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But the city's 'Cottonopolis' boom - which saw a peak of 103 cotton mills in 1853 - provided an opportunity for The Weaver's Arms to thrive and a chance for the many industrial workers of the area to unwind. It now holds the title of one of Manchester's oldest freehouses.

The pub later took on the name of The Beer House, where it became known in the 80s and 90s as 'a real ale geeks' paradise'. In 2005, the Tetley's Brewery venue closed before taking on its current moniker of The Angel pub.

For the last 20 years, The Angel has been run by landlord Ciaran Keaney, who has also been running the Carringtons wine shop in Chorlton for 40 years. He says the pub was in a major need of a renovation when he first bought it, where it had been known by frequent visitors at the time for its many buckets collecting dripping water from the ceiling.

“It was in a very sorry state when I took it on,” Ciaran tells the Manchester Evening News. “It needed a lot of major work - including a new roof. It’s perhaps not the most glamorous of pubs in Manchester, but it’s certainly watertight now.”

Alongside an update of aesthetic, the transformation also included a new food menu, and an expansion on its commitment to serve traditional ales from local and independent breweries.

The revamp of the pub has also gone down well on a national level too. In November, it was recognised by The Telegraph as one of the 500 best pubs in England. The venue was praised for its traditional feel, adding that ‘The Angel charts its own course … in a city that rarely forgets to tell you how it does things differently’.

At the time, Ciaran said the recognition wasn’t ‘just an award for the building, but it’s also a massive tribute to everything we strive to achieve’.

To mark its 175th anniversary this weekend, the pub will be going all out with three days of festivities - including a poetry reading from writer Tom Branfoot, a speech from Cllr Jon-Connor Lyons, and live music from the likes of three-piece acoustic band, as well as artists Tom Kitching and Jennifer Reid.

In fact, Ciaran admits that hosting live music and poetry is a rarity for The Angel pub - as it’s not necessarily something it is usually best known for. “We’re normally a bit more of a subtle pub,” he explains. “We do have a quiz on Monday nights, but we don’t have any TVs or screens. We don’t really host live music, but we are considering doing more of it.”

The celebrations will also mark the official launch of a brand new SLUM IPA, commissioned specifically for the occasion. Hailed as a ‘pint of protest’, the drink - now already on its second batch - acknowledges the history of Angel Meadow and the slums of Manchester.

It matches up with its strong beer and ale affiliation as both a proud member of the honourable Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood (SPBW), and a previous award winner by the CAMRA group.

Up until about ten years ago, Ciaran says the pub was also surrounded by mostly derelict land - showcasing the significant development the area of town has had in recent years. Today, The Angel sits in the shadows of a number of high-rise apartment buildings, office blocks and hotels.

Asked why he thinks the pub has managed to stand the test of time and survive for 175 years, Ciaran says he believes the community aspect of the venue has definitely played a big part in its success.

“It’s a fundamentally British pub,” he explains. “It has always been about doing a great service for the community. It’s always been one of those locals where you can just pop in to, whether you want just a quick drink, to say hi to someone or grab some food. There’s no pretences or expectations.

“I do believe that it is incredibly important for pubs to have a proper standing in the community. That’s what makes a difference between those that manage to stay open a long time and those that don’t.

“Being able to celebrate 175 years is an incredible landmark for any pub. It’s phenomenal that we are still here to recognise it. It’s going to be a special moment for us and for Manchester.

"We are proud of the fact we are still serving the community strong today."

The Angel is on 6 Angel St, Manchester M4 4BQ.