The title one-dimensional chain polymer complex, [Mn(C6H4NO3)Cl(C6H5N)2]n, was isolated from the reaction of MnCl2 with 6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridine-2-carboxylic acid (HpicOH) in pyridine. The asymmetric unit contains one [Mn(HPicO)Cl(py)2] moiety (py is pyridine), with the (HpicO)- ligand acting in a tridentate manner via the two carboxylate O atoms and the pyridone O atom. The operation of inversion centres generates eight- and 14-membered rings and, in conjunction with an a-axis translation, leads to an infinite chain extending along [100]. The Mn...Mn separations in this chain are 5.1069 (6) and 7.1869 (6) A. The MnII atom has a distorted octahedral coordination, with trans-axial pyridine ligands and with three O atoms and the Cl atom in the equatorial plane. The conformation of the 14-membered ring is stabilized by pairs of inversion-related N-H...O hydrogen bonds.