Manchester is packed to bursting with brilliant bars, but where is a beer drinker supposed to head on a night out, you ask.
If the many glamorous cocktail bars, the intimate candlelit wine bars, and the all-singing all-dancing ponstar-martinis-served-in-a-tree bars aren’t doing it for you, we have a few suggestions.
These are the venues in Manchester where you can order a pint but still get a little dressed up.
Most of them are operated by local craft breweries, others showcase the best the world has to offer.
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Here are Manchester’s best beer bars.
Beatnikz Republic Bar NQ
Image: Beatnikz NQ
Right in the heart of the Northern Quarter is a rainbow-hued bar that’s operated by local craft brewery Beatnikz Republic.
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The bar is just a stone’s throw away from the Green Quarter brewery itself, and serves some seriously fresh pints.
There are 14 keg lines and four cask lines – about half of those are serving Beatnkiz Republic beers, while the other half champion a rotation of guest beers.
You’ll find it right beside the Idle Hands cafe on Dale Street.
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Northern Monk Refectory
Image: Northern Monk Refectory
When Kosmonaut announced its closure, the hears of Mancunians everywhere shattered a little bit.
But the legendary venue on Tariff Street didn’t stay empty for long, and it was a much-loved brewery from across the Pennines who swooped in to save it.
Leeds-based Northern Monk is spread across three rooms, including its intimate Cellar Bar downstairs, and has 18 keg lines.
You’ll find the brewery’s own beers – like it’s ever-popular session beer Eternal IPA – plus lots of guest beers on tap and in bottles.
Formerly known as The Pilcrow, this shed-like pub on Sadler’s Yard is now in the very trustworthy hands of Cloudwater Brewery.
The space itself was built by local people through a series of workshops, with members of the public creating everything from the tabletops to the lampshades.
The neighbourhood boozer has one of the biggest beer gardens in the city centre where you can sip on just about anything that takes your fancy.
There is, of course, Cloudwater beers, but also plenty of others to choose from, a menu of natural wines, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails.
The Gas Lamp
This is a real Manchester gem, often overshadowed by the glossy chaos of Spinningfields and Boujee that it neighbours.
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The Gas Lamp has been pouring pints in its subterranean venue since 2010, many of which come from its sister brewery Pomona Island.
The bar itself is filled with the kind of character that money can’t buy, with two rooms covered in white ceramic tiles and ancient wooden floors.
You’ll also find a mind-boggling collection of whiskeys.
Port Street Beer House
Image: Port Street Beer house
Owned by the same team behind Common, Nell’s and The Beagle, this is one of those local drinking spots that’s part of Manchester’s very fabric.
Port Street Beer House serves a great range of craft beer and real ales from its 18 keg lines and seven cask lines.
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There are also masses of bottles and cans to drink inside the bar or carry away with you.
In the summer, the long benches outside are absolutely packed with punters soaking in the views of… erm… well the views aren’t great, but there is sunshine.
Cafe Beermoth
Image: Cafe Beermoth
This bar is at complete odds with its location – the sight of its cosy, calm interior at great odds to the madness of Market Street it sits behind.
Like an oasis in the dessert, Cafe Beermoth provides serious salvation when you need it most.
The Belgian-style beer cafe champions drinks from across the UK as well as further afield into Europe and America, though it has a strong bond with Manchester’s own Runaway Brewery.
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It’s one of those places you can visit solo or with a massive group and still be welcomed with the same open arms.
Fierce Bar
Image: Fierce Bar
Fierce is, relatively speaking, a newcomer to the city, taking over the spot left empty when Marble moved out of Thomas Street.
It’s run by the brewery of the same name and opened in the two-storey venue (plus some sizeable outside space) in between lockdowns in 2020.
Behind the bar you’ll find 15 taps with a core range of Fierce beers plus plenty of smaller batch brews.
The indecisive can also order an expertly-chosen beer flight to really get a taste for the offering without, y’know, blindly drinking half a dozen different pints.
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Piccadilly Tap
Image: Piccadilly Tap
The Piccadilly Tap is so great, it almost completely eradicates the pain of having your trains cancelled.
Tucked away right beside Manchester Piccadilly (a similar bar is opening at Victoria at some point too), there are 16 kegs and six casks of reasonably-priced beers.
The bar itself has huge windows for people-watching, including an outdoor terrace upstairs.
You can grab a Bravissimi pizza while you’re sat here too.
Cask
Image: Cask
As the name suggests, Cask is something of a specialist when it comes to beer.
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It has two sites in Manchester now – one is a huge waterside beauty in Ancoats, the other is a cosy hideaway on Liverpool Road where you’re allowed to bring your chippy tea inside from next door.
Whichever you choose, you’re guaranteed a good pint or bottle, with the continental-style bar selling beers from across the globe.
Feature image – Port Street Beer House
News
Woman who protested alone outside Chanel show labelled ‘a queen’
Daisy Jackson
A woman who staged a lone protest outside the Chanel show in Manchester last week has been inundated with praise from locals.
The woman was positioned on High Street, mere metres from where a-list celebrities and high-fashion models were parading for the fashion giant.
The fact that the exclusive event took place in Manchester has been considered a huge coup for the city, and one which will have had a significant economic impact.
But the woman outside the Chanel show chose the opportunity to highlight the stark contrast between the luxurious fashion show and the harsh reality of many living in poverty in our city.
