Matchstick Man is a pub in Media City, Manchester. Rated 4.2 stars from 4978 Google reviews. Known for staff engagement and beer and wine selection. Best for groups and solo dining. Features a rooftop. Price range: £10–20.
Matchstick Man is rated 4.2★ on Google (4,978 reviews) and 3.9★ on TripAdvisor (1,697 reviews) — a consistent rating across both platforms.
Rankings updated
Matchstick Man
Across 4,776 rated reviews, 80% gave four or five stars.
| Rating | 4.2★ |
| Reviews | 4,978 |
| 1-star share | 6.2% |
| Best for | Solo dining |
In Their Own Words
Review highlights surfaced by Google — shown in English, with the original beneath
“Great place, very friendly staff and great selection of drinks at a good price.”
“Food was very poor,burger burnt, 1 slither of onion and 1 piece of lettuce.”
“AJ gave excellent service and chatted to us about the menu and food choices.”
Consistently rated across Google and TripAdvisor
6,675 reviews across two platforms
Quick Verdict
A pub where staff engagement and drinks selection elevate casual dining into something worth the repeat visit.
You want a pub where the staff remember you and the beer selection outpaces the casual-pub norm.
About Matchstick Man
Watching football with a pint of something cold, or sitting down to a proper feed after a long day in Media City — Matchstick Man handles both without fuss. Part of the Hungry Horse group, it's a modern, family-friendly pub and restaurant on Salford Quays, and the view of the quay is reason enough to claim a window seat. The food is built for appetite: the Full Monty Mixed Grill leads the menu in mentions, and the bangers and mash and the chocolate fudge cake both draw their own loyal following. What keeps people coming back, though, is the staff — AJ, Jack, Sam, Sally and Levi are named across review after review for warmth, banter and the kind of attentiveness that makes a chain pub feel like a local. App ordering keeps things moving on busy match days.
Matchstick Man is the neighbourhood spot done right — unhurried, unpretentious, with a wine list that gives it an edge over most of its category.
In the last 90 days, Matchstick Man has drawn 83 substantial written reviews (50+ characters of genuine feedback) — recent momentum that is one of the signals behind its place on the hot list.
What Stands Out
Staff engagement
AJ, Jack, Sam, and Sally are named repeatedly for making guests feel welcomed, chatting through menu choices, and keeping tables entertained—reviewers describe them as 'brilliant', 'amazing', and 'unreal'.
Beer and wine selection
Google reviews surface 'Great beer selection' and 'Great wine list' as highlights; reviewers praise the beer specifically and note the selection punches above casual-pub weight.
Comfort food at accessible price
The Full Monty Mixed Grill, burgers, bangers and mash, and chocolate fudge cake appear across recent reviews; priced £10–20 with portion sizes reviewers describe as generous.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Contact
☀️Outdoor
Frequently Asked Questions about Matchstick Man
Matchstick Man, in Media City, Manchester, is popular for solo dining. Staff like AJ and Jack are noted for engaging with solo visitors, making them feel welcome at the bar or at a table. The pub's casual atmosphere, free Wi-Fi, and food priced £10–20 make it straightforward for a single diner.
Matchstick Man's most-mentioned dishes are the Full Monty Mixed Grill, burgers, bangers and mash, and chocolate fudge cake. Reviewers praise the burgers as 'amazing' and note portion sizes are generous enough that dessert 'rarely fits'.
Matchstick Man, in Media City, Manchester, is highlighted for its great beer selection. Reviewers specifically praise the pints and note the beer programme runs deeper than typical for a casual pub.
Matchstick Man is good for kids and family outings. Reviewers mention bringing children and describe the atmosphere as welcoming and comfortable for families. The pub is also fully wheelchair accessible across entrance, parking, restrooms, and seating.
Matchstick Man, in Media City, Manchester, screens live sports and is popular for watching football. The pub has rooftop seating and a casual atmosphere suited to group viewing.
Also in Media City
View allSee the full Media City ranking
How We Rank Venues
Rankings are recalculated monthly from live Google Business Profile data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity (new text reviews), baseline rating, and Google Business Profile completeness. No editorial picks, no paid placements — just what the data says this month.
Hot Score: 62/100 · ranked October 2026
The written profile on this page is generated from real Google reviews and reviewed monthly. Quotes are verbatim and belong to the people who wrote them — not to us.
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