The Great Central

So, you need to get some food shopping in, but you’re hungry, and everyone knows that you don’t go shopping on an empty stomach.
Given it’s a Sunday, it’s always a rush to get to the shops before they shut. In this case Sainsbury across the road shuts at 5. Can I make it and eat beforehand, when it’s 3.40 and I’m in Withington?
Yes, I can. So, me, myself and I, and a book make it to Weatherspoons and order a roast beef. £7.99 including a drink — I went for an apple 7up, and start reading in a comfy seat. The clientel is mostly students and elderly gents. I’m slightly worried I’ll be fitting in the latter category one day! There’s plenty going on/​past if you end up with a window seat whilst you’re waiting. The food comes 5 – 10 mins later, and it’s at that moment you realise that there’s no salt n pepper on the table! Something that the spoons in town has decided to just put them on the table!
The food is substantial, and the roast beef came with pigs in blankets, and a herb flavoured mash, with a reasonable amount of roast potatoes. Meat quality had potential in that it was substantial, but was a bit chewy/​dry. You pays for what you gets, but ultimately it was a nice enough dish for the money. It had filled me up, and I was now ready for the weekly food shop without stocking up on rubbish.
The Waterhouse in town is still the best ‘spoons in Manchester.

Good old spoons in fallowfield! Gotta say I do love a cheap drink and food place and this has to be the queen of all!
Standard wetherspoons with craft beers and loads of food to choose from– only downside is that they list all the calories! Definitely not guilt free eating!
I love the chicken burgers and eggs Benedict here also the noodles are immense!
Always a great place to go for a cheap and tasty breakfast :)

This has to be the cheapest place to drink ‘craft beer’, it’s a Wetherspoon pub in Fallowfield. I can’t get excited by this place, but if I’m in fallowfield and I’ve had my fill of the football & guinness on offer at The Friendship across the road then it’s worth stopping in for a can of the craft they sell here, or a cheap gin & tonic.
It’s no more than a stop off pub, there’s much better options in Fallowfield for both cocktails, general pubs and craft beer (I hate that term) — Font, The Fallow Café and Wahl, as well as the Friendship are places to go.

As I’m sure I’ve stated in my previous reviews, I don’t actually mind Wetherspoons in general. I would disagree with Shelly’s comment about them being Mc Donalds-​type pubs. I’m quite happy to go for a drink or a burger at the Paramount, the Ford Madox Brown or the Waterhouse. They each have different feels to them, you know what you’re going to get and you know it won’t cost you a fortune.
However, Great Central really lets the side down. There is no atmosphere to speak of, and as Rob correctly states, you can expect to see two groups here — the students and the drunkards.
Food — I once had a Curry Club here, which I have never had a problem with at other Wetherspoons. I couldn’t even finish it this time as it somehow tasted like it had been in the microwave for an extra 10 minutes but was also only luke warm. My friend also had to leave her chips as they were inedible.
On the plus side you will always get a seat and it’s marginally better than the Scream Bars nearby. It’s also open at 9am every day, if you find yourself craving a pint when you wake up.

Like an insidious infection, Wetherspoon’s pubs spread throughout the land, contaminating all with their presence. And here is another one, this time in Fallowfield.
The first thing to get out of the way are the prices. They are cheap. Everything is cheap. Life is cheap in The Great Central. If you can afford to breathe, you can buy drinks here. And since it is not a pub aimed at anyone but those who want cheap beer, it attracts all sorts. You have the students and the drunkards. The down-​and-​outs and those who are still falling. The students have the good sense to leave before it gets too late though.
Once it does get late, it’s like any normal Wetherspoons: intimidating. Honestly, if you want cheap drinks you can go elsewhere in Fallowfield, the only reason you would willingly visit The Great Central that I can imagine would be if someone put a gun to your head. Judging by some of the clientele, that’s not too unlikely.
Maybe I’m being a little harsh; in the daytime it’s an alright place for a quick drink. The food is cheap and edible as well, with some nice little deals on. Just don’t get caught there at sundown.

This is actually called Lloyds No.1 The Great Central Pub 2809 (according to my receipt). It’s a chain pub but I was told I could get good food at a good price. That part was kinda true but I have some feelings about this type of pub.
So there are lots of specials and offers going on at this pub. They can offer things so cheap because they are a chain. The pub favorites are here, but nothing seems to be done with great care. It’s like going to The Olive Garden or Fazolies when you want real Italian food. I was disappointed. The food was cheap. The beer was cheap.
I don’t like these type of pubs for the reason that they are running all of the free houses out of business. I don’t want to see the UK pub go by the wayside in exchange for these McDonald-​type pubs.

Fallowfield’s Wetherspoons pub. I guess everywhere has to have one nowadays. Anyway, we all know what’s on offer here, cheap food and good beer at cheap prices.