For Pub of the Week, we visit a venue which was once a frequent drinking spot for the Coronation Street cast
08:35, 19 Oct 2025Updated 10:44, 20 Oct 2025
We visit the Oxnoble, on Liverpool Road in Castlefield, as our Pub of the Week(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Pubs are the lifeblood of any city, town or village. Whether you’re a drinker or not, it’s hard not to see the impact they have on bringing people from all walks to life under one roof, and providing solace and community at times of need.
Last week, we launched our new Pub of the Week feature which aims to shine a spotlight on some of the best pubs in Greater Manchester and the people behind them. Whether it’s a quaint little corner spot, a city centre chain, or a best-kept-secret, we’ll be featuring them all.
For this week, we’ve spoken to the owners of The Oxnoble, which will be a popular spot to anyone who’s ever visited Castlefield before – and it is usually rammed out on a weekend evening or after a gig at the yards-away Castlefield Bowl. As well as being a pub, the venue serves food and also has a hotel operation upstairs.
But, considering the pub has been in the city centre, near Deansgate, for a long time now, there’s been many things new about the place in recent months. Earlier this year, the historic venue was taken over by publicans Paul Senior and David Thornhill, who have also run The Goose in the Gay Village since 2018.
Stay connected with our City Life newsletter here
The Oxnoble dates back to 1804 and was recently given a big revamp(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
We spoke to David about what’s been like running The Oxnoble for the last five month and how the venue actually has a very unique claim about it. If you’ve got a recommendation for a future Pub of the Week suggestion, let us know!
Here’s what guys behind The Oxnoble had to say.
How did you get into the pub industry in the first place?
I think pubs are in Paul’s blood. His Grandfather had a city centre pub in the fifties called The Dyers Arms, on Dantzic Street. It’s long been demolished now, but Paul had always loved everything about pubs.
He worked for the Police for many years, but back in 2012 he left and got into the pub game. Because of his previous management experience, he got promoted quite quickly and ended up as General Manager of two city centre venues. It was 2018 when the opportunity came along for us to run our own pub.
Paul jumped at the chance, and I got dragged along on the ride leaving my commercial insurance role – but not too reluctantly though!
What is the significance behind the pub’s history?
The Oxnoble Inn was established in 1804 and is located in the heart of Potato Wharf. The pub first appears in local directories in the early years of the 19th-century when it was called the Cooper’s Arms.
It occupies the original site, within a few yards, of the Castlefield terminus of the Bridgewater Canal, where potatoes were landed on such a scale that the area became known as Potato Wharf. With the location of the pub, it is hardly surprising that the Oxnoble’s name is derived from a type of potato.
The Oxnoble’s owners Paul Senior and David Thornhill(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
In 1911 the Oxnoble was purchased by Chesters Brewery Company, Manchester. Fun fact, The Oxnoble is the only pub in the UK with that name!
We also have another city centre pub – The Goose – and back in 2018 when we took that over, the old licensee of The Oxnoble, Dot, used to come into The Goose every Friday morning to meet her long-time friend Harry, who was also a retired publican. Little did we know just a few years later we’d be running Dot’s old pub!
What’s your best-selling drink?
The Oxnoble has long been a drinkers pub!
It was previously known for showing sport, so our biggest selling drink is currently draught lager, with Cruzcampo coming top of the list. I think people associate Cruzcampo with holiday vibes which is why it is so popular, but one of our chefs, Miguel, who comes from Spain would strongly disagree with this.
We are just about to launch a new cocktail menu, as well as a brand new wine menu curated by Sommelier Nick Fildes – there are some really great quality wines at really reasonable prices.
What’s an unusual thing that’s happened at The Oxnoble?
The Oxnoble is a very random place! We’ve only been here a short time, so we are still getting to know the building properly.
But in the last five months, everything that could break has been broken.
The pub has a cosy feel to it, and also offers up social darts, as well as food, drink and a place to rest(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)Have there been any famous or notable guests over the years?
The Oxnoble is located close to the old Granada Studios, so it used to be frequented quite regularly by the Coronation Street cast as they all worked very close by. That’s not the case anymore, but we do have a very diverse range of guests now.
Many people come from other cities who come to visit for concerts, conferences, and events here.
What is it about your local community that you love?
It is great operating a business in Castlefield – It feels like a little community in the city centre!
We know that The Oxnoble has had a rough few years, and we are really trying our best to engage with our neighbours and give them the local pub that they deserve.
The Oxnoble has a popular outdoor area, and also claims to serve up a ‘Sunday Roast done right'(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)Have there been any spooky or haunted encounters?
We’ve only been at The Oxnoble since May this year, but we don’t think its haunted.
We did come in early one day the other week and there was a glass smashed all over the floor behind the bar. We checked the CCTV cameras, and a glass just randomly seemed to jump off the bar, so who knows!
Whenever an Amazon parcel gets delivered, it always goes missing! But that might be less to do with ghosts…
How can people support their local pub?
Pubs are part of the fabric of the UK, and we can’t lose them.
They are more than just about serving alcohol – they are places where you celebrate, commiserate, meet friends, meet strangers who become friends. Whether it is a birthday or a wake – Pubs are so important to everyone’s lives.
Pub’s help to combat loneliness, and bring people together every day of the year.
The Oxnoble is on 71 Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4NQ.
Join our Manchester Food and Drink WhatsApp group HERE