The Beagle

We went to the beagle on a quiet thursday night to catch up with friends over drinks and burger. Beagle benefits from a great location, a menu with a lot of variety and some amazing staff members. We went for a chicken burger, tofu wrap, jalapeño poppers, sweet potato fries and refried beans between the two of us. My wife had an elderflower drink and I went for a lemonade.
The food was good, service was spot on and the drinks were good too. One can’t expect anymore than this for an evening out with friends. I see no reason not to go back again and as with everywhere else, genuinely hope that they maintain their levels of quality and service.

Surprised that I’ve not reviewed this place earlier?!
The reason for my confusion is… I’m here whenever I have any opportunity for a delicious baja fish burrito! I’m not kidding! Is it open now?
Anyway back to The Beagle. As others have mentioned I’ve learnt to avoid the wine but have always been more than happy with the alternatives which are well made cocktails (that always get me more tiddly than I originally think) and an array of craft beers and ciders. The staff are always knowledgeable on both of these aswell and give great recommendations if you’re ever unsure of what to pick.
The only thing missing for me personally, is a real life beagle. Woof!

This wasn’t my first visit to The Beagle, having been in of an evening previously for a couple of pints and a snack or two with friends. This time around, though, we ventured forth on the hunt for hangover-​relieving reinvigorating brunching goodness after a night of epic (pro)portions.
Have to say straight away, I might not have been hanging too badly (if barely at all), but my friends were in varying states of dismay ranging from slightly hungover to really rather bad.
I opted for the breakfast burrito; advertised as a chorizo-​filled, hot sauce laden, carbo-​wrapped delight that sounded like the meaty, greasy, not-​entirely-​healthy sort of thing you want in your mouth the morning after the night before.
All in all, I enjoyed it. The burrito was well filled, even if I couldn’t spot the chorizo, and the hot sauce had a decent kick to it to wake me up nicely. I partnered it with my standard morning drink: a decent cuppa. What I got was a funky teapot of good, if unremarkable, breakfast tea.
The others in our party went for other options, such as the Beagle Breakfast — which I would heartily recommend for hearty appetites, as it’s a decent plate of food — to the pancakes with fruit to the eggs bene. All of it looked great, and went down a treat with no complaints.
The only thing which, for me, let this visit down a little was the service. Never been a problem before, but there were a few errors — quickly resolved, I might add — such as a missing cup to go with my tea (though one of the guys suggested I drink it straight from the pot!) and an order for a «cup of tea» being mistaken for a cappuccino… but really, they’re minor things and I feel like I’m being a bit of a dick for nitpicking at them…
I’d quite happily go back again, as it’s a nice place with a good range of drinks and it won’t break the bank. Though next time I think I’ll be getting the Beagle Breakfast. Damn that was a tasty looking plate of food.

I’m quite a fan of the Beagle. I’ve been lots of times and it always serves me well. The menu is mainly Tex Mex food and burgers and there’s plenty of decent beers on offer. I’ve had the maple bacon burger on a few occasions which always hit the spot as well as having sampled a couple of the burritos, the chicken burger, the full breakfast and the breakfast burrito. The food is all pretty good but not amazing (with the possible exception of the mentioned maple bacon burger) The staff are nice and the prices are reasonable, a great place to go if you can’t be bothered cooking or you fancy a chilled out meal at any time of the day.

The Beagle seems to have got its shizzle together! Admittedly I don’t get to Chorlton as much as I’d like to but last time I was here a couple of years back it seemed like there was a bit of an identity crisis in terms of what they were trying to do. But — on this visit I really enjoyed it!
Meeting up with an old friend for some serious beer time, we had a few pints of excellent local cask and keg (there’s about 12 to choose from) and then got down to choosing from their extensive Mexi/​Tex-​Mex menu.
I’m not a fan of restaurant burrito’s as I always think they’re missing that authentic sloppiness that you get from ‘shacks but my mate enjoyed his Baja fish one. I went for the beef nachos — awesome, just look at the snaps!
They also do burgers, small plates and other bites and the ingredients are all fresh and pretty authentic — definitely this place ticks all the boxes when it comes to beer and food for me.

I’m not in Chorlton often enough and despite hearing of this bar had not been before. It was a lovely surprise. A large outside terrace space that catches the sun and an extensive airy interior. Colourful imaginative décor gives it a continental cosmopolitan feel. A full bar including many real/​guest ales give ample choice. The food is great, a variety a Tex Mex combinations and small meze plates to share. We had a Maple bacon and smoked jack cheese burger with chipotle mayo and a beef and bean burrito with coleslaw and seasoned chips. The portions were huge, good quality ingredients and great value for money. I loved mine though my companion found the burrito too salty and over spiced. Just a matter of taste perhaps. Great atmosphere and mixed lively crowd with good disabled access and family friendly feel. Loved it.

