The Rat & Pigeon

A rescued Victorian pub

The building was home to Old Mother Mac's, a Victorian-era pub that closed in the early 2020s. After a careful restoration that kept the original tiles and woodwork, it reopened as the Rat & Pigeon in 2024. It is recommended by CAMRA, both for the beer and for how well the interior has been kept.

Beer and entertainment

The bar runs three taps and handpumps, two of which rotate, so there is usually something new from a local brewery. Upstairs is a small stage and a projector for live sport. Wednesdays bring free bands and DJs until 1am, and one Monday a month there is a jazz, soul and funk night. At quieter times only the ground floor may be open.

Finding it

Back Piccadilly is a narrow lane behind the main road, a few minutes from Piccadilly Gardens and the Northern Quarter. That makes it an easy first or last stop on a Northern Quarter crawl, or a quieter pint near Piccadilly station before a train. Check the pub's social channels for the week's music and sport listings before you go, as the upstairs rooms open for events.

Highlights

• Restored Victorian interior with original tiles
• CAMRA-recommended
• Rotating cask and craft taps
• Free bands and DJs on Wednesdays

Good to know

• Only the ground floor may be open at quieter times.
• A few minutes' walk from Piccadilly Gardens and the Northern Quarter.

Frequently asked questions