27/11/23: back one year later since my last review. Service was better, craft ale, craft beer choices still the same. 23/11/22: what used to be a fantastic pub serving great beer, has somewhat lapsed. Having frequented Abel Heywood many times in the past, I was left extremely disappointed last night after a works night out. Relying on old memories, we went as I assumed it would cater for varied tastes. Yes, there was a good selection on craft ales advertised on the bar pumps, howefer, only 2 actually tapped. 3 were advertised almost ready, not ready to drink and could be several days and a 3 advertised as coming soon. What had immediately looked like a great selection, turned into not very much. Another colleague plumped for a lager. I thought I was in Belgium as the head in the glass was about 1/3 of the drink. Feeling festive we decided to get Baby Guinness shots, until we wee told they were £4.10 each. EACH! We changed our mind. Another colleague wanted a single shot on Brandy to raise a toast, but then changed his mind also when told Abel Heywood only serve doubles because that's what's in the till AND it would be £8.10 regardless. 9 of us drunk up and promptly left. Terrible service.

Abel Heywood was a Manchester publisher and mayor in the 1800s who published the Poor Man's Guardian and a series of penny guidebooks to UK holiday destinations. To pay homage to him, rooms in the hotel are named after his guidebooks and there's a hotel newspaper 'The Abel News'. The pub itself is furnished to look like a Victorian drinking establishment with a huge wooden bar, a dark parquet floor and a mixture of leather booths and mismatched chairs. The gin bar on the first floor is named after Abel Heywood's daughter, Jessie, and has been done out with exposed brick, jars of botanicals on metal shelves and leather booths.