Review: The Bay Horse Tavern

Located on Thomas Street in the heart of the Northern Quarter, The Bay Horse Pub has reopened under the direction of the owners of Liar’s Club, Crazy Pedro’s and NQ neighbours, Cane and Grain.

Renamed The Bay Horse Tavern, despite the new ownership, it has retained the traditional charm which its predecessor possessed, whilst offering a higher quality experience for its wine and diners.

Good, trendy pubs are in short supply in the Northern Quarter. Despite the vast array of bars and cafes which the area holds, traditional pubs which are student friendly are sparse. However, owners Ross Mackenzie, Jobe Ferguson and Lyndon Higginson have seemingly taken the first step towards rectifying this, with their new establishment. The Mancunion was offered the opportunity to attend a press-evening at the pub, to try out the new menu and drinks menus.

Dimly lit and cosy, The Bay Horse Tavern boasts a perfect blend of Northern Quarter ‘edge’ and Mancunian traditional-style pub. A great selection of lagers and ales are available bottled and on draft, whilst the wine selection is not to be sniffed at either.

The food menu is perfect for both snacking and full-blown dining, with a great selection of small plates and sides ranging from £3-6, as well as a rotisserie section which is great for sharing. The duck heart served with blackberry purée is a particularly pleasant succulent surprise, and the ox’s cheek on toast is another fantastic starter.

For those looking for a heartier portion, the suckling pig is delicious, and there is a fine selection of sandwiches to choose from, ranging from £6-10. The fish finger sarnie is an unlikely stand-out, whereas vegetarians can enjoy a delicious halloumi and avocado sandwich.

Pastry-lovers will also be impressed by the assemblage of pies available, including a particularly tasty cheese and onion pie.

The atmosphere and price of The Bay Horse Tavern will be very appealing to students and young professionals, whilst it still retains enough traditional-style charm to attract older pub-goers as well.

Recommendations:

Duck heart with blackberry purée (£5)

Wild mushrooms, goats cheese, toast (£5)

Fish finger & tartar sauce sandwich (£7)

Rotisserie pork, toffee apple & caramelised onion sandwich (£10)

Suckling pig (£12)