The Shakespeare Public House in Manchester

We visited The Shakespeare, Manchester last weekend and had an amazing Christmas lunch and other food. The service was professional, friendly and informative. Lovely afternoon spent shopping with great food. The recent refurbishment is 10/10 and perfect for a relaxing meal and drinks for all.

In there now bbq chicken fantastic

Having under gone a massive refurbishment recently, this is a grate place to visit with friendly welcoming staff. The pub benefits from having an extra seating area upstairs. We only called in to have a few drinks to avoid the Manchester rain & end up staying for Sunday lunch. The food was amazing. The beef was cooked to perfection, so tender. Prices are reasonable for city venue also. Well definitely be back .

Went with my sister today, 15/11/24 always used to go before the makeover, always loved the food but today was terrible, the staff were lovely but waited an hour for fish n chips to be quiet disappointed, the fish was clearly not fresh battered,looked like it was out of a box and just deep fried, a lot of people were complaining too....definitely not worth the money

Didn’t get served at the bar until after the girls due to the barman not being able to keep his eyes above their chest. Clientele belong nowhere other than spoons. Drank up and left as quick as we could and won’t be returning.

Still a great location but has lost some of its charm with the current revamp into yet another chain pub. Not sure how did the work but falls down on close inspection.

Thank god the Shakespeare is back and under the care of Sarah, can only go from strength to strength.

Visited Last night with some friends and it was a lovely experience, we had been before a few years ago and the pub was in need of a big makeover. However, having gone in again last night the difference was world's apart, the pub is stunning and alot of work has gone into he refurb. The staff were all polite and professional and the food was delicious! Looking forward to returning soon.

Highly recommend this place. Staff are exceptional and literally can’t do enough for you. Had a good selection of starters which were also excellent. Met John the pubs regional manager who was also a top bloke. Great evening and will return again

Fantastic food, fantastic atmosphere! Get yourself there. The Steak & Ale pie is an absolute must!

The place itself is nice and the staff were lovely, but the toilets downstairs need a deep clean - the smell was that bad that we had to move tables.

Proper old pub,good crowd and I imagine it is a good night when there are a few in.

Nice cosy pub with a great atmosphere. Always extremely busy, always a good sign. Only had drinks so couldn't comment on food.

Great pub! Staff are really really nice. Highly recommend!

Some pub this, can't believe there's a proper pub so close to market street hidden away. The bar staff were great as well, ready to have a chat and a laugh, will go back just for them 👌

Nice to go in a proper old fashioned pub. Nothing fancy inside if that's what you're looking for

Always pay a visit to this pub when in Manchester. Very good place to socialise.

Great pub in Manchester with good staff would recommend it ,reyt pint of Guinness

we came to this spot on a random Friday I think the management has changed as you can feel there's a big difference in the food and especially the DJ who seemed way to good to be in this type of venue but took us down memory lane with amazing songs all night it was pretty quiet but we was all saying if more people find out about this guy here it will change definitely a credit to the venue and we will be back again

Great bar in the heart of Manchester. Fantastic staff who made us feel very welcome. And great service.

Long established Manchester pub with plenty of character. Definitely worth a visit

Excellent pub! Many cracks in the rustic decor only highlight the excellent atmosphere. Staff are brilliant. Friendly, full of banter, polite and cheerful! Prices for drinks, more than fair. Food is excellent, a bit pricey, but most pub food is anyways. A bit perplexed by the predominantly German food menu. Got the Sunday Chicken Roast, and it was mouthwateringly good. Could do with some minor investment, but the decor, even if a bit rustic and fading, just adds to the homely atmopshere. With a bit of investment, this could easily become the best pub in Manchester central.

Very welcoming with a fab atmosphere...

Pricey beer but all in all not a bad pub

A good old-fashioned pub in the heart of Manchester. For the city centre the prices were reasonable, and there was a good selection of beers. The staff were all very friendly and professional. This is a good place to watch sporting events and also a good meeting point. It is located right behind Primark and only 5 minutes walk from the train station. I would recommend a visit.

