The Woodstock

Recently had our wedding reception at the Woodstock and I can honestly say the staff were so amazing, so helpful helping me to set up the room the night before and also helping pack everything away the next day. Even the little things went such a long way and was very appreciative of, like lighting all the candles on the tables for our arrival was so nice of them to do. Big praise for Jade (manager and the other woman who was working on the same shift with her can't remember her name but both were great, nothing was too much. The food was buffet style and all tasted very delicious we got a lot of compliments about the food and great menu choices meat and vegetarian. Would highly recommend and book again in the future.

Popped in for a drink. Lovely interior, good menu and food looked lovely. A return visit is in order!

Visited on a Saturday for dinner with a party of 6. Not sure if you can book however we found a table fairly fast. In all we ordered, drinks, 5 burgers, a mix of chicken and beef, and sausages and mash. Aswel as 1 apple crumble, & 3 sticky toffee pudding. The burgers were great sizes with a side of chips, taste delicious. The mashed and sausages was on the smaller side. That person shared our chips, but said it was still nice. The desserts, all delicious & good sizes. The staff were all friendly and welcoming. There was plenty of parking and outdoor seating. Im planning a nother visit soon.

Visted the Woodstock yesterday and had a lovely meal with the family. The food was really good, atmosphere was cosy and relaxed and the table service from Fleur was great - she accomodated our needs really well and was super pleasant. Would definitely recommend eating/drinking here.

Beautiful pub, sunny garden, quality pints. Great customer service, was served by Niamh. They helped me find the perfect drink for this sunny day in February. Thanks a million, playing cards in the sun right now.

An excellent steak sandwich and chips. This is a very nice house to enjoy a good meal.

Had a great family get together after a service at the Southern Cemetery. Service was great, food was tasty and a good selection. There were about 15 of us and we had a large space and several tables. Very friendly service and couldn't fault it.

Came in to have a drink with my parents and we went to the bar to order, the lad behind the bar didn't acknowledge us once at all. We understand you have to make coffee but when people come into your bar and are stood at the bar and waiting to order all it takes is simple “hello” or “I’ll just be a minute” to make it feel more welcoming. The staff member serving food didn’t even let on to us also. The past few times we have been in now the service has been well below par.

Fabulous food and a really nice chilled atmosphere. Also a great selection of beers including some cool belgian beers Loos could do with a bit of TLC, not dirty, just need a lick of paint and the odd bit of maintenance here and there. It might be worth noting that there is not a great main course selection for vegetarians (plenty of fish and meat) - although there are a few good starters. Overall this is a great pub, some outdoor seating for the warmer evenings and a great feel to the place inside. Recommended.

This is an old haunt of mine that I haven't been back to for 5 years or more. It has a cosy feel inside with open fires and comfy chairs for colder days and seating on two levels with a bar on both - though the upstairs bar is only open at peak times. Big range of beers and I had a great glass of sauvignon blanc on this visit. We had two courses - the salt and pepper squid and cous cous, halloumi and avocado salad. Both were great. For main we had the classic fish and chips and a chicken sunday roast. Both plates were piled high with food. I heard that the roast was great - my fish and chips was a little disappointing. The fish was slightly under-cooked on the inside and burnt on the outside. I didn't feel strongly enough about it to complain though, and I will be going back to give it a second go.

I would love to live here in one of the cosy little rooms and snuggle in front of an open fire. However, the building is a pub - The Woodstock. It is one of my favourite pubs in Manchester as they serve a great range of bottled and draft beers, you can always get a table (apart from maybe on Tuesdays - quiz night), there are plenty of seats outdoors with patio heaters, there's a car park, they do food...etc etc. However, my last visit here wasn't quite such a pleasant experience. I ordered a pint of Guinness, which I was informed that they were out of. I ordered the first thing which caught my eye which was a pint of Becks Vier. The Becks was completely flat, with no head at all. My friend's pints were also all flat. So I decided to move onto the ale. I opted for an ale that was advertised on a huge chalk board behind the bar. I was informed that they were out of that too, as the delivery had not arrived. So I went for a bottle of Duvel which set me back a whopping £4.10. This experience would usually be enough to put me off a pub, but as it's the Woodstock I shall still be returning.

