It’s been here since before the beginning of the Northern Quarter, and it will almost definitely still be there in another few hundred years. While the contemporary food and drinks menu is very much Manchester in the 2020s, The Bay Horse Tavern, as it’s known today, has a huge history and stands as one of the city centre’s most iconic watering holes, with roots stretching back to 1812. Enough heritage, though – today this spot is more renowned for the quality of its tipples and eats, whether that’s hand-picked craft beers showcasing the very best of British booze, or classic cocktails poured straight up as they were originally intended. And then there’s the food, which is worthy of a listing in its own right.
Despite the 21st Century quality, there’s still an authentic Victorian feel about The Bay Horse Tavern, and you’ll struggle to find many bars with more of a charming look anywhere in town. Go beyond the beautifully preserved, though, and it’s a different story. In terms of what’s on offer to eat, options ranging from starters such as Glamorgan sausage, baked camembert, and chorizo arancini, to warming mains like red lentil vegan curry and battered haddock, chips, and mushy peas or chip shop curry sauce. What’s more, you can enjoy a generous English roast dinner with trimmings for £18, with Bottomless Brunch available to boot.
All that grub makes you thirsty, and The Bay Horse has a big range of bottled and canned beers, ales and ciders on offer, from Northern Monk to Kopparberg, Beavertown to Corona, but it’s the keg and cask options that really hit the mark — the choice may vary, but you’ll usually find the refreshing in-house pilsner, Camden Pale and Hells, Guinness, Orchard Pig, Boddingtons, Shindigger and Stella being poured, among other pints. Finally, cocktails are similarly high quality, and range from Espresso Martinis and Mai Tais, to Long Drinks and Spritz Serves — Portobello Road No. 171 Gin, Aperol Spritz — a flavourful Naked Malt X The Bay Horse Tavern menu (Tavern Julep, Scotch Martini), not to mention a great list of wines across all colours.