Wasn't really Viking when we were there. Had minimal Menu options so ended up having a drink and moving on.

The pub was not bad. There was not much selection on the menu. Staff were really helpful and friendly.

Foods only on Thursday, be aware, rest all gooood

Small menu food tasty and well cooked. Great staff friendly and helpful

Love this old pub, their Sunday lunch is a good time.

Decent pint of Guinness. Hasn’t got the same character it used to have many years ago. I miss the open fire, replaced by a stove. Sure that’s the way now..

Great old pub!!! Walked in and thought something was stuck under my trainers, looked down and the whole floor has nails proud of the floor. Apart from the obvious one in Manchester this place has also been moved brick by brick from another location. Great chilled atmosphere, service and staff. 👍🏻

Popped in for quick pint with hubby

Menu was totally different from website. Food was greasy, served in take away bowls and also cutlery. Can't even eat beef with wooden forks and knives.

Came to the Shakespeare on Easter Sunday. Very good in house beer. Chicken dinner was very good and substantial. The star for me was the Curry wurst which I havn't had since being stationed in Germany. Outstanding. Anyone who was in the British Army of the Rhine, (or who just loves authentic German food), should pay a visit. I will certainly be going back.

Great place if you want a real pub in the centre of Manchester. Friendly staff and great choice of beer.

Rip off bar, bought double gin and Tonic and double vodka soda and zero alcohol put in. Avoid

Nice place, we vist regular so that speaks for itself

Great English pub - typical, Didn't rate the food as we only had a drink there. We took a quick look at the menu - it sounded delicious

Il locale è carino e pulito, molto caratteristico e con possibilità di vedere le partite in diretta. La birra è buona, purtroppo (contrariamente a quanto mostrato dal sito) il menù è proprio da pub e il cibo (non cattivo) è servito con piatti e posate di plastica. Lo staff è gentile e il posto è pulito ma chiudono già alle 21. Insomma, il posto non sarebbe male ma, vista anche la posizione, penso che potrebbe essere sfruttato meglio.

I recently visited the Shakespeare and was deeply disappointed by the experience. While the ambiance and drinks were decent, the management's behavior was shockingly rude and aggressive. From belittling customers to dismissing concerns with hostility, their conduct tarnished what could have been an enjoyable evening. Unfortunately, until the management addresses their attitude, I cannot recommend this establishment to anyone seeking a pleasant night out.

Looked like an old style pub from outside and yes it was on the inside Went in hope of food but non being served . Nevertheless we stopped for a drink. Service friendly service clean bar area could do with a refresh. The gent however in a poor condition radiator rusty. Could be very nice with some TLC and food.

Sometimes I stop over in Manchester to see a show but I was to early to check-in my hotel so I sometimes have a pint here to kill the time and the prices are reasonable and the pub is clean.

Great little pub right in the heart of the center. Shows football. If that's your thing.

Mediocre miserable big pub with helpful staff doing their best. It is clean. I would love to have seen it in 1920 when it would have been full of character with separate rooms. Beer well kept. No local competition so far as I know…

One of the oldest pubs in Manchester make sure you check out the exterior for the figurine carvings above the windows and the old door. Great selection of beers and spirits inside and it's nice and warm on a winters day.

No food at this place anymore whic is fine but the welcome and the pub is great. What proper pubs should be. Even the history and ghosts in the pub are worth reading about.

Great pub, good beer and shows the rugby

Found this gem by accident but glad we did my wife and I had Sunday lunch it was fantastic beer nice as well decent prices

On a day out to Manchester just called in to rest our legs, we had a lovely hour or so very nice, proper pub as I call them, very friendly staff

Old English style pub. Beams n all. Just popped in for a beer. Great location, surroundings and service. Would I visit again. Yes.

Top pub, friendly staff, great atmosphere

Run down pub. Smells like piss. Ok for a pint when resting after shopping. Sad because It was better some years back. Hope it shapes up.

