The Dockyard Didsbury has been a few things in the past, but as the exterior makes clear, this place was always meant to be a pub. Situated on the world(?) famous Wilmslow Road, which takes traffic through a stream of south Manchester districts known for their busy food and drink scenes, this historic red brick boozer captures the spirit and attitude of a rustic ale house, while still serving modern tastes. It also does a good job ensuring people have something to soak up all the drinks, with flavour-packed plates coming out of the kitchen. More on that in a bit.
Sat in the heart of ‘the village’ itself, the interior gives a pretty strong nod to the heritage of the address and our city, with a look and feel of classic public houses and slick details, including subtle industrial touches. So open brick walls and factory-style light fittings hung over wooden bar and floor tiles that scream ‘timeless’. Then there’s the welcoming, down-to-Earth attitude greeting you at the door. And the choice of staying inside or opting for the outdoor ‘secret’ garden round back, ideal for warmer afternoons spent soaking up a few rays.
Onto the drinks, and you can expect to find a generous choice of cask and keg beers, including a good selection of traditional ales, alongside more contemporary lagers both in pints and bottles. There’s also a decent range of spirits and wines, and since August 2023 The Famous Sumo has also been serving up tasty Asian fusion food packing seriously big flavours. Events tend to focus on big screen sports, with pool and darts on offer aimed at people who prefer to play themselves. Oh, and each Thursday you’ll find a weekly speed quiz at Dockyard Didsbury, perfect if you relish in answering quick fire brain teasers with indulging in refreshments.