Sandbar

I am somewhat reluctant to recommend Sandbar; I fear that this bohemian sanctuary amongst a wasteland of carbon copy bars will be ruined once the secret gets out. Like a spoiled child I want to keep it to myself, and no, I don't want to share. It's austere and unpretentious, there is a good selection of imported beers and the staff are friendly, also it's the only bar I know that has graffiti about philosophers in the toilet. In my books, all this adds up to an ideal destination for those seriously flippant conversations that can only be undertaken over a couple or more pints of ale.

Anna's profile     Other reviews by Anna     Anna likes    

Staff issues were a concern a few years back but the quality has vastly improved over the last two years. Beer quality is superb but, as with everywhere in the area, is around the ???3 mark for lagers. The exception is the wonderful Phoenix Pilsner, a genuine Berlin style lager costing ???2.50.There's a good range of real ales available and the food always looks good.The atmosphere is laid back, however, it can get hectic on Friday evenings during term time.

efc1878's profile     Other reviews by efc1878     efc1878 likes    

I agree. Great range of beers but must be the most useless barstaff in manchester. No idea whatsoever.

Used to be a great bar when it first opened. Nowadays the staff are useless and don't know what they're selling. Apart from that- good range of beers.

The Sandbar is a little tucked away establishment over by Manchester Metropolitan University, which in all honesty I don???t think that I would have found if it wasn???t for having undergone the disquieting sensation of having taken my final exams in the Sports Hall across the road all those years ago. Having staggered out from what I believed was yet another crushing defeat I felt I needed comforting, and what can be more so than a pint or two of all consuming alcohol??? However, as I roused myself from muttering insensibly to my companions about the fairness of having to memorise reams of information to regurgitate in a little over an hour under military conditions I realised that I had stumbled across a fantastic little bar. Sandbar has a very distinctive feel to it in the way that there is a distinctly foreign feel to the bar itself, and this isn???t just attributed to the amount of imported beers that it stocks. This foreign feel seems to come from the difference between this and many other Manchester bars, as Sandbar seems to have struck the right balance between modernity, style and atmosphere. Many bars in Manchester that have been newly constructed seem to lack atmosphere with their minimalist leanings, but Sandbar retains character through it being a renovated building, therefore the bar retains a definite sense of character while simultaneously displaying aspects of modernity with its large portrait windows and use of space, which creates an open, airy feeling inside. The whole bar has a very solid, prominent aesthetic, but at the same time appears atmospheric and relaxing. The walls are painted deep comforting colours and the furniture is simple and in some ways almost rustic, making for an instantly hospitable environment. The seating areas extend in an L-shape around the bar and the whole scene is accompanied by a few paintings supplied by local aspiring artists, which the establishment displays and offers for sale on their behalf. The clientele that the bar tends to attract always appear to be of the more scholastic variety, and seems to be frequented occasionally by tutors from the local universities, others appear to be of the mature student Guardian reading caste. They probably happen upon this little establishment because Sandbar is just tucked away enough to be overlooked by the students themselves, and any that do wander into this area are absorbed by the neighbouring student-friendly pub, simply called ???The Pub???. However don???t let any of the cerebral banter scare you from taking a trip out to this little place, as personally I???ve always felt comfortable whenever I???ve felt the urge to take a trip out here, despite any low-brow topics of conversation that I???ve cared to take with me...

paul's profile     Other reviews by paul     paul likes