Shrouded in scaffolding, The Deansgate has been boarded up since it closed its doors in early 2020 – but now the neat red brick Manchester boozer is being given a new lease of life.
Acquired by UK pub giant Greene King earlier this year, the city centre watering hole has been through many iterations in its 200+ year history. Now, it is being lovingly restored and reimagine once again.
During the past two and a bit years, there’s been much speculation from city dwellers about what is next for the pub. At last, we can fill you in.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Currently in the midst of a three-month-long reburbishment. when it reopens the pub will boast two additional outdoor terraces and an extra third floor.
As for its existing two floors and rooftop terrace, these are undergoing a complete refit and refurb with new owners Greene King aiming to retain as many of the pub’s characterful features as possible.
Stained glass windows, external frontage, ceilings, and woodwork will be restored to their original glory, whilst the pub’s beautiful festoon lights are given a glow up.
Elsewhere, new additions will include a feature bar and bespoke brass fonts on the ground floor, built-in seating booths for casual dining, and the aforementioned two new outdoor terraces.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Formerly known as the Crown Inn, (as can be seen on the stonework above the door), then Galvin’s Irish Bar, then simply Galvin’s, the building itself has been a pub since the 18th Century.
Desribed as once being ‘a typical backstreet boozer’ (despite sitting on Deansgate), in years gone by it was a popular haunt of local bikers who would frequent the Harley Davison store that once upon a time neighboured it.
In a period where many pubs are closing, the renovation and reopening of this beloved Manchester watering hole is very welcome indeed.
Speaking on the renovation and planned reopening, Jonathon Evans, General Manager at The Deansgate, said: “The Deansgate is well-known and well-loved by the people of Manchester and we are looking forward to opening its doors once more and welcoming customers old and new.
“The new-look pub will pay homage to some of the venue’s original features and we also have some exciting new additions which we’re looking forward to unveiling.”
An official reopening date has not yet been confirmed for the pub but it is set to be this month.
For more information on The Deansgate, visit the Greene King website here.
Feature image – The Manc Eats / Supplied
Eats
Lively Irish pub Nancy Spains set to open in Manchester for the first time
Daisy Jackson
An Irish bar famed for its live music is heading up to Manchester for the first time, and is promising £2.50 pints to lure us in.
Nancy Spains will be venturing out of London for the first time promising to bring the ‘ultimate traditional Irish pub experience’ to the Northern Quarter.
If you were to ask what the hottest trend in hospitality is right now the answer would, apparently, be Guinness. We’re drowning in the stuff.
This latest opening is more about Murphy’s, another Irish stout, than Guinness (they actually won’t serve Guinness at all) but the craic will be much the same.
Nancy Spains is actually set to open almost directly opposite the aforementioned Salmon of Knowledge, taking over the former Corner Boy unit on Stevenson Square in the heart of Manchester.
To celebrate its opening, the pub will be serving its first 5000 pints of Murphy’s for just £2.50, so that it can show off the atmosphere that’s established it as ‘one of London’s favourite pubs’.
They’re promising an array of Irish whiskeys behind the bar, live music performances, and a lively late-night setting.
Nancy Spains was set up by three brothers who travelled all over their home county of rural Kerry researching Irish pubs, before launching two venues down in London.
They want it to balance a traditional pub with the vibrancy of the city.
Peter O’Halloran, co-founder of Nancy Spains commented, “We’re so excited to be launching in Manchester, bringing Nancy Spains to the heart of the Northern Quarter.
“After the success of our two venues in London, it was only right to bring Nancy Spains’ infectious spirit and Irish pride to Manchester. Slainte!”
Nancy Spains will open its first Manchester pub on Saturday 15 March at 21 Hilton Street.
Lucky Mama’s – The Italian restaurant serving pasta in a dough bowl and ‘pregnant’ pizzas
Daisy Jackson
Lucky Mama’s is a local sensation, thanks to its slightly whacky but delicious Italian creations like pasta served in a bowl made of pizza dough and its latest offering, a ‘pregnant’ pizza.
What on Earth is a pregnant pizza, you ask? Firstly we should stress this is a nickname we’ve bestowed upon the dish, rather than Lucky Mama’s chosen branding.
But essentially it’s a helping of fresh pasta that’s folded into the bubble crust of the pizza, like a half-calzone.
Lucky Mama’s started life when founders Mamadou Dhiam and Gaby Santos set up a trailer in their backyard in Eccles in the depths of lockdown.
But thanks to a formidably loyal following that’s spread the word of Lucky Mama’s far and wide, it now has two pretty pink restaurants in Greater Manchester.
Back in 2022, they threw open the doors to their Chorlton restaurant, before returning back to home turf for spot number two in Monton in 2024.
The recipes are fresh and pretty authentically Italian up until the last step, when they throw a curveball by loading their pasta into unconventional vessels.
‘Pregnant’ pizzas at Lucky Mama’sTraditional Roman pizzasLucky Mama’s pink restaurant in Chorlton
Their pasta pizza bowls are what they’re best known for and they fly out of the kitchen – this is where pizza dough is placed around a metal bowl before being baked in an oven.
Then it’s piled high with freshly made pasta, with popular flavours like cacio e pepe, mushroom alfredo, and rasta pasta.
Pasta is available in a regular ceramic bowl too.
You’ll find Lucky Mama’s at 565 Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton; and 217 Monton Road in Eccles.
Georgina Pellant -
11th October 2022 
