Kielys Irish Bar
Quick info
About Kielys Irish Bar
On Watson St in Manchester, Kielys Irish Bar is an Irish pub built around Guinness on tap and a wider range of Irish drinks, both bottled and on draft. Screens throughout show sports including rugby, and a live Irish band plays, often on weekends. Irish memorabilia decorates the space, and the room takes walk-ins rather than reservations. Under-18s are not permitted in the bar after 6pm, which shapes it as an evening spot for adult drinkers. Door staff manage entry when the bar gets busy. A back room can be booked for private events, giving groups a separate space to gather. Outside, a covered seating area extends the bar into a garden. It opens Tuesday to Sunday and stays closed on Mondays.
Good to know
- ReservationsWalk-in only
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention guinness, live music, outdoor covered seating area and wide range of beers.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention guinness, live music, outdoor covered seating area and wide range of beers.
Customer Review Summary
Guinness draws the most consistent praise, with reviewers repeatedly calling it cold, good, or "the black stuff" done well, and live music close behind, especially weekend Irish bands and guitar performers, though one reviewer found a Sunday singer mediocre enough to leave over. Several also highlight a wide beer and spirits selection, an outdoor covered seating area good for the city, and multiple screens for sport like rugby. Bar staff are frequently singled out as friendly, warm, and full of banter, with individual bartenders praised for staying upbeat during busy solo shifts. Complaints recur around service missteps and confrontations: one diner describes being served tequila instead of requested vodka lime sodas and being met with hostility and security involvement when raising it, another reports being refused shelter from rain by door staff despite being alone and sober, and a third describes being loudly told about the under-18 curfew in front of others. A few also note high prices for a pint and a lack of air conditioning on a hot, busy night. One customer's son's birthday was celebrated by booking out the back room for an evening of live music and dancing.
Customer Review Summary
Guinness draws the most consistent praise, with reviewers repeatedly calling it cold, good, or "the black stuff" done well, and live music close behind, especially weekend Irish bands and guitar performers, though one reviewer found a Sunday singer mediocre enough to leave over. Several also highlight a wide beer and spirits selection, an outdoor covered seating area good for the city, and multiple screens for sport like rugby. Bar staff are frequently singled out as friendly, warm, and full of banter, with individual bartenders praised for staying upbeat during busy solo shifts. Complaints recur around service missteps and confrontations: one diner describes being served tequila instead of requested vodka lime sodas and being met with hostility and security involvement when raising it, another reports being refused shelter from rain by door staff despite being alone and sober, and a third describes being loudly told about the under-18 curfew in front of others. A few also note high prices for a pint and a lack of air conditioning on a hot, busy night. One customer's son's birthday was celebrated by booking out the back room for an evening of live music and dancing.
Featured reviews
- Pete Cotton
“Great little bar. Always visit when in Manchester.”
- Peter Harris
“It's a great venue, reasonably priced, but severely understaffed although the staff who were on were friendly and polite given the pressure they were under”
- Angie Moore
“Pretty poor - drinks very weird and taste funny - no atmosphere- certainly NOT an Irish bar - a very poor pretend Irish bar - AVOID”
- Bob
“Great for a good night out, good dance and good atmosphere”
- Violetta Violet
“Loved the outside with the Guinness barrels around the terrace, very pleasant indoor space. We only ordered Irish coffee that came with real cream. It was delicious. Definitely will be coming back.”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Great beer selection
- Live music
- Live performances
- Sport
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Outdoor seating
- Alcohol
- Casual
- Beer
- Dancing
Show more amenities
- Food
- Spirits
- Seating
- Sport
- Toilet
- Highlights· 3
- Great beer selection
- Live music
- Live performances
- Offerings· 2
- Cocktails
- Wine
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
Location
Bars near Kielys Irish Bar
- Sunset by Australasia3.82630.2 mi
afternoon tea, exotic cocktails, sticky stained tables
- The Waterhouse4.04,6590.2 miWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seatingWi-Fi
bangers and mash, steak and ale pudding, full english breakfast
- 0.3 miWheelchair accessible
pies (moo & blue, fungi chicken), cider selection, fish and chips
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kielys Irish BarOutdoor seating | 4.2563 | — | guinness, live music, outdoor covered seating area |
| Sunset by Australasia | 3.8263 | 0.2 mi | afternoon tea, exotic cocktails, sticky stained tables |
| The WaterhouseWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating · Wi-Fi | 4.04,659 | 0.2 mi | bangers and mash, steak and ale pudding, full english breakfast |
| Town Hall Tavern ManchesterWheelchair accessible | 4.3883 | 0.3 mi | pies (moo & blue, fungi chicken), cider selection, fish and chips |
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