MANCHESTER city centre has a new underground watering hole well worth visiting. No. we don’t mean Be At One, national chain takeover of the dungeon-like former Circle Club behind the Barton Arcade.
TOM’s much keener on The Brink, one beer lover’s bright, welcoming homage to our amazing local craft beers. Gareth Williams’ basement micro bar is directly opposite Bridge Street from fellow subterranean ale den The Gaslamp but is quite different from that dimly-lit heavily tiled retreat in the former kitchens of a street children's mission.
Situated underneath the House Of Makeup beauty salon, The Brink offers dazzling white walls, a huge Manc mural and pine tables so pristine you are scared of smudging them. Where are the beer mats? Much needed when there are pumps for five cask and four keg beers – all reserved for beers brewed within a 25-mile radius of nearby St Ann's Church.
Gareth’s true to his word On our first visit ales on offer came from Runaway, Brightside, Blackjack, First Chop, Deeply Vale and the like – plus Red Bank Cider from Bolton. It all still looks a work in progress, but Gareth (pictured above) promises a cold food offering soon for what is a very cosy bolthole. Who said the pub was dead?
The Brink, 65, Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BQ. @BrinkMCR