A short walk across the river from Manchester city centre, this bar occupies are rounded corner building in an area that is slowly receiving regeneration, although the footfall is still fairly light which is surprising given its proximity to all the action of the big city. The building is one of the older ones remaining here and inside the bar welcomes you as you enter the central doors, seating areas are either side of this. it can feel slightly Bohemian in style with young beard scratching 20 somethings enjoying a lager and music themed pictures on the wall - there is new age WiFi though! There’s a couple of real ales at the bar and plenty of taught leather backed bench seating along the walls to relax on.

A large, rather sterile pub with a limited choice of beers. The Black Lion is on a corner, just in Salford so an easy walk from Manchester city centre At one time it was run by the New Oxford people but only for about a year and it reopened in 2011 as a pub-cum-community arts centre. Apparently there are three business partners, one of whom was formerly a brewer at Bazens’. It’s surprising then that the beer choice is so limited and, frankly, not very interesting There are about five hand pumps, two of which were off when we were there. Perhaps they concentrate more on the arts and the food – a £3 roast was advertised (“Don’t want to stick your hand up a chicken’s arse? Come to the Black Lion – home of the £3 roast!”) alongside daily specials. I like to support community pubs but this one, although clean and bright, lacks atmosphere and if I were to venture over the river into Salford again I’d go straight past, onwards and upwards to the New Oxford. (Visited 20 January 2012).