The Woodstock Arms or "The Woodstock" as it's more commonly known, became my local by default as it is only a two minute walk away from where I live. I'm quite picky when it comes to beer and I would probably say I'm a bit of a "beer snob" I'd rather drink a pint of water then drink a pint of . You're pretty much drinking a pint of water if you ordered one of those generic corporate lagers anyway. To earn the title of my local means you have to serve a selection of quality beer and The Woodstock gets a tick in that box. Not a big fat tick, a small tick as I think they could drastically improve their beer selection. The majority of their "core" lineup of beers come from massive corporations. For example they have Fransikaner (ABInBev), Becks (ABInBev), Stella (ABInBev), Blue Moon (Molson Coors), Carling (Molson Coors), Doom Bar (Molson Coors), Peroni (SAB Miller), Kozel (SAB Miller) and Guinness (Diageo). See a pattern emerging here? The bottle lineup never changes either and again consists of beers from these massive corporate breweries. However do have a couple of classic bottled beers from Chimay and Bacchus Frambozenbier and Bacchus Kriekenbier that go down well in the summer. They are missing a trick here and they should replace these massive corporate beers with a range of local artisanal beers. There are some great local and national microbreweries producing lagers and ales that are far superior to what they currently have on draft. Their one saving grace is they sell Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Brooklyn Lager on draft. Two of my favourite American craft beers. It's worth the visit just to get a fresh Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on draft. This place could really stand out from the crowd if they offered a wider rang or rotating cask, keg and bottled beers from UK micro-brewers.

I'd heard that The Woodstock was a firm favourite with the locals in West Didsbury. I'm sure this is especially true in nicer, warmer weather (when we get it) so that you can sit outside in its sizeable beer garden. It's large inside, with numerous seating areas on the ground and first floors. There's a bar on each floor as well (though I was informed the upper one isn't always open). A lot of the original features such as fireplaces have been kept, so in some respects it feels like you're supping your drink in the drawing room of an old country retreat, though this is juxtaposed with the chalk boards listing menus on the walls and the fact you're mostly surrounded by hipsters... The only real downside with this place is that it isn't particulary cheap, but alas that comes with the territory of where it's located. Having visited in the darkest depths of winter, I'd like to balance this review with a summertime visit and order some food here as well.

The Woodstock is located on barlow moor road, across the road from Albert's restaurant. I am still trying to understand whether it is a pub or a restaurant or a bit of both or just a wannabe that doesn't know what it wants to be. The only saving grace for this place is location, the massive building this is housed in and enough greenery for a summer beer garden. That's it. The service is a bit horrible up to the point that you feel like you're being given your drinks as an act of charity by the bartenders, who aren't particularly nice or polite or friendly, by the way. Once, as we were quite peckish, we decided to order a couple of portions of chips, which didn't turn up even after 45 mins, until which time we had forgotten about it. By this time we had to leave and when I went to the bar to tell them, there was no apology, or regret or remorse. The bartender had to talk to a manager before giving me the refund! Another example of appalling service. I am not particularly a fan of this place for some basic requirements they fail to meet and so if it were up to me, I wouldn't bother with this place.

The Woodstock is a really fresh and vibrant pub based on Barlow Moor Road on the edge of West Didsbury. There's always something going on in here, whether it's the pub quiz, salsa dancing classes or beer and burger offers, there's something for everyone. Theres a wide variety of seating, from sofas to comfy armchairs all the way through to dining chairs and cushioned benches meaning it suits a variety of occasions. There's always weird and wonderful artwork displayed within the venue too and the bar staff tend to display funny quotes and limericks on the bar, albeit close to the tip jar. The vast beer garden is one of the biggest in the area so as soon as the sun comes out it gets packed so it's wise to try and get there early so you can grab yourself a table. With a great selection of drinks, such as real ale on tap, indivually wrapped beer bottles, fruity ciders and wines and a fabulous food menu, including Sunday roasts, I'd recommend this bar to anyone who's looking for a chilled out environment and a cheeky drink or two.

