The City is a Grade II listed public house on Oldham Street in 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 reopened in 2024 following refurbishment.
| The City | |
|---|---|
 The pub in 2026 | |
  Location within Greater Manchester | |
| Former names | Prince of Orange, King's Arms |
| General information | |
| Type | Public house |
| Location | Oldham Street, 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) 2022–2024 (refurbished) |
| Design and construction | |
| Designations | |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | The City public house |
| Designated | 3 October 1974 |
| Reference no. | 1271456 |
History
editAccording 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] but reopened in June 2024 following refurbishment.[7] CAMRA records The City as "closed long term" as of March 2026.[7]
Architecture
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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
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- Castle Hotel, another Grade II listed pub on Oldham Street
- Listed buildings in Manchester-M4
- Listed pubs in Manchester
Notes
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Smithfield Conservation Area | Smithfield and its buildings today". 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". National Library of Scotland. Ordnance Survey. 1849. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "Slater's Directory of Manchester & Salford, 1863". University of Leicester. Isaac Slater. p. 691. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
King's Arms, Henry Guest, 133 Oldham st
- ↑ "Slater's Directory of Manchester & Salford, 1895". University of Leicester. 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". The Manc. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- 1 2 "City, Manchester". Campaign for Real Ale. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "The City Public House". British Listed Buildings. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
