The Bay Horse

Fukin ay, peep the décor up in here. Very original.
Pints and pints of ale and meat pies.
This Northern Quarter establishment is a great spot to take a load off from walking miles and miles, when in Manchester.
The bartender is friendly and there is an outdoor patio and a bar downstairs as well.
I’m all sorted out, son.

It is a good traditional English pub in the northern quarter. Unlike many other pubs that does artisan craft ales and other what nots. This pub does the usual stuff without any of the fuss. No frills bar right amongst many other differentiated pubs.
It is a good place to go for a night out when you realise that all the other pubs on the same street is jam packed and you just wanna have a pint and have a good relaxing time with your mates.

The Bay Horse. For me it trades on its reputation. I’ve spent a lot of time here in the last ten years, but to be honest I can’t find what’s special about the place. It’s kinda cool, but then the décor is pretty dated, although giant maniacal horse heads always have their charms. Once they had the allure of interesting beers and quirky interior, but everywhere has that these days. Not sold by the Bay. Not enough seating either. I guess if it was ten years ago and I first came across it, I might like it, but in today’s world the Bay seeks to appear cool and charge you for the privilege of being there. The problem for me is that it’s boring. £3.70 a pint? Not in here. In a nutshell If I’m paying those prices, you have to offer something more than Leffe, a faux baroque mirror and ‘art’ from Urban Outfitters. Get out.

After a meal in the Northern Quarter my friend and I headed to The Bay Horse for a drink. He had been before but it was my first venture into this NQ classic that I had heard a lot about. I knew to expect more of a ‘classic pub’ vibe than the other cocktail bars and over priced fancy-​pants beer haunts that surround it. It was reasonably quiet when we walked in and we managed to grab a drink and a seat in the front room without too much issue.
The drink selection definitely reflects the classic pub nature — not a very large or interesting range of beers on tap and certainly no fancy drinks. But for your basic drink options there’s something for everyone.
It was a Wednesday night which is their weekly Open Mic night. We walked in as the first act was setting up. It is always a little awkward watching and listening to amateur musicians of varying skills. None of them were terrible and big-​ups to them for giving it a go. They were certainly better singers/​guitar players than me.
The bar is quite run down and the seats aren’t very comfortable but it is casual, relaxed and easy. No need to dress up and act cool here — everyone is welcome. There is a beer garden that I haven’t seen but I think it might come in handy during summer.
A highlight and must-​see is the glass-​encased lady-​with-​bird ‘statement piece’ downstairs in the basement. No descriptions on here will suffice. You have to see it for yourself.

I bloody love this pub. As everyone has stated, it is not so easy to find unless you know it’s there; I myself spent over a year trying to retrace my drunken steps to re-​find it after a lovely couple of drinks there one night. But as I have become increasingly familiar with Thomas Street, I now find it every time! It’s sort of across the road from Odd, if you’re stuck, you’ll see the little black and gold sign if you set your peepers upwards.
The prices are standard Northern Quarter, but you get what you pay for. The service and atmosphere are awesome, and during the week you can easily get a seat either upstairs or downstairs, depending on your preference. I personally quite like it upstairs, with their big comfy seats and homely décor, but downstairs there are longer tables for larger groups and pool tables for those who like to indulge in such frolicks! There are also lots of arty type events on during the week, from local music showcases to poetry evening, and when I was in there earlier this week I spied a sign for an art festival that is being held there towards the end of this month, and running over into the start of October. Plenty of stuff to entertain you lovely arty Northern Quarter hangers out! At the weekends, the pace picks up a bit with lots more people piling in to the wicked little boozer, so it can get a bit crammed, but you have to expect that everywhere in the city centre on a Friday or Saturday night really. The atmosphere is still awesome though, so don’t be put off, just be prepared to stand and chat rather than necessarily getting a seat.
I also found out on my last visit that they now have a selection of pies supplied to them by the lovely Bakerie nearby which, though I’ve not yet sampled them, sound delicious. There is a vegan option of sweet potato and chickpea (I believe) which got me drooling immediately, and a chicken and chorizo pie which got my carnivorous mister looking hungry when I told him about it. I think we may be trying out these tasty-​sounding treats in the not-​too-​distant future!
Basically, I love this place for a couple of quiet drinks. I have been there with friends, parents, the boyfriend, and work people, all of whom have thoroughly enjoyed being there. I would heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a nice drink in town, but do be prepared to have to look for it!

I liked it. From the outside it looked like a typical boozer (apart from the comic book style Bay Horse blackboard on the pavement). Inside it was quirky but not too much, downstairs is a big room with a pool table too.
I was a bit surprised at the £3.95 price tag for a pint of San Miguel, I know we’re not in Spain where you can get it for less than a quid, but I don’t even pay this much in my local in London and that’s in equally trendy Dalston.

