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.
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.
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.
“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
New data reveals a third of Brits admit to secretly sneaking off work early on a Friday
Emily Sergeant
Surprising new data has revealed that a third of Brits admits to secretly sneaking off work early on a Friday.
After a long and tiring week, most of us would love the chance to clock off work a little earlier than usual on a Friday, but for a lot of workers, this isn’t always a possibility – and for some, they even have to work longer at the end of the week to make sure everything has been finished off and tied up before the weekend arrives.
But since there has been a noticeable rise in remote working and working from home, a new survey has revealed that working attitudes have changed.
Virgin Media has released new broadband data that reveals a drop in traffic on Friday afternoons during the summer months – with as much as an 8% dip between 3-5pm compared to the winter, as remote workers clock off early.
A third of Brits admit to secretly sneaking off work early on a Friday / Credit: Glenn Carstens-Peters | Robin Worrall (via Unsplash)
The Friday traffic drop-off comes from Virgin Media’s broadband network analysis, which it says is a ‘reliable indicator’ of the connectivity habits of the British public.
Alongside the network data, Virgin Media also asked Brits about their work policies and working habits ij a bid to fully understand the trend.
Nearly a third (30%) of Brits say they have a formal early Friday finish in place during the summer, but despite almost half of UK adults (48%) saying they’re not authorised to finish early on a Friday, 32% have admitted to regularly logging off with or without official permission.
Surprising new data has revealed Brits’ working habits / Credit: Chuttersnap (via Unsplash)
Many Brits have also confessed to working ‘on the move’ on a Friday afternoon too.
15% admitted to having worked from the train station as the weekend creeps nearer, as well as 14% from the park, 10% from the pub, and many as 30% of 18-24-year-olds worked from the car while travelling for the weekend.
“Our network traffic analysis is revealing changing workplace habits in real time as the nation takes advantage of long summer Fridays,” commented Jeanie York, who is the Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2.
“We’re continuing to boost our fixed and mobile networks so whether Brits are working from their local park, or finishing their work at home, we’re ready to keep them connected.”
Featured Image – Israel Andrade (via Unsplash)
News
Tiny Manchester pub brilliantly condemns ‘alarming rise’ in hate speech
Daisy Jackson
A micropub in Manchester city centre has spoken out about an ‘alarming rise’ in hate speech.
The Victoria Tap, a tiny little boozer at Manchester Victoria train station, strongly condemned any racist, homophobic or sexist conversations taking place in its venue.
The pub said ‘there is absolutely no room for it’ within its walls.
In a statement – which has been met with praise from customers and followers – they added that anyone bringing hate speech to the pub ‘can let the door kick you on the way out’.
The Victoria Tap wrote: “We’ve noticed an alarming rise in racist, homophobic and sexist slurs/comments/conversations lately and we just want to say that there is absolutely no room for it here.
“This is a safe space for everyone.
“If you, or someone in your group, want to disturb this philosophy, you can let the door kick you on the way out.”
The Victoria Tap has brilliantly condemned ‘alarming rise’ in hate speech
Praising their statement, one person wrote: “Great to read this. There is NO place for this. All public spaces should be welcoming.”
Another said: “Pubs should be welcoming environments for people of all walks of life. There’s no room for misogyny, racism or discrimination of any kind. Those who espouse those thoughts need a good hard look in the mirror.”
Someone else commented: “That’s how I see the Vic Tap. Great place for a safe quiet pint. Keep up the great work guys as it’s a fantastic venue.”
The Victoria Tap opened at Manchester Victoria back in 2023, completely transforming a space that was previously a bin store.
As well as its cosy interior, it has a small beer garden which overlooks the tram tracks in and out of the train station.
It’s operated by the same team behind the Piccadilly Tap and the even newer Oxford Tap.
We know exactly where we’ll be heading for our next pint now. Good work, Victoria Tap.
Daisy Jackson -
12th November 2021 
