Notable pubs that made the list this year include Cask in Ancoats, Reasons to be Cheerful in Burnage, and the Swan with Two Necks.
The Lass O’ Gowrie is in the CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2022 / Credit: Lass O’ Gowrie
For Oldham, businesses including The Cob & Coal Tap in Tommyfield Market made the list, while in Rochdale the pub/curry house hybrid Bombay Brew was praised for its unique conSeveral Salford stalwarts are included in this year’s guide, including the Eagle Inn and the New Oxford.
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In Stockport, Blossoms – the pub that gave the band their name – was celebrated for its landmark architecture, joined by neighbouring businesses Bakers Vaults, Magnet, and Project 53.
Manchester city centre shone particularly brightly though, with almost 20 pubs in the heart of the region praised by CAMRA.
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In the Northern Quarter, Beatnikz Republic’s house bar, Port Street Beer House, and the Smithfield Market Tavern are all in the guide.
The City Arms is in the Good Beer Guide 2022 / Credit: The City Arms
Then historic pubs like the Angel, the Marble Arch, the Peveril of the Peak and the City Arms have retained their position as some of the greatest boozers in the UK.
CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said: “After the struggles of the past 18 months for the industry, it is great that The Good Beer Guide figures are showing the resilience of pubs and brewers in the face of strife – an increase in brewery numbers after they dipped last year for the first time, as well as over 500 new pub entries.
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“This is great to see, especially coupled with the news from the Government’s latest Budget, including the announcement of a new, lower rate of duty for draught beer and cider.
“However, the industry is still vulnerable in the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Breweries still face issues around costs of goods, lack of business rate relief and silence from the Government on Small Brewers’ Relief reform.
“We are calling on the Government to make sure the new draught duty rate applies to containers 20L and up so that all our small and independent brewers can benefit.”
The full list of Manchester city centre pubs in CAMRA’s 2022 Good Beer Guide
The Marble Arch on Rochdale Road / Credit: Facebook, The Marble Arch
Angel, Green Quarter
Beatnikz Republic Bar, Northern Quarter
Cafe Beermoth, Spring Gardens
Cask, Liverpool Road
City Arms, city centre
Gas Lamp, Bridge Street
Grey Horse, Portland Street
Hare & Hounds, Shudehill
Jack in the Box, Eagle Street
Lass o’ Gowrie, Charles Street
Marble Arch, Rochdale Road
Peveril of the Peak, Great Bridgewater Street
Port Street Beer House, Port Street
Salisbury Ale House, Wakefield Street
Smithfield Market Tavern, Swan Street
Waterhouse, Princess Street
Featured Image – Adam Pester
News
Family of ‘loving’ Harpurhey mum pay touching tribute to her as man is charged with murder
The family of a ‘loving’ Harpurhey mum have paid a heartfelt tribute to her as a man has been charged with murder.
The tribute has been released after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was called to an address on Queens Road, in the Harpurhey area of Manchester, in the early hours of the morning at 4:07am this Monday just gone (7 April).
Sadly, despite the speed with which officers arrived on the scene, a 51-year-old woman was found dead on arrival.
GMP has now confirmed her identity as Clare Burns.
#TRIBUTE | The family of a “loving mother” have released a tribute as man charged with murder.
Clare Burns sadly died in Harpurhey on Monday morning. Leonard Lee Stewart (8.4.70) of Queens Road, Manchester, has been charged with murder.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) April 9, 2025
Paying tribute to Clare following her passing, her family wrote: “Clare was a loving mother, auntie, sister and daughter. She was funny, outgoing and a very independent person. She was also kind, generous and friendly to anyone she met.
“Clare would always light up the room she entered, and she was a brilliant friend to many. We will miss her dearly.”
With a murder investigation subsequently launched, a 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene, following initial enquiries.
The family of a ‘loving’ Harpurhey mum have paid a touching tribute to her as a man is charged with murder / Credit: GMP
Leonard Lee Stewart, from Manchester, has been charged with murder, and the 54-year-old remained in police custody ahead of his next appearance at Manchester City Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday 9 April).
Due to past contact between GMP, and the victim and suspect, it’s been confirmed that the Professional Standards Directorate have made a voluntarily referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) – which is now assessing the case.
Anyone with any information about this case is asked to contact GMP via the case’s major incident portal here, or by calling the incident room on 0161 856 3635.
Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
News
New driving test cancellation rules introduced by DVSA to reduce waiting times
Learner drivers will now be required to give longer notice periods when they need to cancel their driving tests in a bid to reduce waiting lists.
Up until this week, anyone who had booked a driving test which they could no longer attend had to change or cancel their appointment within three full working days notice, but now, as of yesterday (8 April), the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) requires learner drivers to give 10 days’ notice.
If learners fail to provide the 10 full working days’ notice, then they will not be able to redeem their test fee back.
According to the DVSA’s new rules, only Monday to Saturday count as working days, while Sundays and public holidays do not.
But why has the change been introduced?
The short notice cancellation period for car driving tests changes today ⚠️
You'll now need to give 10 working days' notice to cancel or change your car driving test without losing your fee.
— Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (@DVSAgovuk) April 8, 2025
Well, according to the DVSA, lots of people who are not ready to take their driving test leave it until right at the last moment to change or cancel it, and although that appointment then becomes available to other learner drivers, many of them tend to go unused, given the fact it’s so close to the test date and they may not feel prepared enough.
So, the DVSA hopes that by asking learner drivers to give more notice, it should give other people more chance to use the appointment, and ultimately reduce driving test waiting times.
New driving test cancellation rules have been introduced by the DVSA to reduce waiting times / Credit: pxfuel
There are, of course, some exceptions to the rule, with some learners still being able to apply for a refund at short notice if they have an illness or injury, have suffered a bereavement, have to take a school or college exam, or have their provisional driving license stolen.
On top of this, the DVSA has confirmed that it will continue to pay out-of-pocket expenses for any car driving tests that it has to cancel with fewer than three full working days’ notice.