I enjoyed this pub, even tho the service was a little laboured. We had no trouble parking, the pub itself is nice and welcoming, but they were trying a new 'service' the day we went. Rather than order at the bar, they would take the order from the table. We waited for 20mins before we had to get someone. The food when it arrived was not as hot as I would have liked, although I still enjoyed my Sunday roast. My sister in law had the burger, which was hot and tasteyi think it was her burger cooking that made our lunch cold! Its reasonably priced, and we enjoyed a bottle of Chilian Sauvignon Blancvery crisp. I wouldn't rule out going here again. Especially in the summer. The outdoor seating area looks like it could be a real crowd pleaser!

Nice pub in a good location, with an attractive beer garden and plenty of seating. Really cool building too, tastefully decorated. The menu wasn't the most original but it had a good burger selection and some classic tapas dishes, and to be fair the pork and chorizo burger was delicious. Drinks were reasonably priced and free chilled cucumber water which was a nice touch, although the bar woman had a bit of an attitude problem. Overall a good pub for sunny afternoons

Picking up on Elliot's final point, that The Woodstock is as far removed from a Scream bar as you can imagine, I feel I should point out that the pub is actually owned and run by the same company as are Scream Bars. Of course, Elliot is completely right, it is about as far removed from a Scream Bar as you can imagine. Mitchells & Butler, one of the biggest owners of pubs and bars in the UK, try to meet all needs, tapping into al markets from trashy students to middle-class mums and dads. This pub, one of the few Castle (that's the brand of M&B) pubs outside London, is in its location very unique, but compared to other pubs of the same Brand, is pretty generic. The drinks variety is extensive, with everything from continental beers through posh spirits and mixers to a large comprehensive wine list. Food is posh pub grub, with a few extras randomly thrown onto the menu (probably not actually random but the result of meticulous planning and consideration at the Mitchells and Butlers head offices). Pretty tasty and impressive. Even though it might be similar to some other M&B pubs, the formula works, and its damn good, so get involved!

In case you didn't know, Woodstock is not only a favourite meeting&drinking venue, but is a place to hold inspired academic discussions. So, if you are looking for a cosy space where to debate the future of capitalism or the latest discoveries in nuclear science over a pint of beer, head to West Didsbury. Woodstock is located just off Barlow Moor Road and is all but hidden from the view in summer. In these warm summery evenings it is like the proverbial secret garden, and indeed Woodstock's beer garden is very lovely. But the real discoveries still await you inside. The interior offers a peculiar mix of old architecture and furniture and some modern decorations. The comfy sofas, ottomans, and armchairs are just the order for a romantic evening in candlelight or a friendly get-together by the chimney. The selection of beverages is good, and the food is delicious. The menu ranges from traditional English burgers to more sophisticated fish and meat dishes, and deserts are lip-smacking! The place is certainly one of the must-visits in Manchester, and, unless you are a resident, is a good reason to take a bus to West Didsbury.

Unlike some of the old school boozers on nearby Wilmslow Road, the Woodstock hardly feels like a pub at all. Located in a beautiful listed building, it has a grand interior that combines old-fashioned decadence with a few quirky, cosy modern touches. So it's more like a nice bar, really. Whether you choose to share a table with friends, hide away in one of the little nooks or settle down in a huge armchair, you can enjoy some great food and a wide range of wonderful beers, including Adnams and Leffe. The Woodstock is set slightly back from the main road and has a huge beer garden, so it's the perfect place to meet friends for a cheeky drink in the summer. It's also a good place to take kids. There's no play area, but the pub does offer a good children's menu and there are high chairs you can borrow.

Meal with clients. Called in for a quick bite to eat and a coke. Food took ages to arrive then a week later I received a car park fine for overstaying by 10 minutes. £50 extra for having to wait. Never returning!!

