We were off to Manchester and Dad had a brainwave, which Mum and I would also call a brain fart. His idea was to walk to Ancoats – our destination for the day – by canal. Seemed like an OK idea on a pleasant enough Summer day day right? Did you ever have the pleasure of walking along any of Manchester’s city centre canals? It’s an interesting experience, let’s just say that.
After getting off the train in Piccadilly station, we followed Dad out of the station and over the Manchester Curve (I didn’t know it was called that either) and headed for Minshull Street. We got on the towpath for the Rochdale Canal just before Canal Street and soon found ourselves below the buildings of Piccadilly. We couldn’t help but feel slightly intimidated by this mysterious underworld and some of the folk that we would walk past. Apparently, we walked past the only canal lock in the country that sits beneath a building! A fact that was wasted on Mum as she questioned, quite rightly, Dad’s judgement.
We were glad to see daylight again when we resurfaced just past Dale Street and after crossing the lock at the start of Piccadilly Basin, we walked past the junction with the Ashton Canal. We crossed back over the canal and saw some pretty street art, which monetarily distracted us from the junk thrown in the canal. A few minutes later we were under Great Ancoats Street and then up the cobbled ramp leading up to the side of another lock and that was enough canal walking for one day.
Dad had estimated that out 15 minute walk to Ancoats would actually take an hour, so we had a bit of time to kill. We headed to The Koffee Pot on Oldham Street, who have been creating and curing hangovers since 1978. A smoothie for Mum and coffee and orange juice for Dad and it was now midday and socially acceptable to start drinking. Next stop then SEVEN BRO7HERS Beerhouse. A very cool bar from the Seven Brothers Brewery in the centre of the upcoming Ancoats area, the choice of beers from both the brewery and guest ales are pretty damn good.
They say themselves that “Beer, Music and fantastic food are at the heart of our desire to create a venue you will want to come back to time and time again” and it’s fair to say they nail that. Their beer is made just down the road in the Salford brewery, so it’s a truly local affair. We had a couple of pints outside, ordered via the app, but then the Manchester sun did what it normally does and disappeared, so we went inside for the rest of the time, with the place pretty much to ourselves. A good day out, despite the interesting canal walk.