The City, Manchester
| The City | |
|---|---|
 The pub in 2026 | |
  Location within Greater Manchester | |
| Former names | Prince of Orange, King's Arms |
General information | |
| Type | Public house (formerly) |
| Location | Oldham Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, England |
| Coordinates | 53°29′04″N 2°14′00″W / 53.4844°N 2.2334°W |
| Year built | Late 18th century (probable) |
| Renovated | c. 1870 (altered) |
| Closed | 2022 |
| Design and construction | |
| Designations | |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | The City public house |
| Designated | 3 October 1974 |
| Reference no. | 1271456 |
The City is a Grade II listed former public house on Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter area of Manchester, England. The building originated as two dwellings constructed before 1782 and was combined into a pub by 1800, first known as the Prince of Orange and later as the King's Arms in the mid‑19th century. It acquired its current name at a later date. The pub closed in 2022 and is recorded by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) as long‑term closed as of June 2024.
History
According to Manchester City Council, the premises originated as two private dwellings built before 1782 and combined by 1800 to form a public house known as the Prince of Orange.[1][a] Early Ordnance Survey mapping of central Manchester in 1849[3] and Slater's trade directories indicate that by the mid‑19th century the establishment was operating under a different name, appearing as the King's Arms and remaining so into the 1890s.[4][5] Alterations to the pub took place around 1870.[2]
The date at which the pub adopted the name The City is not documented in published sources. Nevertheless, when the building was designated a Grade II listed structure on 3 October 1974, the official listing recorded it under that name.[2]
The City closed in September 2022,[6] while the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) records The City as "closed long term" as of June 2024.[7]
Architecture
The building is constructed in brick with a covering of stucco. It has three storeys and its roofline is concealed behind a parapet. The ground floor has an emphasised entrance and window openings framed by decorative detailing. The upper storeys each feature a central relief panel flanked by plain sash windows: the first‑floor panel shows a scene associated with the arrival of William and Mary, featuring allegorical and religious figures including Britannia, two helmeted women, a clergyman, and an angel; and the upper one showing a heraldic design. A large name panel spans the middle of the façade.[8]
See also
- Castle Hotel, another Grade II-listed pub on Oldham Street
- Listed buildings in Manchester-M4
- Listed pubs in Manchester
Notes
References
- ↑ "Smithfield Conservation Area | Smithfield and its buildings today". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 Historic England. "The City public house (Grade II) (1271456)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "Town Plans of England and Wales, 1840s–1890s | Manchester and Salford Sheet 24". maps.nls.uk. Ordnance Survey. 1849. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "Slater's Directory of Manchester & Salford, 1863". leicester.contentdm.oclc.org. Isaac Slater. p. 691. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
King's Arms, Henry Guest, 133 Oldham st
- ↑ "Slater's Directory of Manchester & Salford, 1895". leicester.contentdm.oclc.org. Isaac Slater. p. 212. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
Davison – John, King's Arms (Top King), 133 Oldham st & 114 Tib st
- ↑ Pellant, Georgina (6 September 2022). "Online rumours that The City pub has closed for good aren't entirely true". themanc.com. The Manc. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "City, Manchester". camra.org.uk. Campaign for Real Ale. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "The City Public House". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. British Listed Buildings. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
