Grand Central

This is a proper old skool rock and metal bar (one of the last ones around here unfortunately where it used to be rock central)!
We popped in here for a quick pint on Friday night after seeing the Prodigy at nearby Manchester Central and it was exactly what we were after — a proper sawdust joint playing balls to the wall rock! Lots of Queen, Led Zep and Machine head were rattling our brains while the juke box had some pretty decent selections to keep you happy all night.
Pretty rubbish beer selection really — Hobgoblin and Guinness the best options but this place isn’t really about quaffing quality shiz! It’s all about the tunes and vibe.

Manchester hub for the Alternative
It was once mainly used as a meeting place for people on their way to Jilly’s Rockworld which closed in 2010. This place really would be a 3 star score if it wasn’t for the community atmosphere that surrounds it. Most aspects won’t impress you and you might even be frustrated by certain levels of quality but don’t let that put you off. This place drives towards maintaining a good rock and the like community feel which has always been incredibly accepting of diversity.
The addition of little extra touches really make it feel more than your average pub, there’s a pool table, game machine and even jukebox. The seating is fairly open plan but there is a good array of seating types even and even an area for smoker/​vape types. Overall I really enjoy the place and feel its a strong part of Manchester culture that I recommend you at least try once. It can be intimidating for some but I will mentioned there’s usually good security and its close to many forms of transport. So come to rock out and chill out.

This place is not for the faint hearted. If you like don’t like to drink Hobgoblin from tap, thrash around to some occasional live music, stick slightly to the floor and get served by a very dishy bar-​woman with cool dredds… then don’t come here.
If you like all of the above… then why are you still at home or in Yates!!?
Great for groups and for meeting cool alternative/​like minded people… just don’t bring your Gran. unless she looks like Alice Cooper.

Popped in for a quick pint and liked this place. I wanted to head here purely for the jukebox and I wasnt disappointed machinehead blasting out when we wandered in. There was hob goblin and strongbow on tap so our group was well catered for. The decore is a little odd for a metal bar, lots of garish colours… but thats a minior point. the staff are friendly and the place is what you would expect from a metal bar so thumbs up from me.

If you are a fan of heavy metal and a very Gothic environment you will probably like this place, but since I don’t fit in that category this one was not exactly my cup of tea. Grand Central has a very central location as it is right on Oxford road near the train station so its very convenient (helpful for directionally challenged folks like me).
You will find people who have tattoos and piercings all over their body wearing black lipstick and really dark makeup sitting and chatting in bright lights, instead of headbanging and neon lights (which didn’t make sense to me because usually metal pubs/​clubs have barely any light). I am a big rock fan but not a metal fan at all so would rather go somewhere like Temple or Band on the Wall. They have live performances too on week nights I believe (need to check that out). The drinks were reasonably cheap, one pint costs around 3.50 which is pretty decent. The bar girl was a bit inappropriately dressed as she was not a Victoria’s secret model or a Playboy bunny (I mean she was very well endowed all over) but yet she was wearing just a sports bra and really tight leggings showing and her breast covered with tattoos and piercings was in your face (literally) when you go to order a drink at the bar.
I landed up there with a few friends (who happen to be metal fans) but most of us barring those two lovers of really loud music which sounds like someone is screaming on top of their voice, didn’t exactly have the best times of our lives.
Verdict: Not my idea of a night out but I am not the best judge of a Metal Pub.

Metal
pub, just serving Hobgoblin. But I like both and they go so well together.
Decent looking place boasting a lot of live rock in the evenings.

Loud and proud sort of pub on the way up Oxford Road very close to Oxford Road station and Portland Street. Very noisy interior with a good number of tables but normally filled with some interesting characters ranging from heavy rockers to your grumpy old smoking man. However at night it is usually heaving and a good place to enjoy a pint at times. Not my cup of tea but definitely has its perks.

Do you ever remember in Empire magazine, when they used to have the ‘If Wet’ feature? They’d mention an actor or actress, and have an ‘If Wet’ alternative who looked rather like them. I have a few myself. Feel free to Google Image them as I’m aware they may not be known to everyone. Ian Somerhalder, if wet, Chase Crawford. Mischa Barton, if wet, Jessica Tovey. See how it works? The Salisbury, if wet, Grand Central.
The first time I entered Grand Central I was struck by how similar to The Salisbury it actually is. It’s like its smaller, less twisty and turny, less boisterous twin. And it’s right round the corner. While The Salisbury and Thirsty Scholar are tucked up near the train station, Grand Central hits you as soon as you step onto the main Oxford Road. It has the same jovial rock n’ roll atmosphere, the same baffling array of schnapps… in fact there’s really not much between them. So why would you go to one and not the other? I can’t think of any reason other than if one’s packed, go to the other, if one’s too loud, go to the other… there’s that Empire ethos again. I wonder if they realised their little game would extend as far as to my comparison of pubs in Manchester. Who’da thunkit? Last time I was here it was a warm-​up for some drinks at Salisbury, but you could happily go the other way round. Also, the staff are mega nice. And they have nice cold bottles of Peroni. Yummers.

