CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale logo
Pubs & Clubs
Events
Beers & Breweries
Pubs & Clubs
Events
Beers & Breweries
CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale logo
Join Us

Rain Bar, Manchester

You have visited this venue
View all visits
Directions
You want to visit - You have this in
Cask Ale
Open
80 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, M1 5JG (View on Google Map)
(0161) 235 6500
Email
Website
  • Outstanding pub conversion

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, a contemporary take on a traditional pub interior. The full range of JW Lees cask ales are served and a good selection of Lees keg offerings.

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 8pm.

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
Last surveyed
26/03/2026
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
Monday
Noon - 11:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 11:00pm
Friday
Noon - Midnight
Saturday
Noon - Midnight
Sunday
Noon - 8:00pm
Monday
Noon - 8:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 8:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 8:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 8:00pm
Friday
Noon - 8:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 8:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 8:00pm
TasteMatch

Unlock TasteMatch and all of CAMRA’s online tools from just 99p/month with our Explorer Pass, or join as a member to get the best of pubs, beer and breweries plus discounts at the bar.

Current beers

This Pub serves 2 changing beers (JW Lees/Boilerhouse Seasonal Ale) and 2 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

JW Lees - Bitter TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
JW Lees - Bitter
JW Lees - Bitter Session Bitter • 4% Spotted 31 times
JW Lees - Bitter
JW Lees - Bitter

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 31 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Rain Bar, Manchester.

ABV 4%
Cask
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

JW Lees - Founder's TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
JW Lees - Founder's
JW Lees - Founder's Premium Bitter • 4.5%
JW Lees - Founder's
JW Lees - Founder's

This beer is served regularly at Rain Bar, Manchester.

ABV 4.5%
Cask
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

JW Lees - Manchester Pale Ale TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
JW Lees - Manchester Pale Ale
JW Lees - Manchester Pale Ale Session Pale Ale • 3.7% Spotted 35 times
JW Lees - Manchester Pale Ale
JW Lees - Manchester Pale Ale

Spotted 35 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Rain Bar, Manchester.

ABV 3.7%
Style Session Pale Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Source: Regional

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
Mobility Access Statement Mobility Access Statement
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
Cask Marque Beer and Cellar Hygiene rating
Cask Marque: Beer and Cellar Hygiene rating 5 out of 5
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

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.

Premium Guide
Manchester Heritage Tour

Manchester Heritage Tour

40 minutes 7 curated stops

Take a tour through Manchester's history with this selection of heritage pubs, offering everything from hidden backstreet gems to iconic Manchester institutions. 

Premium Guide
Manchester Traditional Pubs

Manchester Traditional Pubs

1 hour 10 curated stops

See the best of Manchester's traditional pubs,  with unique  décor, oak paneling, tiles and fabulous cask ales.

Nearby

(External, Garden). Published on 21-02-2023
Open
Peveril of the Peak
Pub, in Manchester
4 Regular Beers
  • Historic Interior
(External). Published on 23-05-2021
Open
Society Bar
Independent Pub, in Manchester
1 Regular, 3 Changing Beers
Ritz
Ritz Club, in Manchester

Cask Ale not available

Open
9inety 6ix
Pub, in Manchester

Cask Ale not available

(Key). Published on 07-01-2026
Open
Britons Protection
Pub, in Manchester
8 Changing Beers
  • Historic Interior
Gorilla
Pub, in Manchester

Cask Ale not available

(External). Published on 01-12-2015
Open
Home
Pub, in Manchester
2 Regular, 2 Changing Beers
Closed • Opens Mon at 11:00am
Stalls Cafe Bar
Pub, in Manchester

Cask Ale not available

Temple Of Convenience - Manchester. (Pub). Published on 11-10-2012
Open
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
4 Changing Beers

Recently Viewed

Imperial
Pub, in St Helens

Cask Ale not available

(Pub, External, Key). Published on 21-03-2025
Open
Bankers Draft
Wetherspoon Pub, in Sheffield: Central
4 Regular, 7 Changing Beers
  • CAMRA discount scheme
  • CAMRA voucher scheme
(External, Key). Published on 16-09-2019
Open
Raglan Arms
Black Country Ales Pub, in Rugby
3 Regular, 9 Changing Beers
Red Cow, Allestree, Derby. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 08-04-2013
Open
Red Cow
Inn Trade Pub, in Derby
2 Regular, 1 Changing Beers
(Pub, External, Key). Published on 05-05-2023
Open
Abbot
Pub, in Newton Abbot

Cask Ale not available

Red Rooster. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 03-09-2013
Open
Red Rooster
Pub, in Brighouse
5 Changing Beers
Piddle Inn Piddletrenthide. (Pub, Key). Published on 02-08-2013
Open
Piddle Inn
Independent Pub, in Piddletrenthide

Cask Ale not available

  • Active Campaign
Published on 29-01-2026
Open
Sip & Slide
Independent Pub, in Tunbridge Wells
2 Regular Beers
(Pub, External, Key). Published on 27-05-2025
Open
Abbeydale Tap & Snap
Pub, in Sheffield
2 Changing Beers
Pub Walk Shoes Icon

Love Cask Beer?

Join CAMRA to support the campaign to access more features plus access to a range of different benefits.

Become a member
© Campaign for Real Ale 2023 - 2026 (ce-9)
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
Home

Privacy Overview

We use cookies, which are small text files, to improve your experience on our website and to show you personalised content. You can allow all or manage them individually.

Necessary

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. More information

Non-Necessary (Analytics)

These cookies help us to improve your web experience. They allow us to gather feedback on your behaviour and to show adverts relevant to you. You can turn this off here.

Cookies

We use cookies, which are small text files, to improve your experience on our website and to show you personalised content. You can allow all or manage them individually.