This is a lovely pub in West Didsbury, I love the décor which is quirky and sumptuous, with lots of comfy sofa's dark walls and grand fireplaces. I have only ever been here on a Sunday, but I think that that is the best day to go as the Sunday menu is scrumptious. I took my mother there for her birthday and we both had a traditional Sunday roast which tasted fresh and homemade, and the price was reasonable as well. During the meal I couldn't help but drool over my boyfriend's meal homemade steak and ale pie, it looked absolutely delicious, so much so that we returned the following week and I opted for that! It was so filling that I fell asleep as soon as I got home! The deserts are also yummy, my favourite is a chocolate puddle pudding with cinnamon custard need I say more! Relaxed, friendly service and the food arrived promptly, highly recommended. Can't wait to go in the summer as the garden area looks charming

Absolutely disgusted. We booked for Christmas Day dinner in October and were told no deposit was required, as long as we paid in full by the end of November that our table was secure. Called today to pay only to be told there was no longer a reservation for us and that they had asked on several occasions on the day of our booking for a deposit which is absolutely not the case. Absolutely gutted as we were looking forward to this but I can only assume that The Woodstock has regular guests they wish to accommodate and decided to cancel our table. Disgusting service and spoken to terrible by the general manager. Do not book a table here in case they decide to pull it from you!!

The Woodstock is a lovely pub, great location, really close to Didsbury Village and West Didsbury. The food is of a high standard, with a large menu ranging from tapas style selections to burgers and pints. Great selection of vegetation dishes as well. The outside area is perfect in summer, with plenty of outside seating and grassy areas to lounge on. This area can get pretty busy in summer, so be sure to get there early! Staff are friendly - could be more knowledgeable on the drinks they offered, asked a couple of staff for different types of wine but they weren't too sure about what wine to offer. Food is reasonably priced, drinks can be a bit on the pricey side. Overall a really good experience, would definitely go again!

Good pub with great atmosphere. Food let's it down tho. Staff are friendly and happy to help, tho when I sent my food back it was just a case of "it is what it is".

Woodstock. Sold on the name already. I like the little bird in Snoopy a lot, and I'm also enamoured by the idea of three days of peace, love and music. (Let's just forget that 1999 disaster ever happened. Great line-up, sure, but five dollar bottles of water do not happy campers make.) So it's one thing to have a pub recommended to you by a friend, but it's quite another to have a pub recommended to you by a friend who not only has worked in the bar industry but knows loads of people who manage bars. Vickie S was the advocate of the Woodstock, and how right she was. On a lazy Sunday, the other half and I took my 'rents into Didsbury Village. We ventured to the Green where we found a 45 minute wait for food in The Didsbury, so our default if-wet choice was the Woodstock. This was testament to the idea that everything happens for a reason, and as soon as we walked across the beer gardens of the Woodstock with their picnic benches and entered its grand building, we were very happy. This is one lovely higgledy-piggledy building with mismatch furniture, snugs and corridors, and where we were told by a very sweet front-of-house lady, "Oh, just grab any table you like. We've got seats upstairs as well, all table service - we'll bring you your drinks and everything." Aces! So up we went and found ourselves a table for four. I found myself drinking a very delicious Chardonnay, Dad was chuffed with his bitter IPA and we were impressed with the Sunday menu. There were a few items they'd run out of... and once again, everything happens for a reason. They were offering a shoulder of lamb as a replacement for the chicken and pork that had been snapped up already, and my pa went for that. Mum and myself opted for the veggie Wellington with wild mushrooms and brie, while the BF had beef. All the roasts came with proper trimmings, but first we had starters to contend with - mushrooms on toast with stilton, prawn cocktail and spring vegetable soup. These set the benchmark. My gawd, were they supreme. Sauces, seasonings and textures were just spot on, and the mains continued the trend. Delicious rich Yorkshires, huge puff pastry-coated Wellingtons, a succulent, tender shoulder of lamb falling off the bone and melting in the mouth (slow-cooked to perfection) and the beef followed suit. It seemed almost rude not to share a gooey brownie between the four of us, made surprisingly with beetroot. People, it worked. Amazingly. Great veggie options, awesome drinks, a fab atmosphere, family-friendly, ridiculously tasty food and friendly conversations with the manager himself. Woodstock, you rock!

