The Angel, Manchester
The Beer House closed & there was a long pause. Then I discovered that The Angel was open. The big sign to be seen from the road still says "The Beer House" but over the door & on the blackboards it says "The Angel".
Any pub with four handpulls can't be all bad, but the comparison will always be with The Beer House which had something like sixteen so we've been spoilt previously. Their website says that it has been returned to its former glory - no it hasn't: The character of the pub has completely changed. Not ruined at all, but changed.
The food was a little pricey, so I gave it a miss (only 'cos it was lunchtime & I only wanted a snack) but the newspaper food writers are falling over themselves with praise so that will be the reason why.
On my second visit I was kept waiting at the bar for quite a while as smart waiters moved around us & someone who could well be the owner chatted to two people at the end of the bar. Only after I suggested to the others that Smithfield Hotel was just around the corner did someone offer to serve us.
Maybe somewhere to go for a special meal, not on a pub crawl around the Northern Quarter with well seasoned drinkers.
Comments
Service poor
Decided to try The Angel, after the Beer House was a regular haunt, on 23 Dec 2008. Asked for 1 pint anf 2 halves of 3 beers. I was informed that the pint of beer I chose was now off, so went for 2 halves (in total 4 halves of 3 different beers). Obviously this was too difficult to handle for the barmaid, as she gave us 3 halves. I pointed this out, to which she then got a little confused as to which beers she had given us. She then told us that she hadn't already given us one beer which I actually saw her pour. To add insult to injury, she then topped up one half with a different beer altogether. Drank 2 halves of 4 and left. Will return after the next management change, which I guess will not be that long.
Service Poor
I have visited the Angel 4 or 5 times since it opened, only once for a meal
on every visit the beer has been excellent and an increasing interesting selection
On my last but one visit sat and has long chat with staff even though very busy
they always made me feel at home and spent a considerable time with menus
I left promising to call and make christmas booking which was of the best decision I have ever made
The food, staff and beers were excellent, my wife and friends have already demanded that I book for them again
Ian