Best Pubs in Manchester
Pubs in Manchester offer the chance to enjoy an iconic part of English culture with a great pint of beer, solid pub grub food and plenty of mates for companionship. This city has some amazing bars and sawdust-on-the-floor-style public houses that hearken back to days hundreds of years ago as well as ultramodern, sleek pubs serving up fantastic craft beers from local and international brewers.
The key to a great pub is to get the basics right and few cities in the world do that like Manchester. From dark wood to well-worn furnishings, gruff-but-friendly service and plenty of local colour, check out some of the best spots to enjoy a pint in a traditional Manchester pub.
1.The Wharf
Visit a classic pub that's bigger on the inside
The Wharf sits just along the shores of Bridgewater canal and offers all of the classics from cosy corners and comfy nooks and crannies to quality pub grub and beer. The fish and chips here are phenomenal and the burgers are outstanding. Another specialty of the house that must be tried is the buttermilk chicken. Of course, it's not a pub without drinks and the cask ales, malt beers and wines here are spot on. While this 2-storey spot already looks large outside, when you venture in you'll swear it's bigger on the inside.
On nice days, sit on the outdoor patio for great canal views. It's just 10 minutes from the city centre to the south-west.
Location: 56 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PP, United Kingdom
Open: Daily from 9 am to 11.30 pm
2.Port Street Beer House
Explore the world of craft beer
Port Street Beer House offers up a relaxed, casual, classic public house atmosphere while serving up some of the best craft beers from Great Britain and the world over. If you are into the craft beer scene, this spot provides a cosy, warm and welcoming spot where you can appreciate all the latest trends in brewing. If you're new to the scene, this is an ideal spot to start your journey. You'll enjoy a broad selection of forward-thinking ales, stouts, IPAs, porters, sours and beyond from all over.
In addition, they offer a vast bottle selection to complement their impressive draft list. It's only 9 minutes east of the city centre.
Location: 39-41 Port St, Manchester M1 2EQ, United Kingdom
Open: Thursday–Friday, Sunday from noon to 11 pm, Saturday from noon to midnight, Monday–Wednesday from 2 pm to 11 pm
Phone: +44 161 237 9949
3. The Marble Arch
Enjoy a true neighbourhood pub with great grub
The Marble Arch offers a classic throwback to the days of traditional neighbourhood pubs with tiled walls and floors complemented by phenomenal pub grub and a curated beer selection. Here you'll find ales, lagers, stouts and other beers complemented by a great selection of top-shelf liquor for those who want something a bit harder. Music is provided by a jukebox to set your own soundtrack, and an outdoor beer garden adds to the ambiance.
The food is a point of pride here, from small plates to sandwiches and signature dishes. They also offer up a children's menu and vegan options to appeal to as many folks as possible. It's 11 minutes north of the city centre.
Location: 73 Rochdale Rd, Manchester M4 4HY, United Kingdom
Open: Sunday–Tuesday from noon to 10 pm, Wednesdsay–Thursday from noon to 11 pm, Friday–Saturday from noon to midnight
Phone: +44 161 832 5914
4.The Briton’s Protection
Explore a truly stunning and robust whisky selection
The Briton's Protection is a proper pub with yellowed walls and a stunningly robust whiskey selection plus an upstairs room with a theatre. If you know the difference between whisky and whiskey, this will be the spot for you, with over 300 varieties on offer from all over Great Britain, Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Japan and beyond. Two of the top choices by locals are Cu Dhub and Midleton Very Rare. When it comes to food, the fare consists of traditional pies, gammon and eggs and classic plates.
The wood fire adds its own sense of ambiance and upstairs you can catch local music, theatre and comedy acts. It's just 8 minutes south of the city centre.
Location: 50 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5LE, United Kingdom
Open: Sunday from noon to 11 pm, Monday–Thursday from noon to midnight, Friday–Saturday from noon to 1 am
Phone: +44 161 236 5895
5.The Crown & Kettle
Hit a hipster pub in a Grade II building
The Crown & Kettle is a traditional pub housed in a Grade II building with staggering architecture dating to the 19th century and a younger, hip crowd. The beer here is of the local craft microbrew variety featuring such cask drafts as First Chop, Privateer, Shindiggers and Blackjack, plus guest lagers from further afield that change on a semi-regular basis. The fantastically elaborate ceiling is a big draw and you'll want to at least glance up, if not snap a photo or two.
The pub consists of 3 rooms. The main bar leads into a snug, then into a sports lounge where you can catch a Manchester United F.C. match. It's just 10 minutes north of the city centre.
