Because of the opening times of establishments on this Weekday Wander we will end up 'orbiting' Piccadilly Rail Station, but don't panic, space suits are not required (unless you want to show off your fancy dress Christmas present!). It also illustrates a transition from the old traditional pub to the modern brewery tap, but not quite in correct chronological order. We meet in Piccadilly Station prior to the 5 minute walk to the first Pub. If joining us later, travel down the Approach from the station towards the Piccadilly Gardens, and when you reach the 219 bus stop the pub is on your left behind Malmaison Manchester.

We start today in the Waldorf, located on a spookily named location, Gore Street. Where this pub some 3 miles south on the A57, the name could be easily explained if it crossed the Gore Brook (think Gorton). However the local waterway (not counting canals) is Shooters Brook. "Where?" you say. Shooters Brook crosses London Road where it meets Store Street and the tram track. According to Googles AI, Gore Street comes from the word gore meaning a small, triangular piece of land, which was common in Anglo-Saxon times. (It's on the internet so it must be true, but then again the AI messed up the punctuation.) Don't get there too early as it doesn't open until 11am. To the outside the Waldorf presents a traditional Victorian(?) exterior (but don't look up at the modern brickwork) and has extensive wood fixtures inside, however little is original after a major refurbishment in 2018. Though open plan, there are some 'private' corners, so if no one is obvious, snoop around to make sure we aren't hidden away in a quiet corner. Beers are a mix from traditional breweries and modern micros. Another plus point is they serve food from when they open.

We now loop back up the Piccadilly Approach to our modern micro pub, the Piccadilly Tap. Being a converted shop premise the décor is as you would expect. Though there are inumerable keg beers (okay 17 at the time of writing) it also has eight cask ales, find out which at https://piccadillytap.com/beer-list. Don't be fooled by the number of handpulls on the bar (an additional one having been added in August!) as some real ales are served via a font. Another recent addition are freshly made pizzas served from when the place opens at noon. Should you wish a game of pool (or to drop things on passing commuters!) then upstairs and on the balcony are for you. We now have to partially retrace our steps to our next outlet.

There is the option to travel along the Rochdale Canal towpath to get to our next pub, but as finding an entry point, coupled with the fact some 75% is in a 'tunnel' under 111 Piccadilly (that big office block at the bottom of the Piccadilly Approach) and Malmaison Manchester that journey will be forsaken. Though it is worth taking a look off the bridge on Aytoun Street to see how the canal is now shoehorned among all the modern buildings

Don't rush too much, as the Molly House, doesn't open until 1pm. CAMRA Pub Search (or whatever we call the recent re-brand of WhatPub) says the Molly House is located in a former worsted tailors shop. For a West Riding of Yorkshire lad this is confusing, worsted (spun) is a manufacturing method which produces smooth wool fabric used in most posh' suits [okay, nowadays most are man made, but going back to the pre-war age everything was wool based]. The exception is woolen (spun) thread which is used in tweed, hence the 'spiky' rough finish. [If you are interested in the production methods an explanation can be accessed via https://www.hilltopcloud.co.uk/blog/woolen-vs-worsted.] So why did a crafts-person advertise themselves as a worsted tailor (unless it was to say "No rustic outdoor types here")? Back to the pub. Downstairs is more of a café where not only beer but specialty teas and tapas are served, hence its name, 'The Tea Room'. Upstairs the lighting is more intimate with the furnishing including sofas, hence its name 'The Bordello'. All this harks back to the original London Molly Houses whic were comfortable meeting places for gender unconventional Victorians.

We now travel south to end up almost beneath platform 13 & 14 of Piccadilly station where we visit the Bulls Head. Now a Marstons pub, but for many years owned by Burtonwood. Being opposite the new rear entrance to Piccadilly Station it can become busy when there are delays or a football train arrives, but being surrounded only by student accommodation it can also be very quiet at times. In days gone by (okay, when I was a student at UMIST) the rail traveler influx wasn't as often because the current entrance opposite wasn't there (but 'locals' knew of both an exit from platforms 13 & 14 direct on to Fairfield Street plus a cunning set of steps which took you from the Approach entrance down to Store Street). Back in those days there was also a separate tap room, now the back left hand corner of the current open plan interior, and a snug, the raised seating sharp left on entering. Run with superb professionalism across the board, the Bulls Head never disappoints and is a beacon for quality. Evidence of this is in the numerous awards from both CAMRA and trade bodies received in recent years. The only potential blemish would be if Megga International Bland Beer Corporation (or whatever Marstons is now called) were to try and impose Fresh Ale on the landlord.

A bit like in the days of Victorian adventurers venturing in to the heart of a foreign land, if available, we should now engage the help of a local guide when trying to find our next two outlets.

First up, burried in an industrial estate, and surrounded by many sites building the most recent gentrification of former industrial areas, is Track Brewery Tap. As would be expected of most brewery taps, there are a multitude of keg lines, but thankfully accompanied by two or three cask ales. Again, as would be expected, the décor is what you would envisage in an industrial unit, breeze block walls (or is that cinder block - discuss) with canteen style tables and chairs. There is an outside drinking area, but as it is the middle of winter and dusk will be upon us, we will (probably) give this a miss. NOTE: Cashless commerce carried out here, so those without access to electronic monies will have to ask for a sub off a friend [this is when you find out who your friends are!] Food is also available here, but unfortunately only from 5pm Wednesday onward – Dash!

The location of our next outlet couldn't be easier, being across the road and a little way back towards Piccadilly. The confusion comes because the sign outside doesn't actually say Cloudwater Brewery Tap but Unit 9 Taproom (the actual address). Further confusion abounds as several other units are branded Cloudwater (Head Office, Brewery, Barrel Store, Cold Store) but I'm sure, if we wander in to the wrong one, there will be someone to point out our mistake. Though very similar in décor to Track (block walls and canteen style furniture) the walls here are additionally graced by many pieces of artwork, thus lifting the ambiance of the place. On the beer front, there are, guess what, up to 20 keg beers available. They now reputedly do serve cask ales but, although there are a couple of dozen beer scores recorded, their website doesn't mention any being available! Is this a case of Central Manchester branch not keeping their finger on the pulse or people scoring keg beers? On the bright side, next door is the barrel aging unit so some of the taps dispense a selection of these. NOTE: Cashless commerce carried out here.

Emergency back-up

Should there be no real ale in Cloudwater Tap, across Great Ancoats Street there is Hetheringtons Cafe Bar. I can't find much information about this venu other than Central Manchester branch report which says: 'Cafe Bar set up in 2019 that sells cask beers from Robinsons (Dizzy Blonde, Unicorn and Trooper). More information will be available when open again and visited.'

A more reliable backup which we can rely upon with a bit more confidence is Cask which ought to have real ale with a name like that! Situated by the canal in New Islington, so a canal-side walk is still on the cards, where there are 6 handpulls around to the left of the bar – Hurrah! Though not all are in regular use – Boo! Was voted branch Pub of the Year in 2021.

Getting back to Manchester could be accomplished via the canal towpath, but using the streets would be a better bet (though 12 to 20 drunk CAMRA members may put the fear of god into any reprobates hanging around on the banks of the canal!)