The Salisbury, Manchester, pub review

I love a pub with a split personality. The Salisbury in Manchester is one such. It's on the border where the city centre bleeds out into student land, set back down a little slope a few steps back from the chaos of Oxford Road. It's one of those beautifully tiled Manchester pubs, all tactile, glossy green and brown, you could embrace it before it embraces you.

I visited twice, Friday lunchtime and Saturday night; like an Alan Sillitoe first draft. My first draught (ahem) was a pint of Marston's Saddle Tank, a lovely full-flavoured session ale matching the calm and reflective mood of the room as I settled into my booth.

My drinking companions were a couple of workers who had knocked off early for the weekend, a bunch of old boys meeting up for a regular Friday lunchtime pint and at least one illicit office tryst. "Meet me in the Salisbury; no one will find us there." Or maybe they'd come in for the Scotch eggs - difficult to tell.

Saturday night was an altogether livelier affair. The Salisbury is clearly a music lovers' pub, its weekend patrons a bunch of ageing students, ageing rockers and ageing academics - all in their finest Motörhead T-shirts, albeit very well laundered; leave the grime to the more echt student pubs further along the road.

The staff were so friendly that even during a busy Saturday session they made time to talk about their impeccably kept beer (six hand-pulls, Theakston Best and Robinsons Trooper on permanently, four ever-changing guest beers).

There's a discount for Camra members - 50p off the price of a pint - and the same if you show a gig ticket for a neighbouring venue.

The Salisbury is gruffly charming, unpretentious and informal but expertly run. Much like Manchester itself.

2 Wakefield Street, Manchester, M1 5NE0161 236 5590; thesalisbury.co.uk