April - Ford Madox Brown
Ford Madox Brow
Unit 1 Wilmslow Park, Oxford Road, Rusholme, M14 5FT
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month for April 2024 has been awarded to the Ford Madox Brown on Oxford Road, Rusholme, writes Jim Flynn.
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month for April 2024 has been awarded to the Ford Madox Brown on Oxford Road, Rusholme, writes Jim Flynn.
The Ford Madox Brown is named after the famous Pre-Raphaelite artist, who was a one-time resident of nearby Victoria Park (you can see his large murals in Manchester Town Hall). Given the dearth of pubs in Rusholme, an area faced with changing demographics and blighted by pub closures, this is a real sanctuary for the pub goer. Built on the site of the old Manchester Garages (under a student hall of residence) it benefits from being on the edge of the university area close to the Whitworth Art Gallery and Park, as well as being at the end of the famous Curry Mile.
While open plan and clearly displaying all the hallmarks of being a Wetherspoons, it has a warm atmosphere with a very mixed clientele, from students, workers from the nearby hospital complex and people calling in prior to a meal at a nearby Indian restaurant. It boasts the usual Wetherspoons attributes of value for money, a range of beers and confidence that you will not be short-changed on standards. However, what has earned the Ford Madox Brown the accolade is the improvement in choice and quality of its cask beers, which has resulted in a massive upturn in cask beer sales, when much of the market is in somewhat of a decline. The pub has also over this time promoted a number of beer festivals, and supported Mild Magic and the Winter Warmer Wander.
The pub itself is one open-plan room with the bar dominating much of the right-hand side. However, surprisingly it has a warmer feel than you might expect, and given its location, there is always a real buzz about the place, especially in term time. A seated drinking patio at the front gives a continental feel in summer, looking over to the park across the always busy Wilmslow Road.
Congratulations to Olivia ‘Liv’ Sunderland, the pub manager, whose sterling efforts over the last two years since her arrival have undoubtedly led to this award. So why not join the local CAMRA branch to celebrate with her and her staff on Thursday 25 April when a great night will be enjoyed, especially with all cask beer priced at only £1.99 for that night only!
In conjunction with Liv we will be running a CAMRA young members evening alongside the Pub of the Month when you will be able to learn more about the Campaign for Real Ale – see article on page 8. The pub must have more buses passing its front door than any other pub in Britain so there is no excuse. Don’t miss it whatever your age! If Rusholme is a closed book to you take this opportunity to open it.