Piccadilly Tap

Always a little busy due to it’s proximity to the Piccadilly Station but that’s a part of it’s charm, lots of comings and going as people wander in have a drink before their train.
This may be a reference lots on many Brits but the interior of this bar reminds me of a 70s Australian RSL (Returned and Services League) lots of laminated wood bar tops, wood panelled walls and a stone ‘lodge’ style wall at the back featuring a large plastic marlin.
The beer selection here is nice a varied, they have the room for versatility with 20 keg and 7 cask lines.

So it’s hard to describe the tap in one way, I really want to love it more than I do.
It seems to want to be something more than it feels like. The prices are high but no different to other craft ale houses in the city.
The atmosphere just feels lacking in any personality of its own and seems more focused on huge profits that others in the area.
This might just have been me, the bar tender was very rude the few times I’ve been, different ones, first one practically ran to the other side of the bar after asking what me and my friends wanted at the sight of a pretty girl walking toward the bar… Skeasy was the best feeling I got from that guy, other guys just seemed like I was a burden for bothering them with a drinks order…
I give it an average score as despite this, the ale selection is damn good so I still find it a good go to if you have time to kill before or after a journey to pic station… Just probably not on a sat night!

Good beers, nice atmosphere, not the best location for including on a drinking session in the centre unless you’re starting or finishing at the station. Fairly reasonably priced and worth a visit to even if it is just to see the weird décor…

I’m getting more used to this as a place that you can go when you’ve perfectly mismatched your train times, so that you can grab a pint.
The cheapest ale isn’t cheap as such, but for quality beer £3.40 feels an ok price. There’s a massive range of quality beer though, and really worth checking out whilst on your way home from work.
With the weather changing, I’m unsure how much longer we’ll be able to sit out the front and watch the world go by though, but it was good last night.

These guys are building up slowly… Buy iurs a cool place right by Piccadilly. The décor is all German retro and the beer is impeccable.
Wonder how close I can cut it to leave to jump on my train.

perfectly fine taproom right next to the station. great pint and lots of choice.
for around these parts hard to do better.

While I sort of get what they’re doing for, this place looks weird. It would be nice if it felt more cosy and welcoming. When I’m in the Sheffield or Euston Taps I feel inclined to miss my train so I can stay longer, but here I don’t get that same desire. Not to say that I don’t like it, because I do.
I’ve been here twice now and enjoyed my beer both times. I like that they always seem to have something a bit ‘different’ on like a lager, wheat beer, Radler etc. On my last visit I had the farmhouse Radler from Cloudwater Brewery. This had real lemon juice so was sour rather than sweet, which I enjoyed. It was a bit pricey at over £3 for ²⁄₃ though.
Staff always seem friendly although I get a bit of a cliquey vibe from them. It always annoys me when it seems as though staff would rather chat among themselves than get to serving you.
I’ll definitely be back, for the beer and just in terms of sheer convenience.

Meeting some friends from Piccadilly Station, it seemed only natural to meet at the new Piccadilly Tap. Walking across from Spinningfields after work, it did feel like a bit of a trek — almost a shame for dwellers across the city, but (obviously) the perfect location for travellers.
As I was walking across, the other half got me a pint of Aspall’s, though there were other options on the chalkboards and in the fridges. The beer choice was apparently worth 5 stars, but not something I can comment on!
The atmosphere was really great, with plenty of people around, and service seemed swift and friendly. Seating downstairs is mainly of the stool variety, but upstairs there is plenty of additional options, and I can imagine an easy area to relax for an afternoon if you were so inclined.
I can’t see it becoming a frequent drinking spot, but a good meeting place for people coming into the city or somewhere to drop them off before their train.

