Simply Sinclairs (Sinclairs Oyster Bar)

Member Name: duskmaiden

Product:	Sinclairs Oyster Bar
Date:	28/01/05 (1423 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: old building, non smoking, cheap beer

Disadvantages: no choice in real ale

When one is asked to think of a Manchester pub, the last thing they would think of is a half timbered building dating from before the Industrial Revolution. They would more likely think of a back street terraced pub such as the Rovers Return. However Sinclair’s Oyster Bar is a lovely half timbered building dating from the 1700s which would fit nicely in somewhere like Chester or York rather than Manchester.



Sinclair’s is tucked away upon New Cathedral Street next to the Triangle shopping centre and across the square from the posh shops such as Harvey Nics and Selftidges. Next door is the more ancient Old Wellington Inn. It’s a lovely old building that has an interesting past. I believe it has been moved piece by piece twice once to raise its height and the second time after the IRA bomb of 1996.



The first good thing about Sinclair’s is the open air area. It has a number of continental style tables that are chock a block when the sun makes it rare appearance in the Mancunian sky. It’s a great place to sit and sip a pint and watch the world rush by you. It is also now the only place you can smoke in Sinclair’s, The regulars had a vote to ban smoking from the interior. Another plus for me a non smoker who hates breathing other peoples’s smoke and ending up reeking of it., Do not worry smokers you will not be freezed out as the outdoor area is heated in winter.



Once you get inside the pub you are greeted by a charming interior. it is full of beams, nooks and crannies and quite a narrow twisty staircase. It is a joy to be in. The atmosphere is nice. I think it is more a daytime, or starting off pub rather than a late night lairy one. it has a gentle Easy atmosphere with a very mixed clientele. The music seems to come from a Cd and is just in the background and does not overpower your conversation.



There are two bars in Sinclair's. One upstairs and one downstairs. The great thing about drinking in the pub if you drink pints is that it is dirt cheap. A pint of cider nd a pint of their draught ale Samuel Smiths ( I think) came to less than £3. Spirits are averagely priced about £2 for one including the mixer. I'm not sure it has a big selection of ales. They only had the one real ale on tap but I think they do the usual lagers.



Sinclair's does food too until quite late. You have ti order at the food counter for this and you are given a wooden spoon with a number to display at your table. The menu has a decent enough selection including light bites, full meal and sandwiches. They seem to specialise in seafood dishes hence the name Sinclair's oyster Bar The prices are perhaps a little bit above average for a pub meal in Manchester. A main course is about £7 whilst the baguettes we had were bout £4.50. I had a feta cheese and roast vegetable baguette whilst Duskman had a cheese nd ham melt. The roll was nice nd fresh and the filling was tasty. it advertised fries as an accompaniment but we got much thinker chips which were very tasty.





if you want to sample Manchester's pre industrial heritage whilst supping a good cheap pint in a non smoky atmosphere i strongly recommend Sinclair's Oyster Bar

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