Pitcher & Piano

The only times I’m ever at Deansgate locks, is when I’m making my way to the metro-​link station. But for once, at about 07:00 PM me and my mate decided to have one drink (beer for him, and a Jameson’s whiskey for me) at the Pitcher & Piano. For the only reason that I heard someone on Unilocal worked there (Sadly, my memory is that of a goldfish. So sorry for not remembering who that is)
So I walked past two other club/​bar like places and headed for the Pitcher & Piano. First impressions… VERY!!! Nice aesthetics. It’s very easy for me to say that the look of this bar/​restaurant surpassed my opinion on bars at Deansgate locks. The main bar area was very large (I presume for standing customers) and had various seating areas dotted around the edge. High ceilings, and great dangling lights to give enough light to keep an intimate, warm mood. I’ve always prejudged this area to be overcrowded, busy, and full of people who I usually avoid (I promise I’m not that much of a unsociable, prejudging person) but I can say this defiantly shattered my judgement. I would be very happy to go back to the Pitcher & Piano once offered if the occupancy of the place was similar when I arrived (quiet, and few people) As usual, I can’t really comment on anything past what I’ve only experienced. I can say that I loved the look of the bar, the staff were rather distant and not very eager to engage in «Small talk» but as long as I get what I ordered I’m happy, the seats were comfortable… That’s always a plus, and the food that the people ordered behind us smelt beautiful, and were well presented.
Overall I enjoyed my short-​lived stay there, and like I said before I would be happy to go there again.

Now, call me biased because I work on the door there, but on Saturday I ventured to P&P with my parents for a hard earned meal after my dad had mowed the lawn, or ‘taken down the jungle’ in his words! Now, the service was great — to be expected really as I work there, but it was the quality of the food and drink that I loved!
So we started off with 3 sharing dishes — calamari, chorizo and chicken skewers, and breaded mushrooms — all were delicious, and went down in seconds. Next came what is quite often a gamble… medium rare steak!!! Now, I can’t count the amount of times that I’ve ordered medium rare steak and it’s overcooked within an inch of it’s life (ok, I know that doesn’t work as its dead already!) However, I was more than pleasantly surprised at both the quality and medium rareness of the steak! The presentation was also great, and it came with a choice of sauces; garlic butter, lemon thyme, or red pepper; much better than the usual choice of peppercorn or nothing! Obviously it was also served with fries — thankfully the skinny type, and of course onion rings; these were in tempura batter though so were amazing!!!
Sadly we were short on time so not able to try deserts, but the coffee was hot and expertly pulled, providing a great end to the meal. On the note of drinks, we also partook in the deal for a bottle of wine with 2 sharing plates (this was around £15 I think) and were more than happy with the 1997 Rioja that was provided rather than what we had assumed would be a cheap bottle of house plonk! We also tried a couple of the cocktails from the extensive selection– my mum opting for a slush puppy type cocktail, and dad having a ‘summer breeze’ — both presented beautifully, and were blended to perfection.
I also noted on the menu ‘hatters’ which appear to be a twist on the classic fish bowl style of drink production, but with a monopoly hat instead of a bowl; these I will definitely be back to try!!!
In conclusion, if you fancy a classic English meal, with healthy options or good solid meat offerings, in a bar with good service, high quality drink offerings, and a beautiful environment — head down to P&P; you won’t be dissappointed!!!

I’m as guilty as the next Unilocaler of hatin’ on The Locks, but to be fair, if you go at the right time they ain’t so bad. And as The Locks go, P&P’s decent. The thumping music past early evening may feel a bit obnoxious, so make you visit before the winter sun goes down. Or if you like a bit of gut-​shredding bass with your bottle of plonk, fill yer boots!
I came here for a networking event and a fashion show respectively, and I was quite impressed with the way the famous Locks arches had been used in this particular space. You can’t say it ain’t pretty. Moodily lit and barebricked, I liked what I saw. I also am a sucker for those wooden decking paths that lead up to Locks businesses, when they’re not covered in spew, fag ends and wannabe WAGs with no coats that is.
The folks next to me had what looked like dee-​licious fresh hot snacks, I hope they didn’t mind me staring. Fries and little fish goujons served in small metal buckets alongside nicely presented sauces — job’s a good’un. Also I treated m’self to a nice rum runner, cheers, a pineapply and ginger concoction which was just the ticket to loosen the meet ‘n’ greet lips. Generous portion too for the price!
So three stars for being a place I do enjoy spending time in, but wouldn’t be my first choice amidst the indies (I’m a Unilocal CM, you know what we’re like!) — that said you’ll find me here again for a naughty bite to eat. It is opposite my beau’s house after all!

