused now, as does its closure for a few years still make it the oldest licenced pub in Manchester?
https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/northwest/thesawyersarmsmanchester#/
138 Deansgate, Greater, Manchester M3 2RP
0161 834 2133
The Castle Hotel
You could easily pass by The Castle Hotel as it’s pretty unassuming and almost hidden away.
Located on Oldham Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, The Castle Hotel is a prestigious, lively and popular bar which first opened in 1776.
The pub has changed names several times over, trading first as The Crown and Sceptre, then The Crown and Anchor and later The Clock Face. In the late nineteenth century, the pub then became The Castle Hotel in the early 1930s.
In 2010 a music hall was unveiled at The Castle Hotel – an 80-capacity live music venue and performance space which is the cornerstones of Manchester’s live music scene.
66 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE
0161 237 9485
Although all these pubs are incredibly old, they’ve all kept up with the times and repeatedly reinvented themselves. You might be pleasantly surprised when you visit some of Manchester’s oldest establishments.
There are also worthy mentions for The Ox Noble (1804) and Britons Protection (1806), which have been licenced pubs in Manchester for over 200 years and are still open.
