Here is the Talking Bull “Good Pub Guide” to FC United of Manchester ahead of tomorrow’s fixture. Special thanks, as always, to our resident fanzine Hereford Hophead – Ian Mann.
FC United of Manchester, Saturday 2 March 2019.
FCUM’s Broadhurst Park ground is in the Moston area of Manchester. The supporters bar at the ground offers Broadhurst Ale, a real ale specifically brewed for the club. However, due to segregation constraints the bar will be not open to away supporters.
Pubs near the ground include The Blue Bell at 493 Moston Lane, M40 9PY. Built in 1890 this is an imposing Holt’s tied house with four rooms interconnected around a central bar and serving Holt’s Bitter. It’s been described as “typical Holt’s community pub”.
Also nearby is another Holt’s pub, The Fairway Inn in Nuthurst Road, New Moston, M40 3PL which was extensively refurbished and modernised in 2017. This offers a slightly wider range of Holt’s beers and also serves an extensive food menu, the reviews for which are generally good. I have fond memories of drinking Holt’s ales in other Mancunian locations and they have always represented exceptional value for money. This place sounds like a pretty good bet with beer and food needs suitably covered.
Oldham brewer JW Lees also has a pub in the vicinity of FCUM, the Gardener’s Arms on Lightbowne Road, Moston, M40 5RT. A two room community local it has also been recently refurbished. It serves Lees Bitter plus a seasonal and a guest offering from the same brewery. No food.
In closing I should perhaps thank DAFTS, the Darlington Away Far Travelling Supporters who have published guides to all the other National League North grounds on their website www.dafts.co.uk, including details of suitable local hostelries. I’ve been able to use this information to assist my own research and I’m also grateful to Simon Wright for pointing me in their direction. I suspect he may have sunk a few pints with these guys during our recent visit to Darlo. Hopefully, we will get the chance of welcoming them in the Barrels when they visit us in March.
Ian Mann – The Hereford Hophead