I’ve been looking forward to a Manchester Tap opening ever since I first went to the York Tap and discovered that there is such a thing as a station pub that doesn’t have to be avoided.
Unlike some of the other Tap businesses dotted around train stations of England, Manchester’s location lacks the rugged historic building, situated in the rather ugly 60s ‘lazy s’ on Piccadilly approach doesn’t make for the most inviting first impression, which isn’t improved when you enter the rather dark, low ceilinged bar, clad mostly in a weird toffee coloured wood with a large stone wall at one end.
The large U-​shaped bar at the back dominates, this does make it easy to get served even when busy, the big chalk board also simplifies picking your tipple of choice from nearly 30 on tap (it’s not just a clever name).
There’s a few high tables for people to perch on, a couple of larger ones and lots of places to put your beer while standing (with plans to add more). Of an evening it’s going to get busy with people dashing in for a pint before the train, and that alone makes Piccadilly Tap fit for purpose, for those people that really want to make a dent in the beer list I recommend going upstairs where there is plenty more seating and table football.
It’s early days for Piccadilly Tap and I think there’s plans to tweak here and there, hopefully to make it a little more ‘comfy’, if they sold beer to take away there could be a killing to be made too. As it stands Piccadilly Tap makes for a good first or last pint from the train station but isn’t yet a destination bar.

Given the Twitter photos, I knew Piccadilly Tap would be retro, but I wasn’t expect it to feel so authentic. I like it overall, things aren’t finished yet and a few tweaks should make it look a lot smarter.
There’s loads of beer, 27 taps I believe. Lots of fresh and exciting keg and some locals delights. Cask selection is good if a little dwarfed by the might keg, but all in all, no complaints.
Staff were knowledgable, friendly and a good laugh — everything you want when your mates 30 minutes late.
The Tap is different, and I like that. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for an informal Alternative to PSBH you can’t ask for more.

I really want to give Piccadilly Tap at least 3.5 as it’s just opened and I know they’re building it while we booze up in there — saying that I don’t feel it’s at a 4 from my 2 recent visits.
The first time we went was Weds night when I was really excited about going — we sat downstairs and the atmosphere was just super low, the space is just so empty that I felt like I was in a board meeting for a 1970’s cigarette company… So much space, nothing much to look at…
We popped in on Sat and I sat upstairs and have to say that this was a much nicer experience with bigger tables, more people and a fussball table for a bit of variety — much better and much more enjoyable!
I love the other ‘Taps’ around the country and in all likelihood will keep returning to Piccadilly Tap as it finds it feet, there’s just nothing that’s blowing me away apart from the damn fine selection of beer at this time.

Located in Gateway House just outside the station, Piccadilly Tap has been much-​anticipated, to put it mildly. They are the latest venture from Bloomsbury Leisure, who operate Euston, Waterloo and Wembley Taps in London.
There’s supposed to be some sort of business link with the group behind the as-​yet unopened ‘Manchester Tap’ mooted for Ancoats, who are the same team responsible for Tapped, based in Leeds, Harrogate Tap, Sheffield Tap and York Tap. It’s all rather confusing.
Anyway, PT offer an impressive 27 beer taps (20 keg and seven cask options) and once they get their fridges operational will apparently provide a range of bottled beers for travellers to grab on their way to catch their train and enjoy on the journey.
The décor is rather unique in the city to say the least. It’s practically bare. Behind the front wall of glass (with no signage at time of writing), the walls are floor-​to-​ceiling wood panels — I felt like we were inside a 1970s boardroom or remote cabin somewhere in Sweden. The ceiling is bare concrete and on the far walls they’ve added stone-​cladding which reminded me of the Duckworth’s house on Corrie. I liked it all.
The main focal point is the large triangular bar, overlooked by chalk boards listing which beers are available. The taps are lined up on the back wall and surrounded by copper. It’s a no-​nonsense, stripped back affair. Though it’s expected that beers will be regularly changed, it was surprising to see only one Manchester-​based brewery (newbie Cloudwater) on the menu.
Table numbers are limited (this may change as they’re still finishing things off — their first floor area is still off limits and their toilet is a posh portaloo by ‘Classic Chambers’ out the back and you need to ask for a key before you go). There are a few high tables for standing round and bar stools.
They probably just need a bit more time to get everything sorted and this’ll be the go-​to venue before you head to the station. Personally I’d hope to see more local breweries represented considering their proximity to a major gateway to Manchester.