I went to the Beagle last night to try their new menu, and it was worth a go. The only issue was the wait time for a table. As they won’t let you book we got there early at 7pm but still had to wait an hour for a table. Think they need to reserve an area for dining customers only as a lot of the tables were taken up with people just having a drink and to be honest we were about to take our business elsewhere when a place became free. Seems daft to lose out on the money diners will spend just because they don’t have an organised system.
However rant over and onto the food. We ordered the popcorn shrimp to start which was ok but for the price £6.50 I would have expected something a bit fancier than we got. Little tiny battered shrimp with a sauce in a paper cup. The main courses were a different story though and both were excellent. My Baja fish burrito was delicious and full to the brim with fresh fish, rice and cheese. The fries that accompanied it were very tasty and spicy. My husband’s burger looked good too was definitely gourmet standard. I like the Beagle but one or two issues have stopped me from giving it more than 3 stars.

Came for brunch, was not disappointed. The eggs benedict with maple candied bacon and a perfect hash brown were incredible, and the pancakes with fried chicken were great too (and not something you see very often!).
Brilliant single origin filter coffee with free refills too!
And this was just for breakfast, they do amazing dinner food and their beer selection is one of the best in Manchester.

I went here on a Sunday night for a can’t-be-bothered-to-cook meal and it was absolutely ideal for that purpose. A cosy and friendly setting with an accessible menu dominated by Tex Mex style offerings. They have a great selection of beer too.
To start we shared nachos with guacamole. The guacamole was oddly watery which didn’t affect the taste but was a bit strange. The taste was great, creamy with chunks of onion and tomato.
Vietnamese pork tacos were on the specials menu for Taco Day and they were super delicious. Almost too spicy but not quite, the meat was soft and juicy with lots of rich, sweet, savoury flavours. I’m still thinking about these.
My boyfriend chose the maple bacon burger (no surprises there) which is the same as the one I’ve had before at Common. This burger is amazing. The burger itself is delicious but the maple bacon is sensational. This remains one of the best burgers I’ve had in Manchester.
Fries were decent, no complaints. Kimchi slaw was tasty but didn’t really go with anything so a lot of it was left, although I did tuck into some with a fork.
Service was incredibly fast even though it was quite busy for a Sunday evening. The bill for food and drink came to just over £25.

I ventured out to Chorlton for the first time last night & was lucky enough to be with someone who knows the bars well! He wanted to show me The Beagle, and at first I couldn’t really understand why.
From outside, The Beagle looks like an unassuming, pretty standard place. To be honest, I wasn’t crazy about going in.
First off, I was mightily impressed with the bar menu. Lots of really decent draughts and bottled craft beers. I’m not usually a cocktail drinker, but I was dazzled by the different Margaritas, Mary’s, Sours, Prosecco, Fruity & Straights cocktails! I went for a Classic White Russian which was delicious.
The menu was generally pricier than I’m used to, but I’m aware that this is subjective, & it was worth it for the atmosphere (it was as busy on a Thursday night as I would expect it to be on a Friday!), the quality of the drinks and the surroundings.
I think I can safely call The Beagle ‘quirky’, without it actually trying to be quirky, with it’s higgledy-​piggledy lay-​out & interesting decorations.
We didn’t eat, but you can view their Mexican themed food menu along with the drinks menu on their website. Think I will be returning for a Burrito!
All in all, very much a fan & would definitely recommend putting this on your visit list when in Chorlton!

