36 Shudehill, Manchester
Manchester
M4 1EZ
0161 834 2910
Traditional Town Pub, Hotel
The Lower Turks Head was rescued by Joseph Holt’s brewery in 2021 after it failed to reopen after the pandemic. You can find three or four of the brewery’s cask beers on tap, usually including Bitter, Mild, IPA and Two Hoots golden ale. It also offers Crystal and Diamond lagers and the keg American IPA.
On the original left side it has a long narrow main room that opens out into area with wood-panelled walls and upholstered bench-seating (photo 3). Opposite the bar counter Holts have retained the very unusual tiny drinks stands, bolted to the floor and big enough to hold maybe 3 pints (photo 2). The right hand bar is a recent extension into the former coffee bar next door and has a row of high tables along the wall. Upstairs is a small bar which leads to an outdoor terrace with memorabilia of the pub’s days as a centre of Northern Soul.
For those who “keep the faith” the pub still has Northern Soul sessions on the first Sunday afternoon of the month. There’s also a reggae and ska session on the third Sunday and open mics every Wednesday evening.
The Lower Turks Head is one of only a few pubs in Manchester that still have a tiled exterior, and the ‘MB’ tile above the doorway shows that it was built by the Manchester Brewery at the turn of the 20th century (photo 1). That closed way back in 1905 but the tiling is still here, almost 120 years later.
The pub has accommodation in four ensuite rooms.
Across the road from the Lower Turks Head is the Shudehill Interchange with tram stops and a bus station. A few doors up the road is the Hare & Hounds, another recommended pub.
