‘We want to make sure it’s back to being the iconic pub that it once was’
15:10, 18 Jul 2025Updated 15:14, 18 Jul 2025
The Oxnoble, in Castlefield, has reopened under new ownership after a revamp(Image: The Oxnoble)
Last year, The Oxnoble celebrated its 220th birthday. The historic Castlefield pub and hotel, on Liverpool Road near the Science and Industry Museum, first opened its doors in 1804 under the name of Coopers – and was a frequent drinking hole for the workers in the industrial revolution within the old Potato Wharf.
The inn, which has ten bedrooms, was given its name after its location but also after the now-extinct OX Noble potato in a nod to the numbers of potatoes delivered yards away at the Castlefield terminus of the Bridgewater Canal.
But the pub has, understandably, changed quite a bit ever since then. And it’s just received a further revamp with two new owners, who are already behind some notable venues in Manchester and Trafford, now taking the inn under their belt.
Publicans Paul Senior and David Thornhill, who have been licensees at The Goose in Canal Street since 2018 and gave the venue a full renovation last year, have revitalised The Ox with a new look, a new menu and a whole new presence.
The Oxnoble is now looked after by the same owners behind The Goose in Manchester’s Gay Village(Image: The Oxnoble)
Now reopened, the Ox, features the same outside aesthetic and big beer garden but has been given a modern refit that feels light. The hotel rooms, which start from £90 a night, have also been revamped and given a fresh new look.
“We’ve always wanted to have a city centre base because that’s where we live,” Dave tells the Manchester Evening News. “The option came up to bid for the tenancy at auction and it was just something we felt we couldn’t miss out on.
“For us, The Oxnoble was one of the venues we used to regularly visit when we moved into the Castlefield area. But the pub’s reputation hasn’t been the best over the last few years, it’s food offering wasn’t the best and it was known as a football pub, so there’s a challenge for us to turn that reputation around and make sure it’s back to being the iconic pub that it once was.”
The Oxnoble now serves a big food menu, including a Sunday roast
And in fact, it’s a similar challenge to when the pair took on The Goose – formerly known as Paddy’s Goose – back in 2018. The owners previously mentioned how they had turned the Canal Street pub from a ‘village joke’ into something that is well-loved by locals with open mic nights, karaoke nights and performances.
As has already been the case for The Ox, there will continue to be a big focus on live music and events, but there’s also been a big push on offering good food too.
“We’ve always wanted a site with a good food offering,” Dave explains. “We’re the only pub on the street that does food, and we’re doing breakfast from 7.30am in the morning, as well as lunch time and evening service too.
The Oxnoble’s roots date back to around 1804(Image: The Oxnoble)
“It’s your pub classics and home comforts, like fish and chips and homemade cheese and onion pie, and we try to use local suppliers when we can. We also serve a full fresh Sunday roast, which pairs nicely with our live music on Sunday afternoons.”
The pub has been open as part of a soft launch phase for a little over a month now, and there will be an officially opening event taking place later this month signalling its full transformation is now complete. But for Paul and Dave, it’s so far, so good for The Ox.
“We’ve been open a little while now and people are starting to realise that it’s now under a new ownership and noticed that quite a lot has changed,” Dave says. “A lot of locals are coming back to check it out.
Its hotel rooms have also received an upgrade(Image: The Oxnoble)
“There’s been such a good vibe in Castlefield recently – we’ve just had the Sounds of the City shows for two weeks at Castlefield Bowl and it had a really nice crowd of people and a real mix too because of the varied line-up for the shows.
“We’re looking forward to really getting to know the locals over the summer and reminding people that The Ox is back and better than ever.”
The Oxnoble is on 1 Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4NQ.