Location: 2 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5FE, United Kingdom
Open: Saturday from 11 am to midnight, Sunday from 11 am to 11 pm, Monday–Thursday from noon to 11 pm, Friday from noon to midnight
6. The Molly House
Visit a vibrant LGBTQ+ bar with a history
The Molly House offers a superb collection of wines, ales, spirits and even coffee and tea plus a Spanish tapas menu, making it a destination for those wanting something different. This one began as an 18th-century gay bar, and today it's far more open and draws LGBTQ+ crowds from all over. The décor is as eclectic and individual as the crowd but maintains a classy, mature vibe. The beer and cocktail selection are solid and the music covers everything from world music to indie pop.
The bar spans 2 floors with wooden tables, bar seating and chaise lounges, plus an outside terrace. It's in the heart of the city centre.
Location: 26 Richmond St, Manchester M1 3NB, United Kingdom
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 1 pm to 11 pm, Friday–Saturday from 1 pm to 1.30 am
Phone: +44 161 237 9329
7. Castle Hotel
Catch a local music act in a historic pub
The Castle Hotel is a standout of Northern Quarter venues with deep history, classic décor, solid drinks and a packed solid music schedule highlighting local acts. This pub has stood in Manchester since 1776 and its restored interior is Victorian pub chic with patterned ceilings, classic fixed seats, an ornate ceramic bar and stained glass. The music hall is a newer addition, just over a decade old, and it's become a hub for up-and-coming local talent as well as visiting bands from a bit further afield.
The crowd here is as eclectic as the bar itself, drawing traditional neighbourhood drinkers as well as a hipper, younger crowd here for the music. It's 10 minutes north-east of the city centre.
Location: 66 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE, United Kingdom
Open: Sunday–Thursday from noon to 1 am, Friday–Saturday from noon to 2 am
Phone: +44 161 237 9485
8. The Bay Horse Tavern
Relax in a modern-traditional Victorian tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern offers a modern take on a traditional Victorian public house in the heart of the Manchester Northern Quarter with laid-back charm, cosy surroundings, beer and spirits. The selection of alcohols here is quite impressive with tons of craft beers, gins and craft cocktails on offer, so something's on tap for everyone. The furnishings are comfortable but timeless, with dark wood tables, chairs and benches. The menu as well offers modern-traditional fare with features like fish and chips, bangers and mash and even vegan takes like veggie burgers and vegan curry.
This is a spot where anyone can feel welcome and comfortable to raise a glass with friends. It's just 8 minutes north of the city centre.
Location: 35-37 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA, United Kingdom
Open: Saturday from 11 am to 2 am, Sunday from 11 am to midnight, Monday–Thursday from noon to midnight, Friday from noon to 2 am
Phone: +44 161 669 5799
9.Tib Street Tavern
Enjoy a traditional, no-frills local watering hole
The Tib Street Tavern is a straight-up, no-frills, classic Northern Quarter neighbourhood tavern that embraces the region's history and tradition and is a perfect fusion of vintage and modern. If you're looking for a theme bar, the only one here is "Neighbourhood Pub". It uses a straightforward selection of quality beers, wines and top-shelf spirits as well as TV screens playing current sports matches across 2 floors of space. The leather benches are comfortable and plush, and the service is down-home welcoming.
In a world where everyone seems to have a gimmick, the Tib Street Tavern has placed its bets on just offering a classic, old-fashioned community watering hole, and it works. It's 10 minutes north of the city centre.
Location: 74 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG, United Kingdom
Open: Tuesday–Thursday from 4 pm to 11 pm, Friday–Saturday from noon to midnight, Sunday from noon to 10 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +44161 834 1600
10. The Kings Arms
See a sitcom set piece with eclectic events
The Kings Arms is a local Salford institution with great pub grub, live music, comedy and a letter-perfect fusion of Victorian grace and modern eclectic. The bar is famed as a set piece for a popular Channel 4 sitcom, and while the seating and bar are traditional Victorian, the décor has a bit of a modern hipster vibe mixed with a 1960s hippie aesthetic. The drinks are excellent and the homemade food is pub grub quality, but what really stands out are the community events. One night you'll catch a live band. The next it'll be a knitting club, live theatre or comedy.
The key to this one is personality and local colour. It's just 10 minutes east of the city centre.
Location: 11 Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN, United Kingdom
Open: Monday–Thursday from 4 pm to 11 pm, Friday–Saturday from noon to midnight, Sunday from noon to 10 pm
Phone: +44 161 832 3605
