SEVEN BRO7HERS BEERHOUSE Ancoats — Restaurant in Manchester

Edit: So, my review previously said "Cracking pub, friendly staff, great beers"; however after my most recent visit I now feel compelled to update this to reflect our most recent experience here. I say "most recent" as I've been 6 or 7 times before - so I'm not exactly their most regular customer, but I do patronise the place every time I'm out for a beer in Ancoats.

Anyway, I most recently visited on a quiet Friday afternoon. There was enough sun to just about make it worth sitting outside, but it was hit and miss so the tables out front were barely in use. We ordered a couple of pints at the bar (Honeycomb/Hazy - about £6 each) and took to the benches outside to enjoy the sun whilst we could. We were getting peckish as it was about 2pm, so decided to order some food. We scanned the QR codes on the benches to bring up the menus on their website and to our disappointment we were informed that there was no food service at that time. We refreshed and reloaded and double checked we had done it correctly, however it didn't change. Not to worry, we thought, if 7Bs isn't doing food we'll get a pizza from Rudy's over the road. We'd done it before a few times and there were no signs asking us not to bring food in from elsewhere. Ten mins or so later our pizza was ready and we wolfed it down with our beers - quite content, and gearing up to buy another round of beers.

The next round of beers was not to be, however, as a young lad came storming out towards us from inside the bar, berating us for ordering from Rudy's whilst using their benches. We said ok, fair enough, if that's that policy - but given that we had actually tried to order food from them using their website using the QR codes sellotaped to every bench, we felt it appropriate to point out not only that we HAD attempted to buy their food, but that there was no signage to that effect anyway indicating their policy. This did not please the young man one bit. His tone changed for the worse, he got louder, and louder, to the point that the other patrons were now turning their heads to watch the spectacle. It's not like we were some scrotey kids making a mess... We're senior academics in our 40s/50s from a local university enjoying a couple of pints in the sun on a nice day. We were quite prepared to tidy up afterwards and remove the pizza box from the table, we simply found it unfair that we were being told off like naughty children - he repeatedly insisted that we could have double checked the food service at the bar, making it all about us. We did double check, though, both of us using the system provided to us at the table. "No food service" is pretty unambiguous. It's a shame that it was handled this way, as it really put a dampener on our whole afternoon. Needless to say. We took our pizza box and our wallets elsewhere, and it'll stay that way until I hear that things have changed. There was a time when paying customers were afforded a bit of respect and given the benefit of the doubt when things aren't quite right. That time has long since passed at Seven Brothers.

The pizza was excellent, btw. Photo of the offending article included for...

I've been frequenting Seven Brothers on the regular for five years. We've been regulars for the bi-monthly quiz, as well as for a drink after work almost weekly.

Tonight, we came to sit indoors after having a single pint whilst sat in the square (which we bought from Seven Brothers). The doorman told us that he wouldn't let anybody in who hadn't bought a pint at the pub. We explained that we had bought from the pub, which he accepted, and we went to sit indoors.

We ordered two more drinks inside, and then popped for a cigarette. On our way out, still with half a pint in a plastic glass bought from the bar, we explained to the doorman that we were going for a cigarette, and we were going over into the square as to not hang outside the door smoking (not a nice smell for non smokers).

We came to go back in, still with our half drank drinks bought from the bar, and was refused entry because, as the doorman said, "You've been over the road."

We explained that he'd just okayed us going to have a cigarette over the road, but apparently he'd changed his mind and refused us entry. We were half way through our third pint, so we were sober, nor did he suggest it was drunkenness. Simply it was due to us having gone for a cigarette. It was 10PM, so they hadn't stopped serving.

Upon challenging the doorman, he told me my "reflexes aren't what they used to be". I questioned such a bizarre statement, but he didn't elaborate. I can only assume he was trying to threaten me with violence. Needless to say, we took our custom, and money, elsewhere (to Edinburgh Castle, who were more than welcoming).

I'm so disappointed that after supporting this bar for five years, throughout its quiz nights and comedy nights, and all through lockdown when they were struggling, I could be treated this way. I did nothing wrong, and yet seemed to be targeted by a doorman who had no reason to refuse entry, other than an imagined grudge.

I won't make the mistake again. If Seven Brothers is no longer a bar that welcomes me, I'll take my money elsewhere. Maybe be more discerning in who you hire on the doors, because it's going to lose you customers.

Go to almost any other bar in the vicinity (Port Street Beer House, for example, offer great beers and actually want your custom). Seven Brothers doesn't...

Amazing beer at a superb location. Seven Brothers beer has been popular for a while and their opening at the Cutting Room square has been much awaited. There is a lot of choice of beer on the tap and bottled...But it's on the tap any day for me ,and they are masters at the craft. The location in the Ice Plant building is great and has been well kitted out at two levels with a variety of comfortable seating options. The service is friendly and prompt.

Wishing them loads of luck and success in what is going to be a very popular watering hole ,and deservedly so, at the Cutting Room Square and in Manchester.

As an update after many years....it still carries on as always and is a great place to have a drink. It's the favourite watering hole of many friends and family who visit me as I live closeby. The outdoor space on Cutting Room square is buzzing especially in the summer. Haven't eaten here yet though have been appreciative of being allowed to get out own food when they don't have a kitchen in action.. especially from Rudy's next door. For Beer it has to be Seven Brothers, like for pizza it...