She held a sign that read: “Over 250,000 children living in poverty in Manchester. Higher than UK average.
“Manchester has one of the highest level of homelessness. 1 in 74 people. 7407 and rising!
“Where have you hidden the homeless Andy??”
Speaking about Chanel, she told photographer Project Certi: “No one was consulted about this. It’s not for the people of Manchester. You can come here if you want a celebrity spot but that’s not for you.
“This sort of thing moves around the world, they’ll have it somewhere weird and wonderful every year, and this is kind of like, capitalising on the working class history of Manchester.
“The poster’s got, ironically, the suffragettes on it, you know, people fighting for rights. They’re using images from the Hacienda, they’re using music of Joy Division and New Order, all of that what made Manchester on the music map all came out working class struggle. It all came during Thatcher and the attack on the working class, which is exactly what we’re seeing now with 12 years of austerity.”
There was one woman on her own amongst the public. She was one person with a sign and i felt it was only right to amplify her voice. She makes some good points. #manchester#chanel#chanelshow#fyp#trending#people
She also highlighted the man who died on the street in the Gay Village on a night where temperatures dropped, and the ‘cr*ppy B&Bs’ that homeless people find themselves housed in.
Speaking of the impact of Chanel on Manchester though, Deputy Leader Luthfur Rahman OBE said: “The impact of the decision by CHANEL to hold its prestigious Métiers d’Art show here in Manchester is something that is already resonating with people around the globe and is going to continue to be felt by the city for quite some time.
“It speaks volumes about the regard in which Manchester is already held across the world, but more importantly it also sends a clear signal to international businesses and the international visitor economy that Manchester is the place to be.
“It’s impossible at this stage to even begin to quantify the economic impact hosting the event has had on the city, or to put a figure on it. The true impact will involve not just the direct spend and income generated within the city over these last few weeks leading up to and during the event, but also the longer-term benefits that will come from the massive boost to Manchester’s profile that CHANEL has given the city, that in turn translates into more visitors coming to see what Manchester has to offer, and more businesses choosing to invest here.
“It has been without doubt quite a moment for Manchester, not least coming as it does off the back of many other significant moments for the city this year, that together place Manchester in absolute pole position on the world’s stage for the years ahead.”
In the comments on Project Certi’s video, one person wrote: “Thank you for giving this woman a platform.”
Another wrote: “Whoever this woman is, she’s a legend. As are you for capturing it.”
Someone else posted: “I have so much respect for this woman, I’d love to meet her and let her know she’s not alone in her feelings towards this.”
One comment said: “She is such a queen, bang on with everything she’s saying.”
Unexpected Manchester city centre street named ‘one of the most polluted’ in the UK
Clementine Hall
A new fieldwork study has revealed the worst air polluted city centre streets in the UK, and a popular Manchester thoroughfare has been named one of the worst.
Except, it’s really not the street you’d expect it to be.
For some bizarre reason, despite the fact it’s a pedestrianised commercial shopping street in the heart of Manchester city centre, Market Street has been named one of the most polluted streets in the country.
Recordings were taken at high streets in the 25 largest towns and cities in the country over a two-week period, and the results found that 76% are exceeding the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended annual level of air pollution, The Hoot reports.
The study enlisted a planning consultancy to collect samples using an air quality monitoring device at 11am on either a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday to ensure as much comparability as possible between the locations.
Market Street has been named one of the ‘most polluted’ streets in the UK / David Dixon (via Geograph)
The study comes after a poll of 2,000 adults found that 36% have concerns over the health of the community due to air pollution, or the health of their family (26%) or themselves (25%).
Speaking on the shocking findings from the new study, Sam Clarke, who is the chief vehicle officer at the sustainable energy business, said: “With millions set to hit the high street this festive period, we wanted to look at the state of the nation’s air quality in the locations people will be doing most of their Christmas shopping.
“It’s shocking to see that so many were above the World Health Organisation’s annual recommendations for air pollution, and that one in 10 shoppers are even planning on foregoing the highstreets altogether due to air quality.”
20 streets in the UK were over the recommended World Health Organisation recommended levels of 5 µg/m3).
The Most-Polluted Streets in the UK
Stoke-On-Trent (Parliament Street) – 11.7
Newcastle (Northumberland Street) – 11.5
Leicester (Gallowtree Gate) – 11.2
Coventry (West Orchards Way) – 11.1
Hull (Jameston Street) – 10.7
Bradford (Broadway) – 10.6
Southampton (Above Bar Street) – 8.8
Nottingham (High Street) – 7.7
Luton (George Street) – 7.6
Manchester (Market Street) – 7.6
Northampton (Abington Street) – 7.3
Birmingham New Street – 7.3
Liverpool (Church Street) – 7.1
Derby (St Peter’s Street) – 6.9
London (Oxford Street) – 6.8
Sheffield (Fargate) – 6.3
Brighton (Western Road) – 5.6
Leeds (Briggate) – 5.3
Portsmouth (Commercial Road) – 5.1
“If we’re to reach the World Health Organisation’s annual target of 5 µg/m3 of PM2.5 in our air, collectively we need to change our behaviours,” Sam Clarke added.
“With vehicle emissions being a key contributor, anything we can do to travel more greenly, from walking more to cycling, and including electric vehicles, is a very valuable set forward to improve the air we breathe daily.”
Daisy Jackson -
11th March 2022 
