Pubs & Clubs
Beers & Breweries
Pubs & Clubs
Beers & Breweries
Join Us

Rain Bar, Manchester

You have visited this venue
View all visits

Directions

You want to visit - You have this in
80 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, M1 5JG (View on Google Map)

One of the largest pubs in the JW Lees Brewery estate, this pub occupies a prime location on the Rochdale canal, close to the Bridgewater Hall, home of the Halle Orchestra. Formerly an umbrella factory, it was converted into JW Lees' flagship pub in the 90s and underwent a refurbishment in 2023. The full range of JW Lees cask ales are served.

The ground floor area curves round three sides of the large bar, with a variety of raised and sunken areas helping to break up the room. Dominated by dark wood & leather, can seem cosy or gloomy, depending on time of year. The large patio area alongside the Rochdale Canal is the pub's best feature. One of the largest outdoor drinking areas in Manchester city centre, it can predictably can get very busy during summer.

Pub food including daily specials is served until 8 on weekdays and until 6 at weekends.

Upstairs is a large function room with room for up to 120 while the third floor houses 'The Boardroom' - a second function room suitable for dining functions and meetings with a difference.

Information for this venue is provided by the Central Manchester Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Manchester District (B)
Last updated
29/10/2024
Last surveyed
21/05/2011
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
J. W. LEES & CO. (BREWERS) LIMITED
Pub ID
TRA/3629
Asset of Community Value

Conversion

This large pub is in a prime spot on the Rochdale canal, close to Bridgewater Hall. It was formerly an umbrella factory, converted by JW Lees into a pub in the 90s and refurbished. The ground floor area curves round three sides of the large bar, with a variety of raised and sunken areas helping to break up the room. A lot of thought and effort has gone into making a good drinking experience, skilfully combining traditional and contemporary elements. The décor uses dark wood and leather to good effect alongside open fires to create a cosy feel. There is a patio alongside the canal, one of the largest beer gardens in the city centre, busy in the summer. Upstairs are two floors of function rooms.

General information about outstanding conversions and restorations
Friday
Noon - Midnight
Saturday
Noon - Midnight
Sunday
Noon - 8:00pm
Monday
Noon - 11:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 11:00pm
Friday
Noon - 8:30pm
Saturday
Noon - 8:30pm
Sunday
Noon - 7:00pm
Monday
Noon - 8:30pm
Tuesday
Noon - 8:30pm
Wednesday
Noon - 8:30pm
Thursday
Noon - 8:30pm

Current beers

This Pub serves no changing beers and 3 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
JW Lees - Bitter
JW Lees - Bitter Session Bitter • 4% Spotted 10 times
JW Lees - Bitter
JW Lees - Bitter

Session Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Spotted 10 times
JW Lees - Founder's
JW Lees - Founder's Premium Bitter • 4.5%
JW Lees - Founder's
JW Lees - Founder's

Premium Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 4.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
JW Lees - Manchester Pale Ale
JW Lees - Manchester Pale Ale Session Pale Ale • 3.7% Spotted 11 times
JW Lees - Manchester Pale Ale
JW Lees - Manchester Pale Ale

Session Pale Ale

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 3.7%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Spotted 11 times

Your scores

Join CAMRA to access beer scoring and view scores for other pubs. Become a member.
Retrieving scores
You have no beer scores submitted.

Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Garden Garden
Canalside Patio
Disabled Access Disabled Access
Via the back entrance
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Outside only
Function Room Function Room
Capacity 120
Real Fire Real Fire
Smoking Smoking
Canalside Patio
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
OCR Pub OCR Pub
Cask Marque Cask Marque
Transport
Close to bus routes
33, 63, 84, 105, 255, 256, X50
Close to metro
Deansgate-Castlefield
Adjacent station
Manchester Oxford Road
Directions
Behind the Bridgewater Hall

Help keep our information accurate!

Notice an error or missing details? Help us keep our pub & club information accurate by sharing any corrections or updates you spot.

Suggest an edit

Explore the local area

Curated guides are specially put together for your enjoyment! These trips are crafted by specialists along with dedicated volunteers with local knowledge.

Premium Guide

Manchester Bars & Beer Cafes

50 minutes 8 curated stops

You’ll find great cask and keg options along the way, and all the venues on this route are dog friendly so your four-legged friends can come too.


Nearby

Heritage Pub
(External, Garden). Published on 21-02-2023
Open
Peveril of the Peak
Pub, in Manchester
3 Regular Beers
(External). Published on 23-05-2021
Open
Vocation & Co
Independent Pub, in Manchester
1 Regular, 3 Changing Beers
Ritz
Ritz Club, in Manchester
CASK ALE not available
Heritage Pub
Published on 29-04-2024
Open
Britons Protection
Pub, in Manchester
7 Changing Beers
Gorilla
Pub, in Manchester
CASK ALE not available
(External). Published on 01-12-2015
Open
Home
Pub, in Manchester
1 Regular, 1 Changing Beers
Closed • Opens Tue at 11:00am
Stalls Cafe Bar
Pub, in Manchester
CASK ALE not available
Temple Of Convenience - Manchester. (Pub). Published on 11-10-2012
Temple
Independent Pub, in Manchester
CASK ALE not available
City Road Inn_Man_Sep 2008. (Pub). Published on 12-06-2013
Open
City Road Inn
Pub, in Manchester
2 Regular, 2 Changing Beers
BishopsgateTable Table_Man_Aug 2010. (Pub). Published on 12-06-2013
Open
Bishopsgate
Table Table (Whitbread) Pub, in Manchester
1 Changing Beer

Need accommodation?

 

 


Recently Viewed

March 2025. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 27-03-2025
Open
Winter Stream Farm
Farmhouse Inns (Greene King) Pub, in Hambrook
1 Changing Beer
  • CAMRA discount scheme
Ours Bar, Bedford. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 12-05-2023
Ours Bar
Pub, in Bedford
CASK ALE not available
© Campaign for Real Ale 2023 - 2025 (ce-10)
Home