Signs? Clearly marking your establishment? Pah, not in the Northern Quarter. It’s way too cool for that sort of stuff around here. (See also: Socio Rehab.) Yes, but the issue is that their coolness is making it incredibly hard to find these great establishments we keep hearing about. Thankfully I’m very familiar with Thomas Street, one of the most densely populated little lanes in this oh-​so-​boho district, therefore locating the Bay Horse has never been too difficult. Right alongside Teacup, the Marble place and The Thomas if you’re getting confused.
And what a place. Pretty building? Check. Modern twist on the traditional pub? Check. Cheap hearty meals and a range of ales and beers? Check. Comfy sofas and a warm atmosphere with candles? Double check. Erdinger and Hoegaarden? Royal Wedding afternoon rapidly becoming blurred and hazy. Add sleek modern lines, damask patterns and unusual artwork and this is where the twist comes in. It’s cosy and rustic alongside cool and trendy, and there are all sorts of sofas and comfy spots to perch on as well as a good venue area downstairs. As previous reviewers have said, this place does get insanely packed at the weekends so I prefer to spend early afternoon or a weeknight there. It’s much more relaxing.
Oh and if you were lucky enough to be in the Northern Quarter on the day of the Royal Wedding, you didn’t have to worry about seating because there were park benches outside with bunting. Believe!

On paper, The Bay Horse looks like the perfect pub. It’s situated in the Northern Quarter, it serves tasty food, it has a basement bar where you’ll usually find a damn fine DJ playing some damn fine tunes and it even has its own ‘Secret Garden’ located at the back where you can nip out for a crafty fag and a tasty pint.
Yet, for me, it always feels as though it’s lacking in something. It appears to be almost too aware of its status as a cool place to hang out — something which is reflected in the price of its drinks. Expect to pay £3.70 for a pint of San Miguel here, so make sure you take plenty of cash. This is not the place to come to if you’re expecting a cheap night out.
The Bay Horse is a perfectly adequate little boozer, but to me that’s all it is. Adequate. There are better places to drink in the Northern Quarter (like the wonderful Trof for example), but then again there are worse. The only way you’ll figure out how you feel about it is by going for a pint and making your own mind up.

The Bay Horse was the first pub I visited in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, some years ago now, and I still find myself visiting on quite a regular basis. Though you’d never know it from the outside, it’s a spacious and pretty little pub that houses and young and relaxed crowd at all times of the day and night.
The décor is inviting and quirky, though the downstairs can sometimes be a little bit on the chilly side unless it’s got a few bodies in. There’s a pool table down there, though, adding another element to this pub’s appeal as a relaxed daytime venue.
Most of my time has been spent out in the ‘Secret Garden’ with tables and heaters making it one of the more appealing beer garden areas in the city centre. Though beware that seating here is often at a premium at busier times.
The beer selection is of a high quality, with imported drinks on tap and in bottles, though this does mean you’ll be spending upwards of £4 on the nicer pints. The food is great too, with the seafood chowder making one friend of mine particularly joyous, and the prices on the food are a nice mid-​range.
Certainly worth a Sunday ale or two, and a great meeting place to move on from. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for regular DJs and bands frequenting the downstairs — they’re always worth keeping an ear out for.

I don’t know why, but I only seem to go to the Bay Horse when I’m invited by other people. It’s not that I don’t like the place; there’s lovely booze and huge leather sofas to relax on. It’s just that in the evenings it can be packed and really noisy!
From the outside, the Bay Horse looks like a traditional pub. But once you step through the doors, you realise it’s modern, spacious and has a far younger crowd than your average old school boozer! There’s always loud music blaring from the speakers, and sometimes you’ll find a live band playing downstairs, too.
Apparently the Bay Horse also does some of the loveliest food in the Northern Quarter, although I’m yet to try it. Friends have recommended the soup and burgers very highly though!

The Bay Horse is a bit like an old-​man pub on acid. From the outside it looks like a proper pub-​pub but inside it looks like Laurence Llewellyn-​Bowen has had a party and left behind the odd chez-​longue and frilly bit. The ground floor boasts a funky selection of furniture perfect for lounging around, downstairs is a little more rough and ready and makes a great little gig venue, and there is a hidden smoking garden out the back which has twinges of Alice in Wonderland.
Drinks here are fairly standard with a basic selection of beers, wines, spirits and cider. Prices are a little spikey, but for a venue on Thomas Street I guess it just looks around and thinks ‘If Trof and Bluu are charging £3.20 a pint, so can we’, and fair enough.
Food is served well into the evening and comes in handsome portions packed with flavour. Try the potato wedges or olive and bread selection if you’re having a boozy lunch and need something to soak it all up.
Not the quirkiest or the cheapest of the bars of Thomas Street, never the less, The Bay Horse is definitely worth stopping in for.

The first time I went to The Bay Horse was in 2007, when it was still quite new, fresh, and uncrowded. The years that passed wore down on it to some extent, although that didn’t diminish the attractiveness of the place.
The place is decorated with the pictures of horses throughout, a somewhat predictable yet unavoidable choice, given the bar’s name. Downstairs they have a pool table, and the area there is decorated with mirrors and rather odd window displays. Upstairs there are comfy sofas and window seats, and it is great to sip on your wine or to pensively drink the beer while watching Thomas St in evening lights. To add to this, The Bay Horse is one of the gay-​friendly places outside Canal Street.

