The Slug & Lettuce

Leftbank is finally taking on a bit of a personality and I keep finding myself at this Slug & Lettuce at the end of the working week. It’s got a much nicer vibe than its counterpart on Albert Square (perhaps because not many people know about it!) and we’ve always been able to get to the bar.
Inside is large — toilets upstairs, FYI — and unfortunately a little bit dark during the summer months. However, it does have external seating on both sides, and there are usually a few seats available. Bar service is fairly speedy but rarely with a smile!
Both of our recent trips have seen the ordering of prosecco: once on a Friday but more recently on a Thursday, which meant it was only £11.45 with their wine/​fizz offer. Bargain. The chillers provided do keep the wine cooled though lots of ice = lots of water drips, so grab some napkins.
They’ve always got offers on so it’s never going to be an expensive night: it might not just be the highest quality one.

I can see myself becoming a regular of the Slug, mainly for it location (next door to work) it cheapness (241 cocktails, half price food on a Monday) and that it will give me more discount if I rock in with my work pass.
However as awesome as the above things are I wouldn’t be heading back in if everything else was terrible, good for me it not.
The place is nice, with a large out side seating by the river for the rare none rainy days and plenty of room in the place. The food is normal bar grub and of normal quality, the coktails are cheap but not the best you can have. However for the price your paying I find that just fine, I am quite found of the JD honey one they make! That what the Slug is for me, a great place for the price your paying.
So while I can never see myself crossing town to come here I can certainly see myself choseing the Slug for a quick after work drink.

A nice slug and lettuce which is tucked away at the far end of Spinningfields so it’s a bit of a hidden gem. This place is great in summer as there is an outdoor area front and back. At the back, there is a decked area which looks onto the River Irwell.
I often go to the slug and lettuce when I am looking for a cheap and quick meal and they normally have lots of offers on.
It was just after work when I went in and our food took about 25 minutes to arrive. Our friends who arrived later ordered a bar snack (potato wedges) as we were conscious of time. The main meals were substantial, typical bar food, cannot complain with lots of condiments as the chilli con carne comes with tacos, the potato wedges came in a large bowl and were bigger than the mains especially the one covered in cheese so they are great for sharing.
This was my second visit here and I would come here again as it is not overly busy and you can get a lovely seat outside and think you are in another country.

Catching up with old friends… Sat in a quiet corner… 50% off the food bill… A few cocktails… What more could you ask for!
Slightly better service, bad waitressing is one of my biggest bug bares! I know everyone has there off days but when you are in that profession learn to fake it! Other than the grumpy waitress that just gave off the impression she didn’t want to be there everything else was enjoyable.
The food! Just your general pub food (better than Weatherspoons though), we all had burgers of various varieties… All were demolished!
This was my first visit to a Slug & Lettuce and I would go back!

So Ha-​Ha bit the dust in the ever-​revolving door of chain businesses that is the coveted Spinningfields canalside slot, and you may deem slugs slow movers, but our slimy little friend wasted no time in sneaking into the vacant lot right at the edge of Leftbank. And you know what? When I popped over here for a late lunch meeting, I was actually pretty happy. My companion and I decided to split a falafel wrap and a fish finger sandwich so we could try a bit of each, and with my Yellowcard discount the food came to less than a tenner. A tenner! That was with an additional portion of wedges to share too.
The lack of wifi had me shifting around in my seat a bit, but the star I’d have deducted was reinstated when I took a bite out of the wedges. Oh gosh. Seriously, if I’m ever feeling blue or demotivated or just particularly cold on one of these winter’s days, I’m going to pop into this Slug and see if I can just get a massive portion of their wedges with all the dips. I have this obsession with double-​fried potato products ever since tucking into some amazing chips at a pub in the Primrose Hill area of that London place people talk about, and I think these wedges fall under that category. They are delectably crisp, hotter than the sun, and impossibly fluffy-​as-​a-​cloud inside. Yummers.
Slug also do some kind of 50% off food offer on a Monday, and I’m going to investigate this as I’m unsure as to whether it’s just a discount for folks who work at nearby buildings like RBS. I have two people in my life who travaille in that particular spot, my other half and one of my close friends, and both have flashed their ID cards to get cheaper drinks, I know this much. Anyway, at least I know where to come when I need a hefty plate of carbs.

