One of the oldest pubs in Manchester city centre is not closing, yet - despite rumours circulating on social media. A Twitter post claimed The City boozer on Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter, was shutting 'for good' to the dismay of many.
The historic pub is more than 200 years old, among the oldest in the city, and would be a huge loss to the city centre. The Northern Quarter is well known for its new modern and trendy bars but boozers such as The City, the Castle Hotel opposite, The Wheatsheaf, The Millstone, The Unicorn and Gullivers have stayed strong for those looking for a more traditional feel.
The MEN visited the pub yesterday to see if there was any truth to these rumours, which to an unfortunate extent there is. However, there is still some hope for the pub.
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A member of staff said that there is a meeting scheduled between the pub's bosses and the council later this week about a potential refurbishment of the historical building, which will determine its future.
The MEN understands that if only the interior requires work the boozer will be able to stay open. But, if the whole building is in need of work, then it may be forced to shut. "We all have our fingers crossed," the member of staff said.
The Pubs of Manchester blog describes The City pub as having a 'long and complex history'. It describes how the pub was originally two, one facing Oldham Street, as it does now, and the other fronting Tib Street, where the back entrance to The City now stands.
It has been known as Prince of Orange, Prince William of Gloucester, Peter's Vaults, King's Arms, Kings Arms Vaults Liquor Vaults and Top King, among other names, with records of the building being used as a pub going back to 1780.
The boozer went through these names and a few breweries before landing on The City pub in the 1950s and becoming a freehouse in 1995, Pubs of Manchester says.
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