Common Bar
Creative Tourist
Common is a favourite haunt of many in Manchester’s arts communities. The reason, essentially, is that everything they do is pretty forward-thinking. From their top selection of beer to their rotating art exhibition to their array of poetry nights, musical performances and arts workshops, the bar do innovation well.
Its overhaul, a few years ago, caused controversy, but Common’s artful look gets our vote. Fully retractable windows, a whole lot of plywood and bespoke ash tables, an open bar and bare brick walls have injected a little Scandi-style in to a bar once known for its street art-painted walls – and it makes the whole place feel really airy and spacious.
The interior is by local furniture and interiors designer, Peter Masters – also of Oi Polloi fame – while the ceramic fittings, those pale grey lampshades, coffee tampers and bespoke beer pump handles, have been made by Joe Hartley, whose solo exhibition at the Craft Centre a few years back first showed what he was made of. His work isn’t just architecture.
As for what matters most, the beer and the food, Common is doing great things. The kitchen is now the abode of Nell’s Pizza, serving up NYC inspired, MCR made pizzas by the whole 22″ pie or by the slice. Characterised by a thin, crisp base, and using only the best in British-led ingredients, it’s a treat, and a reasonably priced one if you head in at the right time; on weekdays until 4pm, any 14″ Nell’s Pizza can be yours for just £7.77.
As for the beer, there’s a constant rotation of independent gems, always including at least a few locals, from Cloudwater to Track. The cocktails are equally great, and you can pick these up for £6 all day on Mondays, and for three glorious hours every other day. What’s not to like?