The Slug @ Spinningfields, this is a haunt not because of fantastic beer which may seem odd based on previous reviews in that I will do whatever I can to focus on the beer.
But what do you truly expect from a franchise/​chain the Slug serves a range of beers, with minimal (read 1) ale. They are far more focused on the Lagers (the Zyweic is a pleasnt tipple, as is the Kozel).
The price is fine for being in the city centre, and the food is alright, but it won’t make you smack your lips in satisfaction (Important to remember, there are often money off vouchers for the food normally 10−25%, so if you are eating there always worth having a mooch on the website or adding yourself to mailing list).
to answer the questions that is probably brewing, I go because it is slap bang next to my work and I get a discount of my booze, if there were a proper pub closer I would probably go there (on occasion the Grapes has led my like a Siren across spinningfields square but when you only have an hour at lunch you’ve gotta maximise your time)
A fair amount of seating inside and out (if the weathers good evenings there are brilliant as the sun beats down) however alot of seating at the back is lost as priority/​reserved seating for meals (if you obey such signs)
The Staff are friendly, happy to chat, and they all make a decent cocktail (yes I know not beer, sometimes you do just have to go with the group)
This place is like its food, its alright, its like a main brand beer you go because it requires minimal thought process if you wanted. As with all Franchise/​Chains check what offers are on see if they fit with who you’re with they have lots of food offers on, and they always (pretty sure its always) have 2−4−1 cocktails on. Maybe view it as a springboard to your evening of better things.

Ok, the food isn’t amazing but it beats many of the other chain bars and pubs. The chain is unfairly compared to a Wetherspoon’s, though is a lot better in terms of quality and attracts far less of the cheap drinks crowds.
This particular Slug and Lettuce however is my favourite. It is very modern and stylish, and is on the canal in Spinningfields, with large indoor and outdoor seating areas. We went in the evening in April, where it was still possible to sit outside under the patio heaters next to the canal.
It isn’t amazing, but they do offer some good cocktails. This particular branch has a 2−4−1 All day Every Day on cocktails offer, which the other city centre Slug’s do not (only certain days). There is also half price food on Monday’s.
+2−4 – 1 cocktails (large choice)
+Nice outdoor canal side seats (heated)
+Very modern /​stylish interior
+Not too busy /​rowdy
–At the far end of the Spinningfields development
–Not the best food around
–Less cheap if not eating on Mondays or drinking cocktails

I don’t often find myself in the Spinningfields vicinity, apart from when I’ve met friends for lunch who had been working in the area. On one of those occasions, I had a lunch here at Ha Ha.
There was a great deal on for £6, offering a selection of above average dishes. We started by sharing some Nachos, a generous serving with its fair share of trimmings: mozzarella, cheddar, sour cream, guacamole, tomato salsa, chillies, spring onion and coriander! It was a bit of an oversight, because by the time the mains came we were already at half capacity…
Unfortunately my Chicken & Chorizo Tortiglioni was barely warm and didn’t have the flavour that I expected. My date’s Salmon & Haddock fishcakes however, were pretty tasty. Overall, not bad for the price but the place lacked personal charm and character. Not very Ha Ha.

I’m going to be up front and say that I have mixed feelings about the Slug and Lettuce here on Spinningfields.
The pub is a nice, clean, modern pub, situated canalside, which looking at the number of other places that have opened, then closed shortly afterwards might actually be cursed! That they have managed to last so long is a testament to their staying power. That, or the 2for1 that they always have on cocktails.
The mixed feelings come about just because on a Friday or Saturday night it’s so very hard to move around, let alone get over to the bar. And whilst the 2for1 might seem like a good deal, all of the cocktails seem to take a while to make, meaning that the queue at the bar takes a while to get to the front of.
Outside of those times, it’s actually a pretty nice place, and well worth a trip for a relaxing lunch, given that the food is reasonably priced, and pretty good. I would recommend the sharing platters that they do, the BBQ one has the usual staples of breaded chicken, cord on the cob and garlic bread, whilst the meze version goes for tasty houmous, pitta and olives — great for if there are a few of you just wanting to snack.
If you’re sticking to the beer, the price is a little on the higher side, but not overly expensive — expect to pay up to £4 a pint though.
My tip would be get in early if you’re goiing in the evening, and get outside. There’s nothing like sitting canalside on a sunny day with a cocktail or four.