We popped in here for a drink when we went to Manchester to watch madness, the weather was awful so it was very cramped, but staff were friendly and cheerful even though mega busy.

Nice Pub with great beers and very clean.

Really good old boozer. I researched it and it's been shipped across from Chester which give it that even older vibe. You must try it good cheep ale

Great atmosphere, cool place with great atmosphere and character 🤩

Convenient location just off market Street, cosy atmosphere.

Typical English pub with typical English food; good prices

Good menu. Proper old pub with friendly service

Great pub in the middle of Manchester, great food on offer and amazing portion sizes. The prices are also excellent. Wide variety of food and drinks available. Highly recommend visiting if you want a quick bite to eat, and a good place to meet with friends.

Good city centre pub worth people watching in 👍

Original old pub in the middle of Manchester

One of my favourite pubs in town. Has everything you want in a pub (it's not a bar for a start). Will always visit when in town

Food stops at 3 but apart from that was great

Didn't have any food but what i saw looked good, very enjoyable drink from a very polite barman

This is an updated review! Greene King area/national management need to get a grip! The website timings need updating. Sort yourselves out, you are not doing this management team justice! The food, service and beer choice was excellent. But, I didn't appreciate waiting over an hour from the published time for them to open. Very poor management at senior level not to maintain the website!!

The picture isn't of the pub itself but actually the brewdog next door so don't be confused. The pub itself is lovely and charming, some may say outdated but it's the type of place I love to find myself in. Staff where incredibly nice. My only issues would be the pricing however being in Manchester centre you're likely to expect it and its not particularly pram/wheelchair friendly due to the size.

Old fashioned English pub which hasn't been upgraded since it was opened! Food was average although priced accordingly and service was OK.

Hyggelig traditionel engelsk pub lidt slidt

Food smelt great. Didn't see anyone eating though. Still a great place for a pint

I had veggie curry, asked if was any good when ordering, no response, shrugged shoulders, was horrible, should have had scampi, that looked OK. I'd say don't do stuff you can't do well. Fixed me wrong drink twice, 3rd time lucky, no hassle but what does that say about customer service? Place bit dark and old fashioned, friendly staff TBF. OK if you like football and can't be bothered looking for better food.

Brilliant pub been in there each time I've been to the rugby finals

What a quaint little pub. Old as the bard himself. The difference is the pub definitely exists. Had a pint of Guinness and a massive plate of excellent - and very hot - Nachos. Ay, carumba! It was so hot, I needed that after drab Yuzu. Very quick and friendly service, will come again.

My sister and I took a break from shopping to have lunch, this pub is always busy but we got a table, the beer is good, service is good and food is good. We travel to Manchester every year and this is our go to pub for lunch. The only negative would be the music is a bit loud.

Totally awful. Staff on duty, 2 guys in the evening were clearly focussed on closing at 10pm so they could be ready to leave at 10:30pm. Not at all friendly and enough to encourage us not to go again. For a Saturday night it was dead and to be honest I'm not surprised. Plenty more venues in the city offering a much warmer welcome and far more hospitable.

Old skool back street boozer in town.. plenty of charm, scroats and locals!! Love it...

Always enjoy ourselves very friendly food lovelytables nice and clean 👌

Decent place to nip in and have a pint. Didn't have food so can't comment

Wer in einem schönen alten Pub ein Pint trinken möchte ist hier richtig nur das Personal war für mich "unter der Theke" wenn sie wissen was ich meine darum nur 3 Sterne

It's a friendly pub full of history the bar staff are very friendly, The food is excellent and we are going through the menu and so far we cannot find fault with the quality and presentation of the food. It's a great experience. 👍

Great place off of Market street. Full lunches and dessert!

Very friendly and helpful staff

A cosy pub in the middle of the town centre with a great atmosphere, good pub grub and nice bar staff

A traditional Manchester pub with a good range of beers and dark cider on draft.

