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Manchester has been named one of the UK’s top ‘pub culture’ hotspots
Of course it has, no surprise there.
Emily Sergeant -
13th March 2026 
New research has revealed which UK towns and cities are home to the best pub culture, and it’s no surprise that Manchester’s made the cut.
With St Patrick’s Day merely days away at this point and summer also firmly on the horizon, it’s about to be a big time for British pubs and the humble beer garden – but which towns and cities across the UK have the best ‘pub culture’ there is to offer? Where are you guaranteed a top-tier night out or day drinking session?
Well, in a bid to get to the bottom of that, the travel experts over at Big House Experience decided to do some important research.
By analysing thousands of data points across every UK postal town area, researchers created a comprehensive index awarding each location a ‘Pub Culture Score’ out of 100.
And Manchester secured a coveted place in the top five.
Overall, Manchester earned itself a ‘Pub Culture Score’ of 96.1, which is pretty impressive if you ask us, and is certainly an ode to the wide – and ever-growing – variety of watering holes, both new and historic, that we have dotted all over the city.
Other northern cities claiming a spot in the top 10 include Newcastle at six, and Sheffield at seven, while out of top 10 is where you’ll find Ripon and Chester, while other major UK cities like London, Glasgow, and Cardiff are all, unsurprisingly, featured too.
The UK’s Top 10 ‘Pub Culture’ Cities
- Bristol – 100
- Edinburgh – 99.5
- Birmingham – 96.9
- Manchester – 96.1
- Reading – 94.2
- Newcastle – 94
- Sheffield – 90.7
- Glasgow – 89.3
- London – 87.5
- Chelmsford – 82.3
When it comes to the number one spot though, that title goes to Bristol, as the West Country city scored full marks thanks to offering a total of 1,211 pubs across the entire postal area – which is the equivalent of almost 25 pubs per 10,000 people.
Following closely behind is the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, with a near-perfect score of 99.5, and Birmingham claims third place with a score of 96.9.
Read more:
- The cosiest pubs in Manchester city centre to hide away in
- Where to find the best Guinness in Manchester
- The best Irish pubs and bars in Manchester to grab a pint at this St Patrick’s Day
Do you agree with this list then? What other cities would you chuck into the mix? You can see the full research here.
Featured Image – Victor Clime (via Unsplash)
