Celebrating St Patrick’s Day in Manchester

Where better to celebrate St Patrick’s Day than Manchester’s oldest Irish pub? Adored by locals and tourists alike, Mulligans is a contender for the best pint of stout in the city and promises the most authentic night out on this list. It’s also a great place to catch ‘the game’ – whether that’s rugby, horse racing or even Gaelic football. Expect a line-up of live acts in celebration of the patron saint and be prepared to dance the night away with a pint – or 10 – of the black stuff. For those looking to party beyond the early hours, Mulligans also has a handful of recently refurbished rooms upstairs.

Currently housed at the Red Bank Project in the Green Quarter, GRUB is an independent food fair with a rotating line-up of some of the best street food traders in the North West. The site is home to two indoor bars serving a range of craft ales, alongside a popular beer garden and an events space that hosts everything from themed film clubs to open mic nights. Previously for St Patrick’s Day, GRUB has teamed up with Sailor’s Home whiskey to offer a special masterclass in cocktail making. Guests learned how to whip up three old-school cocktails using Irish whiskey, including ‘Shamrock’ and ‘The Millionaire,’ in a cosy venue away from the heart of the party. Definitely one to consider.

Brickhouse Social is the new kid on the block in the Oxford Road neighbourhood, with plenty of beers on rotation and an extensive menu of rustic pizzas. Hidden down New Wakefield Street, the three-storey venue includes a live music lounge, kitchen, pool hall and tap room, as it tries to entice every demographic in Manchester with its social atmosphere. In previous years, every floor has fully embraced the St Patrick’s Day spirit, with free Guinness hats, plenty of drink deals and Irish tunes belting all day long. There was even an all-day Father Ted marathon shown on the roof terrace and we’re confident that Brickhouse Social will match the festivities this year.

O’Sheas is never content with a mere day to celebrate St Patrick. The beloved Irish bar has often announces a huge two-week festival in honour of all things Irish, held on the site of its famous beer garden next to Piccadilly Station. Slinging pints of Guinness since 1994, O’Sheas has a reputation for hosting raucous live bands and screening some of the best sport in Manchester. Kicking off on St Paddy’s Day itself, the fortnight of fun usually promises a festival atmosphere, inspired cocktails and a packed schedule of live music. Expect some of the juiciest burgers in town too, to help soak up all that Guinness.

Known for being a ‘part-time pizza parlour, full-time party bar,’ Crazy Pedro’s certainly doesn’t need any tips on how to throw a St Patrick’s Day party. If you fancy some shamrocks and celebrating, but don’t want to fully commit to an Irish bar, this Northern Quarter hang-out will sort you out with the largest mezcal and tequila selection in town. It’s also been known to crack out the green frozen margaritas, topped with a sprinkling of Lucky Charms, and offers plenty of deals on whiskey in honour of the patron saint.

Dating back to 1811, The Edinburgh Castle is a mainstay on the Ancoats scene. The Victorian boozer is steeped in history and was recently restored to its current glory by the team behind Cottonopolis. It now houses a popular pub and an upstairs restaurant that is known for creating bespoke menus for special occasions. To celebrate in style, the pub has previously teamed up with Jameson for an evening of whiskey-fuelled fun, alongside a four course Irish-inspired menu. Keep your eyes peeled for a special St Patrick’s Day celebration this year…