letting the good times roll
Since 1776
You can’t just create a sense of history: You have to earn it.
And the 200 year long story of The Castle Hotel is woven not just into its bricks and mortar, its Victorian tiles or its mosaic floors. It’s a feeling that you can’t out your finger on. It’s in its people. In its memories. And in the layers of history built up over centuries of experience.
The Castle Hotel started life as The Crown and Sceptre in 1776, although records show that there has been a dwelling on the site since the 1400s. Over the course of a century the pub changed name several times, trading first as The Crown and Sceptre, then The Crown and Anchor and later The Clock Face. In the late nineteenth century the pub was acquired by Kay’s Atlas Brewery and started a new chapter as The Castle Hotel; which is probably when the current tiled façade and bar were added. In the early 1930s Frederic Robinsons took over Kay’s Atlas Brewery and, consequently, The Castle Hotel.
The pub’s now deeply cemented relationship with the city’s music scene probably began when it was a stopping off point for to people on their way to Band on the Wall, though it was strengthened with involvement from John McBeith, who later helped launch The Roadhouse.
In 1979, a now legendary John Peel interview with Ian Curtis took place here, weaving The Castle further into the fabric of Manchester’s musical heritage. The Castle’s custodian at the time was Kath Smethurst, who put on local band nights in the back room and furthered the pub’s reputation as a musical and creative hub. Sadly, The Castle fell on hard times, Kath passed away, and The Castle closed its doors in 2008.
This cherished public house was not to remain closed for long though, and in 2009 friends Jonny Booth and Rupert Hill took ownership of The Castle Hotel and set about bringing the decrepit building back to life. After an period of restoration which saw the infamous leaky roof replaced and the pub’s entire interior sympathetically brought back in line with its rich heritage, the renovation was completed in October 2010 with the grand unveiling of the new Music Hall and Theatre at In The City 2010.
So that’s the story so far. And now The Castle Hotel is ready for its next chapter; one which will see this historical drinking house continue to evolve at the beating heart of Manchester’s creative communities. So come along, pull up a stool, and become a part of our story.
The Northern Quarter's Original
Ale House
With ten cask handpulls, traditional pub snacks, the best jukebox in Manchester, live music and entertainment every week, we're your local pub in the heart of the city.
Gallery
Our Events
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Sat 19 May
Carefully Planned #12 All Dayer
Mon 21 May
SJM Concerts Presents The Chevin
Sat 26 May
Northern Noise Presents Bluebird Kid Clark
Sun 27 May
Red Balloon Presents Bird
Mon 28 May
Thank Folk For That Presents Paper Aeroplanes
Tue 29 May
Beta Presents Into It. Over It.
Wed 30 May
Bad Language New Writing Collective
Thu 31 May
Red Balloon Presents Folks
Sun 3 June
DHP Presents New Street Adventure
Mon 4 June
Glasswerk Presents Tristan McKay
Wed 6 June
Laissez Faire Club Presents Jake Mattison
Thu 7 June
Glasswerk Presents Towns
Sat 9 June
Cloud Sounds Presents The See See
Sun 10 June
House of Cards Presents John Stammers
Mon 11 June
First Draft Presents Cabaret in the Pub
Tue 12 June
The Other Room Presents Experimental Poetry
Thu 14 June
Queen Street Presents The Minx
Thu 21 June
Hey! Manchester Presents Vinny Peculiar
