The cosy canalside country pub in Manchester with its own beer
When it comes to good pubs in spectacular locations, Greater Manchester is lucky enough to have plenty of options. One such pub, The Wharf, is situated right by the junction of the Bridgewater and Rochdale canals in Castlefield and is cosily tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city without being too far away.…
It's also known for its vast drinks menu, its pies and its expansive Sunday roast offerings. This weekend, the Castlefield pub will also officially introduce its very own IPA beer - created by Manchester brewery ShinDigger.
According to Lloyd, it’s already gone down a treat with those lucky enough to try it early. To mark the launch, ShinDigger will be handing out samples of the new Wharf IPA at the pub this weekend, whilst the barbecue grills will also be fired up for some freshly-cooked delights to compliment the pours. Not only that but there will be special cocktails on offer just for this weekend as well as live music from local artists.
We just need to hope and pray that weather stays in check. For our Pub of the Week feature, we’ve spoken to Lloyd about what makes the grand pub - which recently underwent a refurbishment earlier this year - so special and who some of its famous punters have been over the years as well as hearing more about its vast history over the years.
How did you get into the pub industry in the first place? I’ve worked in the hospitality industry since I was 15.
I started part-time while I was studying, and I quickly got the bug for it - I loved the buzz, the people and the atmosphere, and I’ve never really left. I’ve worked my way up from casual roles through pretty much everything in between, eventually moving into management.
It’s been a great journey, and I think having experience at all different levels has given me a real appreciation for every role within a pub and, most importantly, the people who make it work. What is the significance behind the pub’s history? The Wharf sits on an area historically used in the late 19th century as an open wharf, where travelling cranes stacked goods and unloaded cargo onto barges.
Hence the naming. It was purpose built in 1998 as a pub, named Jackson’s Wharf, which closed in 2005.
In between closure, the pub became caught up in a major planning battle over proposals to replace it with apartments, luckily local opposition helped defeat the plans and the pub remained. Following extensive refurbishment, the pub reopened in 2012 and has existed as The Wharf, which we all know and love, since.
What’s your best-selling drink? Our ShinDigger IPA, which branded as Wharf IPA.
The guests love it, and we do too! What’s an unusual thing that's happened at the pub?
No two days are ever the same at The Wharf, so I’d say every day brings its own stand-out moments — for all the right reasons and sometimes the wrong ones! There’s always something going on, whether it’s a funny interaction with a customer, an unexpected guest or just one of those days where absolutely anything can happen.
Take from that what you will! Have there been any famous or notable guests who have visited? Over the years I’ve been around, we’ve been lucky enough to have some well-known faces visit us.
We’ve had James Morrison, Little Mix, Fleur East and Nathan Sykes. It’s always a bit of a buzz when someone recognisable walks through the door, but one of the things I love most is that, once they’re in the pub, they’re just another customer enjoying the pub like everyone else.
What is it about your local community that you love? The mix of local regulars, canal-side visitors, families, dog walkers, workers and people coming into Castlefield for the atmosphere.
One of the things I love most about The Wharf is how you can look out across the terrace and see such a mix of people enjoying the same space. You might have older regulars sitting with a pint, young families enjoying lunch, groups of friends meeting up, and younger people having a drink by the canal — and somehow everyone just fits together. Have there been any haunted encounters or folk tales involving the pub?
Not that I know of! I’ve been around the pub for a good number of years and I’ve never heard of any particular ghost stories or haunted encounters associated with The Wharf.
Although, given the history of Castlefield, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few stories out there… How can people support their local pub?
Visit regularly, bring friends and family, eat as well as drink there, support events and recommend it to other people. The Wharf is on Blantyre House, 6 Slate Wharf, Manchester M15 4ST.
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