As lots of others have said, don’t let the ‘grandad pub’ exterior put you off. The Bay Horse is nothing special to look at, the tables and chairs have seen better days, but the food and selection of beers more than make up for that.
The burger shot straight to number 2 in my Top 5 Burgers in Manchester list (number 1 is Trof, fyi) and the laid back atmosphere make the Bay Horse a perfect afternoon venue. www​.qype​.co​.uk/​p​l​a​ce/73 738-​The-​Bay-​Horse-​Manchester #

From the outside looking in, you’d be forgiven for thinking that The Bay Horse is a bit of an old git’s pub.
However, once you’ve stopped wondering where those weird grunts are coming from (they’re from upstairs where there’s a martial arts club — don’t worry, you can’t hear them inside) and actually go inside, you’ll find a vibrant and welcoming boozer.
The beer is great and varied with imported lagers on tap and in the fridge. The Guinness is very good too.
The food is pretty bog-​standard Manchester pub fodder, but very good for what it is (they do excellent pies).
Out back is a ‘secret’ beer garden for the smokers which is covered, ensuring that you don’t get drowned in the winter months.
There’s pool tables downstairs (something of a rarity in Manchester city centre) and great DJs on at the weekends.
The Bay Horse is in with a good shout for being the best pub in the Northern Quarter.

The Bay Horse is one of the best drinking dens in the Northern Quarter.
Housed in a Grade 2 listed, Georgian building on Thomas Street, it’s a homely pub spread over two floors. The décor is simple and stripped down with wooden floorboards, bold walls and pop art prints and photos. Upstairs there’s a couple of comfy sofas, wooden tables and chairs and an extensive bar offering great ales, beers and spirits. Downstairs in the basement, there’s a big pool table and further seating in the form of lived in, leather and vintage arm chairs.
Though it gets busy at weekends, The Bay Horse is an ideal place to catch up with friends and enjoy a pint or two of Guinness.

This really is a Northern Quarter staple that I often find myself in if I’m in town on an afternoon or weeknight. I wouldn’t go here on a weekend night anymore as it’s become far too popular and I’m not one to stand at the 3-​deep bar for 20 mins.
I love the overall feel of this place, the modern interior is fresh and vibrant whilst still remaining stylish and warm, quite a feat. Large photography portraits and pop-​art grace the walls and are offset by classic furniture and stripped flooring. There’s even a mannequin striking a pose in her finest regalia. Sounds tacky, but believe me, it’s done surprisingly tastefully.
The food and drink remains reasonable in here despite the increase in popularity, mains including an all-​the-​trimmings burger and Ploughmans’ Lunch will set you back only £6.50 and £5.50 respectively. Highly recommended for a pit stop.

The Bay Horse is a great little pub to before eading on to a club which is situated in La Nothern Quarter.
The place gets packed out at the weekend but at least the people you get squished against in here are friendly folk with not a scaly in sight.
The drinks prices are really reasonably priced and the service from the bar staff is second to none. There is also a pool table and a very accommodating DJ.
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To conclude:
Great music, great venue, great people!

When you’ve never been here before this place is pretty hard to find. I wandered up and down Thomas St, asked in the café on the corner (they had no idea) then ended up googling it on my phone so I could get the street number and work it out. The sign with the name of this pub on is just above the door and teeny tiny. It’s like they don’t want to be found.
Anyway, I loved the interior with the random paintings everywhere, cool chairs and tables. The bar is upstairs with a little one downstairs, where there are also the toilets and a pool table.
One bad point– the music was really quite loud when we were trying to talk. We moved from downstairs to a seat in the corner and then again to a table in the middle of the room upstairs. One girl went to request from the bar staff if they could ask the DJ to turn it down slightly. Their reply was she could ask herself/​‘wasn’t that rude though’/ yes. Hmm, helpful.
But I will definitely be going back here — good prices especially now the northern quarter is more popular, plenty of room early on in the evening and the people in there all seemed to having a nice, mellow-​ish time. Thumbs up.

Used to be one of my regular haunts in the NQ. It;s nice Tuesday. Wed and Fri and any time during the day. Fri and Sat, it’s too crouded like most of the quarter these days and the music is too loud and not enough seats unless you go and grab them at 5 — 6 and stay there the whole night — but then you wouldn’t do that would you! Nice joint though for all the other right reasons. I wonder how long it will be before there is a Bay Horse 11 — my guess is not too long away.
Cool enough joint except at mainstream weekends.

The Bay Horse is a good pre-​club pub situated in the Northern Quarter. At weekends it gets very busy but sustains a great atmosphere between drinkers. I get the impression that everyone who drinks in The Bay Horse is super friendly and extremely sociable, as I’ve always been able to chat away to randomers everytime i’ve been there!
The drinks prices are fairly cheap and the service from the bar staff is excellent. Downstairs there is another bar, pool table and a DJ that usually plays the latest indie/​alternative tunes.
Overall, it’s a lively, welcoming pub with a great drinks selection, great music and a great atmosphere!