The Beagle, I feel I should want to be with you, inside you, enjoying you. But I’m going to make the most lazy statement I can, and I utterly understand how lazy this statement will make me sound.
You’re on the wrong side of Chorlton for me…
I know!!! it’s utterly ridiculous, Chorltons not the Sahara desert, I don’t have to pack a survival pack for a several day trek and get physically fit to get there.
The problem is what is between me and you Beagle.
A Minefield…
Trenches…
Zombies…
Fire…
Spider Forests…
Carnies…
10 foot brick wall, covered in glass, armed men atop it, with a 10 foot moat filled with all manner of horror movie like monsters stopping me from reaching this beery haven… OR
Other Beer selling establishments. Chorlton is awash with good beer it’s no new fact, it’s well known, hell it’s why some people (Hi Me!) choose to move here.
Beagle is good, it’s beer selection is good. But it’s not better than the rest of Chorlton. Lets use the connected example.
Portstreet beerhouse is nestled in a far corner of the Northern Quarter, I work in the Captalist Dog end of Manchester some refer to as Spinningfields. I will, with a glad heart, smile on my face, in pouring rain walk to Port street over anywhere else in Manchester, as long as someone will come with me and that last part isn’t a deal breaker for me. Port Street is for me the pinnacle of Beer Selection and happiness in the Town centre.
Beagle doesn’t achieve this. To be fair it’s not really what they are trying to achieve, they have a large dedication to street food, and I haven’t partaken in this yet, but from the Beer point of view, me walking from the Cemetery side of Chorlton, I’ve got Beech road much closer with the Liks of Parlour, Morley Cheeks also standing between me and the Beagle (and to all effects is my chosen Local for Chorlton), and just as I could hit the home straight to Beagle if I make it past the above, a brief turn to my right would lead me to Eletrik and Dulcimer.
I need to go to Beagle more, I need to give it more time that it probably deserves. It can just be so darned difficult when you’re in the land of a Beery version of strawberries n cream, and there are fields of the berries and dairy cows as far as the eye can see between you and the destination.

If you’ve been to Chorlton for a pint on a lovely sunny day in the last couple of years, then there’s a good chance you’ve been to The Beagle. The large outdoor seating area is perfect for meeting up with mates, basking in the sun and looking out onto the decidedly average urban scenery that Chorlton is famous for.
As far as I know the Beagle is related to the superb Port Street Beer House in central Manchester and the beer selection is similarly great, but not too out there to really put the willies up those that don’t fawn over craft ale.
The streetfood people Margo & Rita shacked up with The Beagle a while back, purveyors of mexican style foods — the burritos are decent, if not Pancho’s level and the salsas are fresh and zingy, perfect with the house beer, made by the super Summer Wine brewery.
The Beagle is one of my default choices if I’m in Chorlton, which should be endorsement enough for anyone.

chorlton, full of pubs and eateries, but the beagle is always a goody for a sunny afternoon. And a sunny afternoon it was. At the end of the fallowfield cycle loop, near the centre of chorlton with an extensive bus network and a 2 min walk from the new tram stop… it couldnt be easier to get to.
For me, big on the list of pros are
1. they have a decent choice of ciders
2. they serve food mexican stylee
3. there is plenty of seating inside and outside
4. i can lock my bike to the fence
5. they have nice wasabi peas as a bar snack
All in all its a great bar!
food wise… no matter what you order it tastes great and more importantly it tastes fresh.
Cons… i would say the food is priced a little steep

We’d been into the Beagle a while ago when they were rotating street food vendors each day and had Mother Clucker chicken. I adored this (mouth watering at the memory of it) and have been wanting to go back for Margo & Ritas ever since.
The Beagle site has been through several incarnations over the past few years & none have stuck but I think now the interior, drink selection & vibe is spot on. Great guys behind the bar, friendly & helpful with one offering to get the heater near out table going as it was so cold.
Unfortunately this brings me onto the food experience. We got there and it was fairly full. Lots of reserved tables with no one on them which was a little annoying as they stayed empty the whole time we were there. There was a 30 minute wait for food which was mentioned when we ordered but for street food even when its served in a more restaurant style seemed a long time to me.
We ordered the gunsmoke nachos to start. The description sounded great but when they came the nachos had hardly any cheese on them (I actually rechecked the menu to see if cheese was listed as an ingredient, it definitely was) and were mostly covered in very vinegary BBQ sauce. this made them quite unpleasant and I didn’t enjoy them at all.
We then shared the beef tacotwins which were very bland and flavourless. They could also have been warmer in temperature but this was the least of the issues. The chips we ordered were flavoured well at the top of the pile but then further down were so salty I couldn’t eat them.
I am a desert fiend and the menu sounded good (key lime pie is a favourite of mine) but I didn’t bother based on the other courses. I am really sad that we didn’t have a good meal as the venue is one of my favourites. Would go back for drinks but not sure I would go for the Mexican food again although I would try the chicken to see if its as good as I remember.

UPDATE — this is a second review
I returned to Beagle 2 days after my first review. Another local foodie pub could not serve food that day so we all thought «Damn it, we’re gonna have to get all Mexican again… what a shame *all the while slavating in expectation of the treats in store».
I’ll cut to the chase, we ordered at about 17:45 and were only served our food at 18:30, on a Sunday. Half way through our wait we were served complimentary nachos which we were told comes free if you order 2 mains. That’s fine but that wasn’t the case 2 days before when our food came reasonably quickly (about 15 minutes I’d say). I’m not making assumptions but being honest and upfront is always the best policy.
When we got our food we had the same great pleasure of eating it. But somewhat the portions looked smaller. The chips were definitely half the size of the ones we had 2 days before then.
Not sure what was going on there but that’s be a real shame if standards were falling off the side as we really enjoy coming to this place for the great beers and food.