I am shamelessly going to give Grand Central it’s first 5 star review… Being a Metal fan it’s always nice to know that there is a place where people like yourself congregate, and when i’m on a night out, that place for me is GC. I was never a big fan of Jillys, in my opinion it started going downhill in about 95 and I started going in GC in around about 98.
Being the type of person who likes to walk into a place and be smacked in the face by Slayers «Angel of Death» rather than carressed into a coma by Bieber, I can only praise GC for being what it is, a top quality Metal Pub and a really good introduction to the Manchester Metal scene for newbies to the City…

Rock and beer. Lots of metalheads and goths drinking here… but that’s cool with me.
Though I don’t really fit the aforementioned style I didn’t feel out of place.
The bartender wasn’t really that nice, but whatever… that’s rock-​n-​roll, right?

Grand Central is not a pub to pay a visit to if you have hearing problems. Or if you have an aversion to heavy metal music or huge sweaty men with dreadlocks moshing. However, if you’re looking for a no nonsense pub full of friendly punters and cheap beer, then it really is the place for you.
Despite not being a woman of the metal persuasion, I’ve been in the Grand Central numerous times and have never had a bad night there. Then again, the cider and blacks I was drinking might have had a few things to do with that (blimmin’ Goths). I was also once there when they had a ‘karaōke night’ which was… a bit of an experience (and certainly not one for the faint hearted either).
One of the things I really love about this place is how welcoming and accepting it is. No one here gives two hoots what you look like, and I’ve been here on numerous occasions where I’ve wondered just how many tattoos one man’s arm can hold.
The floor may be a bit sticky with spit and sawdust, and the toilets may need a bit of a defumigating to rid them of all the centuries of filth and poorly spelt graffiti which has accumulated there. However, this is a pub with real character, friendly punters and a hell of a lot of heart. And, best of all, if you buy a round here, you’ll almost certainly get change from a tenner too.

I’d been walking past this pub for years and hearing Metallica pumping out through its walls and seeing its big bruisers with dog collars and tattoos standing outside, always feeling it was somewhere i would never go.
However, when a freind of mine who was that way inclined both musically and stylistically took me there, I was pleasantly surprised.
All the people she knew were very charming and I had a great laugh. Nice pints as well. I can’t say I liked the music but I would probably have to admit that it was growing on me by the end of the night.
Give it a go. You might even surprise yourself!

RAAAAAAAAARGGGGHH!
Grand Central is a pub that defines itself on how metal it is. Big massive humans congregate around foaming booze bottles, grunting along to ear-​vaporising industrial strength metal that strips your skin off the bone as it tears out of the speakers.
The floor is sticky with sweat and guitar riffs and the bar men are all gigantic with faces filled with bits of metal and ears with great big bloody holes in them.
Of course, with all this aggression in the air, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the minute you walk in, you’re going to get battered for not being metal enough or on the wrong end of an impromptu wrecking ring.
Not so.
Some of Manchester’s friendliest people congregate in this spit ‘n’ sawdust joint and they’re all more than happy to shoot the breeze about whatever inane topic you muster up.
Cheap beer and nice people. It don’t sound so bad after all, eh?

Do you like Megadeath? Korn? Avid Metallica fan? Avenge Sevenfold gives you peace?
And you know on these lines? (I’m not that good at this to be very honest!) Then you’re going to love Grand Central! It’s absolutely great for Rock music. The place is filled with leather jackets and big boots and even if you’re wearing neither, you’re going to feel pretty much comfortable here! (I went in on a very random night wearing a Spongebob t-​shirt, its a long story)
I found it pretty much similar to the neighbouring Thirsty Scholar and Salisbury’s but it’s got more Rock music in here. Daytime is obviously quieter and you can relax while Oxford road is facing its peak.
Good fun and a good rock n’ rolla time!

This is a proper metal pub! It used to be one of my favourite pre-​Rockworld watering holes. But I haven’t been in for quite a while. Still, whenever I do go, I always have a brilliant time!
It’s a down-​to-​earth, authentic place where the floors are sticky and the metal blares noisily all day long. In fact, if you pop in during the evening, you might even catch a live band or two.
The sheer noisiness of Grand Central means it’s not so good if you’re out for a quiet drink with friends, but it’s perfect if you’re looking for a place for a pre-​party pint or two! As far as I remember, the beers are nothing special here. However, the atmosphere and friendly bar staff more than make up for them!

