Forget the former life of this pub as the Beer House, it is now very much The Angel. The once Mancunian drinking institution was taken over from Mancunian celebrity Chef and lessee Robert Owen Brown in September 2009 by The Angel's owner, Kevin Keaney, who turned a gastro pub in to a pub of many facets. He is still lovingly re-inventing the hostelry both inside and out. Excellent gastro food still prevails with a restaurant upstairs, but the accent is on a pleasant welcoming ambience and a well-stocked bar of two permanent handpumps for real cider and perry and up to 8 for real ale, plus foreign beers and a selection of bottled beers from all over the country.

There are many new and interesting real ales on, including some from the Liverpool Organic Brewery and others from all over the country. Since September the reputation of the pub has grown and grown. New and old customers have returned to enjoy the great atmosphere of a grand piano, a real fire and patio windows opened to outside seating for when the weather's warm. Even the board game group returned, made up of board game designers, no less!

To think there was a time when the pub, as the Beer House, had descended to a point where it was closed and boarded for a period of around two long years. Most thought it was all over forever; until the Kevin had a flash of inspiration that he would buy the pub in summer of 2008 and get a lessee in to run it for some regular rent. The rest is history and a bright future under Kev and his staff team as the Angel, not far from Angel Meadow.

Somehow it all fits, like an old friend returned re-invigorated and in safe hands once again.

The presentation of the official CAMRA North Manchester Branch Pub of the Year plaque took place on Wednesday, 26th May at the pub.