I ended up eating in The Beagle twice in three days (the second visit was due to there being a problem in nearby Electrik bar’s kitchen so they couldn’t serve food).
Had I written a review after that first visit, they’d definitely have got a 4, maybe a 4.5 star rating from me, but after our second experience, I could only award them a 3. I’m hoping this will only be a short-​term thing until I visit again.
We ordered from the Margo & Rita menu as normal, being already familiar with the options. It didn’t appear to be any busier than on the Friday night but we were left waiting for three quarters of an hour with not even a solitary nacho to munch on. When the two servings of them arrived we were told they were complimentary as we had ordered more than one main course (yet we didn’t received any complimentary snacks when we’d eaten there the first time).
We had to ask the waitress when we were likely to receive our food, which is not something a customer should normally have to do IMO. That said, the Ground Beef ‘n’ Beans burrito was tasty though some of my friends weren’t 100% satisfied with the quality and quantity of what was provided.
I really hope this was just a one-​off ‘blip’ and perhaps they were having a kitchen nightmare or something, but just a bit more communication from the staff as to what was happening was all we would have needed.
Tip: if you have a good appetite, recommend ordering the side order of fries with the burrito, though don’t bother with the guacemole.

A mere hop and a skip away from the burb’s main transport links and with the credentials of the Northern Quarter’s Port Street Beer House attached, you can see why Chorltonites and City Centre dwellers alike are letting The Beagle lead them to their ideal post-​work evening. Its impressive outdoor area blends seamlessly into the bar itself when the large front doors are opened; something that’s happening a lot in this uncharacteristic heatwave and something DesignMyNight were very grateful for when we settled in for a balmy teatime treat.
The Venue
Dubbed as ‘a beer house with a dining room’, The Beagle offers sumptuous surrounds with artwork peppered walls, rough ‘n’ ready exposed brickwork and perfectly polished dark wood. It’s an eclectic mix of traditional and quirky but it works, and while its front terrace makes for the perfect suntrap in the summer months, you can see how the interior would be comfortingly cosy when those cold nights start to draw in. It’s also proud of its dog-​friendly status, and we couldn’t help but coo and squee when (aptly enough) a tiny beagle puppy wandered through the bar (on a lead, of course). A variety of cushioned benches and booths line the walls with plentiful seating at the bar, alongside smaller tables set up with dining chairs. It all feels delightfully relaxed and homely.
Clientele and Atmosphere
You’ll find everyone in The Beagle from the aforementioned dog walkers to young urban professionals, yummy mummies to creatives with laptops… it offers something for everyone. It boasts live music, DJs, beer festivals, ‘Meet the Brewer’ events relating to their impressive array of craft beers, food nights and more. Keep an eye on their website for their latest goings-​on. Another aspect of The Beagle adding weight to the idea of each visit feeling different is the fact that rather than a static food menu, a Guerilla Eats food vendor caters the place each week to provide seven days of deliciousness before another takes their place.
Food & Drink
Our visit took place during fried chicken week, and the descriptions on the temporary menu had us salivating before we’d even ordered anything. A staple buttermilk fried chicken base founded each dish, which would then become a burger or salad. The New Yorker with crispy maple bacon and cheese was a no brainer, and its £8 price tag seemed far too reasonable for a meal not only tantalisingly tasty but large in portion size. Fries and homemade coleslaw came as standard, and two burger orders come with a free side of BBQ nachos which were fresh, crisp and delightful. As would be expected from the folks behind PSBH, there’s a veritable Beer Bible on offer with bottles from far and wide and some guest ales too. The cocktail menu is small, simple and striking, and our mojitos were amongst the best we’ve had in Manchester and a snip at £6 each.
Summary
If you’re a Chorlton-​dweller, consider yourself lucky to have The Beagle within reach; if you’re not, it’s certainly a place worth travelling for (especially with those super quick trams as an option now). Can you think of anywhere else in Manchester that showcases street food as its main menu, and changes that menu so frequently? Every visit would be different, especially if you took it upon yourself to sample their entire roster of beers. While it’s definitely one to look out for in the winter months, you should soak up as many rays as possible on their suntrap of a terrace now that you have the chance. We’ll be back for some more Guerilla Eats, craft beers and tasty cocktails for sure.