Went to Pitcher & Piano the other week for my birthday for a drink after my birthday meal — at Taps.
Lots of v drunk people already (was still relatively early) include a really fat ugly sweaty woman :(She was swaying about, with a pint of beer in her hand. Thought is was going to go flying and beer go all over the place!
Maybe thats the problem with going to one of the bars in Deansgate Locks with free admission? Music was OK though but all depends on what you like. The 3 girls I was with prefer more RnB type music.
Some might say, thats what you would expect for Deansgate Locks in general!

As a postgraduate student, I can definitely say I’ve done my fair share of blackout Baa Bar, Revolution and Sankeys type clubbing. I’m getting a bit too old to be stumbling around with freshers, however good the stories are the next morning, and I was looking for a more laid-​back bar in Deansgate Locks.
The staff here is great – always dancing, laughing and smiling. They made me a killer raspberry mojito, but at £6.25 a pop I’m not sure if I can afford to drink them on a regular basis. On the plus side, I really enjoy the eclectic mix of uptempo music, from a jazz version of ‘Sexual Healing’ to Lady Gaga. The seating is comfortable and on a Saturday night, it wasn’t too crowded to get drinks quickly. The patrons were also an eclectic mix of younger, dressed up people having cocktails before hitting up the Revo’s shotsticks and older, as in mid-20’s, people just lounging.
The only reason I haven’t given Pitcher and Piano 5 stars is that the prices are a bit steep relative to the deals you can get at the surrounding bars. Overall, I love the atmosphere, décor, staff and drink choices. I’ll definitely report back when I’ve tried the food.

It’s not in your face as all the others on the Locks. No one encouraged me to come in, no bloke yelled at me, no groups in fancy dress. Pitcher and Piano with its Christmas feel lights on the outside sparkled and stood out as classier.
So on I enter. And yes, judge this book by its cover. It’s a lot more calmer and you can hear yourself think. With three floors of drinking and dining space and an outdoor canal side seating area, grab a drink of choice from the specialist beers, wines and cocktails from the Pitcher and Piano.
It’s more of a relaxing place compare to the other clubbing experiences on the Locks. Food and a chillax is the Pitcher and Piano’s speciality amongst its neighbours.

In the middle of all the young noisy bars of the Deansgate Locks, there stood Pitcher & Piano, all suited up, posh and of course quieter indeed. It was one place I wouldn’t go on the Locks, until it was booked by one of my friends for a birthday and thus my entry to this calmer ground. I realized a few things as I spent my night there– the place may seem more welcoming for an older crowd, but if you’ve got the right group and the right amount of alcohol in your body, it turns into a pretty fun night! The drinks were a bit more expensive than the surrounding places, but it seemed like a perfect place to start your night with classy cocktails in hand and having an intellectual chat or two while you’re dressed up in full justice to the place (And once in a while, we all love the dress up act, don’t we?). Finally after the much show and glamour, the Revs call out to you and in the end you’re doing the ever so exciting £1 shots at BaaBar!
So yes, I spent n entire night there, was pretty much broke for the next week! So I think if you;re looking for a really classy night but still want to let loose completely, put on your best, start here and then get on! Cause’ the Locks always has more to offer!

Well we all thought it would never ever work.
I love Deansgate Locks, I do, there’s a few bars in a row, it’s a good location, the prices aren’t massively high end but it’s still dressy so you can get glammed up and have a good night.
But the Locks are not posh. They’re not fancy. There good time places that don’t try too hard.
When we heard Pitcher and Piano was making a move over here, we were not happy. Pitcher and Piano is posh. How would this work?!
But do you know what? It does work. Really well actually.
It’s a nice little addition to the bars, it’s a bit quieter and at the weekends it’s a bit calmer but it’s nice.
It makes the Locks a full night out now, you have a couple of quiet drinks in Pitcher and Piano, sipping cocktails all dressed up is fun for a little while, you then move next door to Revolution where the drinks are a bit cheaper and a bit more adventurous with louder music to match, when you’re drunk enough you head to Bar Baa on the other side of Pitcher and Piano where shots suddenly become a good idea… end result = fun night out and hangover the next day.
But it means everyone is pleased, you’ve done a bit of bar hopping and yet really not gone all that far! Well done Pitcher and Piano, sorry for ever doubting you!

A nice place to go for pre dinner drinks. Prices are very reasonable and they do a good selection of nibbles. The bar is clean and nicely decorated, creating a very nice atmosphere. The is a restaurant menu, reasonably priced with a good selection of meals.