Yum yum yum. What a perfect pub for a wet and windy afternoon. Dropped in here after a horrendous walk in Lyme Park (mostly made horrendous by our terrible hangovers and the apocalyptic weather, rather than the scenery which is really quite lovely). The Woodstock is the perfect pub for such an afternoon. Big enough to have plenty of seating for weary walkers and their dogs, cosy enough to feel warm and snug. The food here is always good, and arrives quickly. Unfortunately we sat upstairs where the fireplace seemed to be backing up and coughing out tarry smoke into the air, which was a bit off putting, but I'm sure they'll get this sorted out. Brilliant cosy country pub (in the city).

Must admit, I love going to the Woodstock on a lovely Sunny day. The beer garden is one of the nicest in South Manchester and the atmosphere is always very laid back and relaxed. There is also a lot of seating so there is no problem finding a place to sit and chill and have a drink or two. The Woodstock does a range of delicious food, not the cheapest but very nice all the same. They also have a very good BBQ in the Summer. Definitely worth a visit if the weather is good.

A pub with a buzzing atmosphere. One of the best beer gardens of any pub i've known and a must visit place on a sunny saturday afternoon for a drink with friends.

Not quite the place it used to be, this sprawling boozer used to be THE place for Sunday lunch in West Didsbury and something a bit different like roast Kangaroo rump (honest). Still, it's got parking, grounds are nice for a summery pint too. Just could be so much more!

This place seems to have changed over the years and I can't decide if its a good thing or not. The decor has been re done in a really glam but somehow not over the top way and it has held onto some of the tastefulness which a building of such proportions deserves. The food is delicious, especially on a lazy Sunday afternoon, though you may have trouble hunting out a table. The beer garden is a lovely setting on a summer evening, a nice hidden from the roadside. I just hope that the redecorations hasn't got rid of some of the old school charm which the place used to have.

Great pub in a beautiful building. The best outside space in the area.

My local for many years. The Woodstock was where everybody met up at some time in the week back then. It was certainly the best in West Didsbury (at the time) and was pretty much out on a limb. It has the appearance of an old, city mansion set in lovely surrounds - and essentially that's what it is, bar the fact it is open to the great unwashed. You would often see one or two local celebs in full pose mode here (the likes of Richard Ashcroft, Liam Gallagher, Steve Coogan et al) but they disappeared to the smoke (can't say half of them are missed - London is very welcome to them). We used to pop down at all hours (back when West Didsbury was affordable to rent at the very least) and there was a bit of a community then. Kangaroo burgers washed down with a few 'Straro's' and heaven was tangible. The Metropolitan opened a few years later and seemingly overnight the Woodstock fell out of favour. Although the Met is a handsome looking (and quite large) pub, it never really got the same pleasant characters as the Woodstock did. It also couldn't boast a Pétanque (French bowling) green, which the Woodstock could, right at the bottom of the wonderful beer garden (again beating the Met's dull affair hands down). Of late though I feel it's gone the same way as the Met (less snobby but still has these supercilious elements they were never really there in it's hey dayunless I was too drunk to notice back then?). It's also pricey so not really the place you could visit every other night - still it's a good looker. Perhaps have a couple in here then head off to the Railway across from the Met. Now there's a cheap boozer.

Nice pub, great beer garden and strange interior decoration. This would be a great pub apart from the variable service and standard of service. For that reason I tend to avoid busy times.

Nice big old pub, lovely place on a sunny day. Nicely furnished inside, with friendly staff .. If you're in south Manchester and you're fortunate enough to have the sun shining, then check it out ..

Great pub with a fantastic beer garden - and better still outdoor heaters! Has a good 'pub-food' selection, service can be a little ropey at times, but on the whole it's a reliable place to eat with bundles of character. The building itself is large and beautiful, with period fireplaces still intact, high ceilings, a wide central staircase and lots of other beam features. Popular with business professionals mid-week, and Didsbury's 20 and 30-somethings at the weekends.

This is a pub well worth a visit. It is a grand old building set in nice grounds isolated from the busy road. This makes sitting out (when the Manchester weather permits) a pleasure. The menu has all the classics and some nice oddities. And all at a reasonable price. The bar boasts a broad range of beers and an even broader range of ciders. However they are a bit on the pricey side. All in all a fine pub. And if it is busy, don't forget there is additional seating upstairs!

pretty good little pub, best for a quiet night with friends