First 5^th Avenue, then 42^nd Street and now Grand Central?
Unlike its American-​sounding companions, Grand Central is not an indie club. Grand Central is the best rock pub in Manchester, and don’t let the other reviewers’ descriptions of the patrons put you off. Yes, you are likely to find a smattering of smelly leather jackets, ripped Pantera t-​shirts and pink Mohawks, but Grand Central is suitable for anyone who likes rock music. I like rock, but don’t have tattoos, piercings or dyed hair, and I feel quite at home in this pub.
During the daytime the music isn’t loud, making it an ideal place for an afternoon pint, especially as you can watch the hustle and bustle of Oxford Road from inside. The jukebox gets louder as the night progresses, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights as the masses gather before heading across the road to Jillys. I’ve never been to see the live music on a Thursday, but have often heard it from the bus whilst going past! It seems like Thursday is not the best night to visit if you fancy a quiet pint and a catch-​up with your rocker friends — head across to the Salisbury for that.

Home of the mosher. Grand central acts as a retreat for the punks, metal heads and general rockers. Cheap pints are the standard and the music is always blaringly loud. If you’re into your pearl jam, have long hair and own multiple denim jackets it also could be for you. Grand Central is the central spot for the metal scene of Manchester. Home to live music from new bands and acts that tour the country year after year but staying just out of sight of the mainstream radar. Shame about the lack of food. On Saturday and Friday nights the pub can be rammed. If you want to be a hit head to the jukebox and put on ace of spades, never fails.

Despite the erstwhile opinions of my fellow reviewers, I am going to go out on a limb here and state that I do quite like Grand Central. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I find it to be a fantastic and quintessential part of the Manchester nightlife, but I do like to visit it on occasion when I am bored with the indie side of life. As I so often am.
It has a nice ‘pub’ look inside, which is something which seems to be missing a lot of the time in Manchester venues, and is fairly sizeable, so offers a lot in the way of seating. Plus I enjoy the plethora of patrons within; it’s like looking at a human time-​line of rock and metal, from it’s humble 70’s beginnings, through the highs and lows of the 80’s and 90’s, and into the streamlined image of the 00’s. You get all sorts in here, which only makes it more fun.
The actual prices are good for what is primarily not a pub aimed at students or drunks, and the bar service always seems to relatively prompt. Plus the jukebox has good songs on. And by good I mean classic metal. Which is the only definition of good I want, really.
They have a free live night on a Thursday which can be a laugh. Whether the bands are actually any good or not is something to be discovered, but they will all be pant-​shittingly loud, and often that seems to be the only thing anyone cares about.

I’d not long been in my new job and was attempting to remain discrete if not completely invisible at dinner time when a young lad, ignoring my obvious attempt at antisocial behavior, sat down heavily beside me.
I don’t mean to be judgemental but I am so I suppose I’ll have to be– quickly scanning his extra-​from-​a-​Shaun-​Paul-​video attire, I silently confirmed him to be a bit of knob.
After being twice told of my engaged-​to-​wonderful-​young-​lady status, he decided to tell me where ‘all the fanny was in Manchester’.
It turned out that said ‘fanny’ could be found on week nights in Grand Central.
The music I was assured was ‘fookin top like’ and the lads where all ‘well cool’ and dressed in ‘top gear’- and no he didn’t mean wearing suede jackets and brogues a la Jeremy Clarkson, nor did he even notice that I was indeed attempting to be facetious.
Despite my best ‘you’re a twat, go away face’ my enforced dinner date then went on to recount his his many Grand Central anecdotes, all of which were designed to demonstrate his machismo and prowess with the ‘ladies’.
Just as I was beginning to warm to my new friend, our conversation was cut short by his discovery of the time– apparently it was time for Nandos then a quick session in the gym to get ‘pumped and sexy’.
As I watched him walk away, I decided I’d been far too hasty– he wasn’t a ‘bit of a knob’, he was the king and queen of all knob kind.
Passing Grand Central one evening I popped my head in out of curiosity– all was as feared.

Great rock and metal pub located just next to Oxford Road train station. The pub is large but gets packed on Friday and Saturday nights and is the main choice for a pre Jilly’s drink. The drinks are cheap too.
The crowd is a good mix of different ages and genres and it has a great jukebox which has everything from old classics like Led Zeppelin to heavier stuff like Slayer and Slipknot.
A lot has been said about the toilets but the ladies are about what you would expect for a rock pub. Make sure you have some tissues in your bag though!