The Old Monkey
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Quick info
About The Old Monkey
The Old Monkey is a pub in Manchester at 90 Portland St, close to the Gay Village and Piccadilly Centre. The bar pours Holts Bitter and Holts "Two Hoots" on draught, with local beers on tap and a whiskey selection alongside. A food menu comes from the kitchen for those who want a meal with their drink. Entertainment runs through comedy nights and trivia, and there is pool for anyone who would rather play a game. A function room can be booked for groups who want a space of their own.
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention holts bitter, function room hire, trailblazer stout and local draught beers.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention holts bitter, function room hire, trailblazer stout and local draught beers.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the Holts beer on draught, with Holts Bitter and Two Hoots described as in perfect condition, and one reviewer crediting the bitter for the pub's new place in the 2026 Good Beer Guide. Trailblazer Stout and a spread of local beers at reasonable prices come up close behind. Staff are repeatedly called welcoming, friendly and helpful, with one reviewer noting they remember what a customer ordered days earlier. Another says the team made booking the function room for a 21st birthday easy. Several praise the chilled, warm atmosphere and the music, and one calls it a safe, central spot near the gay village and Piccadilly. Food gets a mixed picture: one reviewer calls it awesome with a pint thrown in, another liked the lovely looking menu, yet one arrived to find the kitchen closed. A lone dissenting reviewer found it just an average pub and pointed to the Grey Horse a few doors down as more interesting. The closing note from a visiting football crowd was a pub that filled up with Newcastle United away fans.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the Holts beer on draught, with Holts Bitter and Two Hoots described as in perfect condition, and one reviewer crediting the bitter for the pub's new place in the 2026 Good Beer Guide. Trailblazer Stout and a spread of local beers at reasonable prices come up close behind. Staff are repeatedly called welcoming, friendly and helpful, with one reviewer noting they remember what a customer ordered days earlier. Another says the team made booking the function room for a 21st birthday easy. Several praise the chilled, warm atmosphere and the music, and one calls it a safe, central spot near the gay village and Piccadilly. Food gets a mixed picture: one reviewer calls it awesome with a pint thrown in, another liked the lovely looking menu, yet one arrived to find the kitchen closed. A lone dissenting reviewer found it just an average pub and pointed to the Grey Horse a few doors down as more interesting. The closing note from a visiting football crowd was a pub that filled up with Newcastle United away fans.
Featured reviews
- Noa Melin
“Very nice assortment of local beers on tap at a reasonable price, plenty of space and helpful staff”
- Katy
“Cute spot. Spacious area to sit and have a drink. We didn’t order food.”
- Richard Evans (TheKingLovely)
“What a brilliant pub! The staff were so welcoming, the beer was reasonable, tasty and did the job (hiccup!), the atmosphere was chilled, warm and friendly and the music was spot on! For someone who has deathly anxiety of being in a big city and WOULDN’T be in Manchester unless I HAD to be, even though it’s actually turned out to be a pretty cool place! The Old Monkey gave me two hours of being in a country pub, rocking fantastic music in the middle of the big city! Thank you so much, guys!”
- Pete
“It's a busy pub. Not particularly interesting to be honest, just your average pub. Try the Grey Horse a few doors down. Much more interesting.”
- Cheryl Kershaw
“Grabbed a quick drink tonight and it was very welcoming with friendly staff. Fast service on busy corner of Manchester. They are still the typical pub which is hard to maintain and should be cherished because they remain same safe space for a breather and a break from the harsh night life whilst being cosy enough to meet up as a central location as near the gay villiage and Piccadilly Centre. Drop by and enjoy a quick moment whilst you plan next steps. The monkey will always have your back.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Classic pub offering hearty food & a whiskey selection, plus comedy nights, pool & trivia.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Location
Bars near The Old Monkey
- Grey Horse Inn4.51,0710 mi
hyde's real ales, perfect guinness, tiny cosy interior
- Fab Café Bar4.41,1960.1 mi
sci-fi memorabilia decor, arcade games and foosball, themed quiz and bingo nights
- K2 Karaoke4.19270.1 mi
private karaoke rooms, salt and pepper tofu, late-night booking policy issues
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Old Monkey | 4.31,593 | — | holts bitter, function room hire, trailblazer stout |
| Grey Horse Inn | 4.51,071 | 0 mi | hyde's real ales, perfect guinness, tiny cosy interior |
| Fab Café Bar | 4.41,196 | 0.1 mi | sci-fi memorabilia decor, arcade games and foosball, themed quiz and bingo nights |
| K2 Karaoke | 4.1927 | 0.1 mi | private karaoke rooms, salt and pepper tofu, late-night booking policy issues |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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