Yes a bit of a weird pub.I was out in town last night and was involved in a minor incident with a United fan, which got me thinking - I'll explain below what happened:
I was out with my girlfriend and two other couples. We'd been to a few 'trendy bars' to make the girls happy - and they then agreed to go to a proper pub! We were on Deansgate so we just walked to the nearest pub, which turned out to be The Old Nags Head. I work in the City Centre so walk past this pub most days, but never been in so had no idea what to expect - it was absolutely bouncing when we got in, karaoke was on, young and old people there, good atmosphere! I was in there about 20 minutes before I looked up and saw all over the ceiling were pictures of George Best and lots of other United players/legends. I didn't think much of it!
Anyway, later on - around midnight - I went in the toilet and these two lads (early 20's) came in behind me and were talking about who is the best striker in Premier League History! They asked me who I think, and I said Alan Shearer (can't really argue with that). One of the lads looked really angry and went, "No - it's Solksjaer." I said that although Solksjaer was good, he wasn't a patch on Shearer. He went "Are you a Newcastle fan?" and I said "Nah, I'm a City fan!"
Well, he went f**kin mental - telling me to get out the pub, that I've got no right coming in this pub as a City fan - he then threw his whole drink over me (felt like I was in an episode of TOWIE) then said he's gonna stab me if I don't leave immediately. I told him I don't really wanna spend the rest of the night in the toilet talking to him anyway, but that I won't be leaving the bar as I'm out with my friends. His mate then told me this incident is all my fault for winding him up and telling him I'm a City fan!!!
Now, I understand that some pubs are meeting points for fans of certain clubs. I wouldn't expect a United fan to be made particularly welcome at Mary D's! But surely there gets to a point in the day/night where everybody is welcome? If I'd turned up to that pub in the 2 hours before or after kick off then fair enough, I would expect that sort of reception - but this was midnight, there were hen do's/stag do's, couples etc. in there, there were probably a hundred other city fans in there!
It's a sad world really where somebody actually wants to fight (or stab) me, just because I support a different football team to him!
I realise this is a bit of a rant - but interested know peoples thoughts on the incident, and what would have been the outcome if the shoe was on the other foot and a United fan found himself in a City pub!?
I am going in to sink in the shitI am going to go in there tomorrow and shit in the sink.
Still the no 1 attraction for Camra visitors. Manchester is a fine venue. We just need a rag pub list to steer clear off.
Rag pubs or at least have rag memorabilia om the walls
Nags head, mulligans, seven oaks, abercrombe, sawyers, white lion, circus tavern
When they are at home these above are infested with them.
They also frequent corbieres which was also popular many years ago by blues.
The Burton was a rag pub but has been done up and has a mix of NQ folks and rags.
The Pev is a strange one, popular with rags and has their pics in one room, but iconic enough that blues have always frequented it too.
Rag are very insecure people that seem to need to prove they are important and stake their territory with pics of law and best on peeling walls, besides the ****s all fuck off home early anyway from town
City fans don't need set pubs as we stay out for the night and drink till the break of day in any boozer available, but I would say top end of Great Ancoats St are frquented by and sort of blue pubs
Crown and kettle, Fringe, the Angel,
Plus The Hairy (on match days), Grey horse, (Mixed but full of blues most days) The City
Then you have the mixed pubs
City, Vine, TST, the Monkey, Salisbury, Rain Bar, The Lass, Shambles, The Tap, Britons, Gullys, Castle
One thing is for sure when them ****s are home and I am out in town late you never see any unlike when we are home and blues are milling around till the early hrs.
Just my observations I may be wrong.
The White Lion on Liverpool road is another one to avoid - shrine to Cantona - even think I saw Brian mClair on the wall :-/
After the Huddersfield game my lad and I went into town to catch a bit of the Rags/Brighton game but the grey horse was packed and ended up going in the nags head - not having been there before I didn't realise till I got to the end of the bar and put my order in that the place was like a morgue! tv had them as 2-0 down I think - guys next to me looked at my lad's City top and muttered something like 'taking the fucking piss' - only then did I see the photos of Best all over the place behind the bar man. Did a u turn as I felt it was a bit insensitive after we had just thrashed Huddersfield 6-1