My sister and I called in for lunch, we hadn’t been here for many years and were pleasantly surprised. Decent pub grub, generous portions and great service, especially Donal. Definitely a must go to next time we want to eat in Manchester.

The Shakespeare Public House in Manchester is a decent bar with music and sports on TV. Nice friendly service and also food served until 6pm.

Went for Sunday lunch on 19 June was told no chefs had turned up today so not serving food but if we want to go out and buy some we can bring it in and eat Not very good for a city Center pub on a sunday

Tried to give a zero rating...but u can only give a 1. Not the nine o'clock news did a famous sketch about how bad Belgian cuisine was, well this was supposedly British cuisine, and it was dreadful. I like my soups, and I was quite excited when there was choice of 3, but by the titles, I should have known....tinned. I ordered Hunters chicken for my main , which rather strangely arrived before my soup. The chicken had seen better days and was like chewing paper, and then my tinned soup arrived, the soup was okay. As far as tinned soup goes.. Proceeded with my "tough" chicken and fries which were crap as well. The server who collected my plate asked how my meal was, I replied. Without doubt the worst food I had ever tasted. This was repeated to the girl when I approached the bar. Her concerned reply was.... That will be £13.80 please. A truly shocking experience, in what should have been the quintessential Old English pub meal. Dreadful.

Harry the bar man was top draw. Can't fault him, very welcoming and hospitable. A credit to the establishment. Drinks served promptly and went the extra mile

El sitio está muy bien, típico pub inglés, buena comida, hamburguesas que superan expectativas y precios razonables para un sitio tan céntrico. Paciencia con los camareros, son bastante empanados.

Mrs and I Dropped in for a bite to eat while shopping , various meals for two for £15 , we choose fish and chips and very nice it was , didn’t have a alcoholic drink this time so both had a pot of tea which was unfortunately Lukewarm , but apart from that we’ll definitely be back

We have visited this pub many times. Donal. Bernie and the rest of the staff make us very welcome. The food is excellent. Today we had the Festive menu. Real good value for money and beautifully served. We always come here when myself and friends come to manchester. Well Done Donal and his staff.

Lovely pint, reasonably priced and friendly atmosphere. Perfect for when the Mrs goes in Primark. Just out the back of it

Wandered in whilst on a night out Manchester. Very quite but great atmosphere and what a nice pub. Barman was chatty and a couple of ales on. The only thing I was disappointed with is I had a Green King Voucher and you can't use them there, otherwise we would have stayed longer. Worth a visit. Beautiful building.

Great location for shops and hotels. Great staff that we're friendly and helpful. Drinks are in plastic containers on match day but that is no problem. Food was good and not a bad price. We drop in here whenever in Manchester. Recommended.

The var staff were rude and incompetent. The tale was dirty and didn't get wiped properly after we had asked for it to be wiped. Upon asking if the gravy was vegetarian, the answer was "it should be". I asked for clarity on this. The barman disappeared to clear this up. I wanted and waited. After 15mins he reappeared behind the bar ignoring us. We asked why he didn't get back to us, he said he couldn't reach the manager and that he was busy due to a large group of people needing drinks. My food had gone cold due to me having to wait for a non-existent answer. Rude. Disrespectful. And won't be going back. Worst customer service ever.

Appena arrivate a Manchester ci siamo fermate in questo pub per mangiare. Locale caratteristico con personale cordiale. Ottimi piatti ( pollo con bacon e pancetta, pie inglese, contorni) ad un prezzo contenuto. Assolutamente da provare

El Shakespeare siempre es bueno para una cerveza rápida o dos, pero no es el tipo de pub para una sesión de bebida durante todo el día, la comida es típica comida de pub que ayuda a absorber la cerveza. El pub no ha cambiado mucho en los últimos 40 años, una mezcla de clientes, compradores, turistas y trabajadores del centro de la ciudad. Vale la pena una visita y algunas pintas.

Another fine snack ( ham and cheese toastie) with friends this lunch time food good service good looking forward to comming back again