The Head of Steam Manchester NQ

The 16th Head Of Steam takes over the stunning space on Newton Street formerly occupied by the much-missed Cottonopolis and the quickly-forgotten (despite being pretty good) Lamb of Tartary. 

Sixteenth? Relax, there might be multiple Heads Of Steams across the country, but there’s nothing chainlike about this place. It’s more a grouping of like-minded venues, each afforded a fair degree of independence to both suit the area and give the pleasingly friendly staff freedom to do whatever they wanna do, Eddie & The Hot Rods-style. 

This means it slots neatly into the CT-approved ‘good Manchester pub’ bracket, also occupied by the likes of Gullivers, Eagle Inn and The New Oxford. It’s not quite as scruffy as the disgustingly named Rat & Pigeon (review coming soon), but it’s a far cry from shiny Deansgate polish. 

They’ve gone big on beer: 30 lines, six cask brews, and everything in-between. The list is sprawling, ranging from homegrown IPAs to heavy-hitting Belgian classics like Delirium and Brugse Zot. Best one? If, like me, you have the palate of a child, then Irn Bru sour all the way. 

But this is city centre Manchester, so we want – nay, need – fancy drinks, and Head Of Steam comes up with the goods there too. Expertly prepped, mixed and decanted by in-house cocktail boffin Luke, these are grand concoctions. The Pink Elephant is something of a signature, combining gin, Belgian fruit beer, raspberry, lemon and that all-important egg white (vegan alternative available). 

For food, they’ve roped in roaringly-successful Swinton lads That Burger Place, who do a brilliantly messy line in smashed burgers. This includes the award-winning California Dreaming, which was declared Manchester’s best burger by the hyper-focused Burger Reviews crew, who, judging by their online presence, might want to get their cholesterol levels checked out, stat.

It’s a great burger, for sure, but the kick boost from the Miami Heat swings it. But you don’t have to limit yourself to one as they offer a trio of mini-burgers – let’s never, ever use the term ‘sliders’ – for a bargain £12.50. The crispy, juicy chicken wings are a marvel too, up there with the best, most plump, well-sourced wings anywhere in the city. 

Drawbacks? In truth, the big screens are a bit of a no-no, but hey, if you’re ball-mad, there are few better places to kick back and watch a game.

Right now, Head Of Steam is ticking all boozey boxes. They’re nailing beers and cocktails, and serving up the exact kind of food your alcohol-addled brain could want. All high-quality, all with enough variety to keep you happy for many a midweek blowout.