For 30 years backstreet boozer Mother Mac's had remained in the hands of landlord Les Dagnall who, despite the developing streets around him, saw to it that his traditional corner pub resisted the changes.

When incoming licensee Ian Maugham - owner of The Crown And Anchor, another old school pub on Hilton Street, as well as nearby bars Shack and Lammars - promised the Northern Quarter institution was going to "stay more or less as it is", regulars heaved a hearty sigh of relief.

After a six week turn around, the old pub on the corner of Back Piccadilly and Little Lever Street has reopened, and we have to admit that Maugham has done a bit more to the place than the "update" he planned.

Gone are the traditional pub dividers that broke up the seating area in favour of an open space. While the bar remains in the same place, the big benches now nestle next to one another right around the corner aspect of the bar.

(Image: Sarah Walters)

(Image: Sarah Walters)

A few of the historic photographs have survived the refurb, and while the old Anaglypta-style textured wallpapers remain on the walls and ceiling they have been repainted in jazzy shades of gold, silver, and blue wash.

It's all a bit Changing Rooms circa 1996.

The entrance has been moved to a new golden door on Little Lever Street, the old Back Piccadilly main entrance now behind a locked green gate.

But the most dramatic difference is the windows. Where once it was pretty much impossible to see in or out of the tiny boozer, the gloomy and drape-filled panels have been replaced with high panels of clear glass filling the space with light.

(Image: Sarah Walters)

Behind the bar, core beers and spirits are unchanged and we still reckon you'd get thrown out for asking for a cocktail, but there are new bottled additions such as American favourite Samuel Adams in the fridges.

We called in for a drink and it seems the regulars are coming through the (new) doors, but not all of them are happy about the changes.

One drinker near us commented: "I liked it the way it was. It was a ****hole. But it was my ****hole."

Still, there's no sign yet of the pub joining social media so perhaps some things will stay as they were?