Manchester’s coolest pubs

The Old Wellington and Sinclair’s Oyster Bar are separate pubs that share the same beer garden, who boast cheap beer and lovely old architectural interiors. Both are worth going to not just because you are guaranteed to have a fun time, but because you should admire the conditions of these vintage buildings. Both survived the IRA bombing in Manchester in 1996. The Old Wellington building dates back to 1552, when the Tudors ruled England! The buildings have been moved since the bombing and are now behind the cathedral.

The Circus Tavern is said to be the smallest pub/bar in Europe! The building again is very old, dating back to 1790. In the 19^th century, circus performers used to drink here giving it its name and since then, Manchester United footballers have been said to have had a drink here as well. It’s certainly worth grabbing a John Smith’s or a Tetley’s Cask pint here!

This beautiful green tiled traditional pub sits in the Northern Quarter and follows the pattern so far established by this list of including pubs with very old buildings! The building has been a bar since 1865 and has been a bustling part of the community ever since. It’s one of our favourite pubs because the staff are very friendly and they host fantastic music nights, promoting local and young music talent.

Like Gullivers, Castle Hotel has been owned by J.W Lees since the 1970s, meaning it serves fantastic beer, and has a strong social and music history. The building has records from 1776 and sits on the same road as Gullivers. It has a lot of music history, Ian Curtis of Joy Division used to come here and it has a lovely music hall to support local and upcoming artists, too. 

The Thirsty Scholar sits next to the Oxford Road Train Station and is the place to go on a Tuesday for young and local music artists or poets to participate in the famous open mic. Th pub also hosts comedy and music gigs in the attic, too. It’s decorated beautifully and is a warm place to have a pint and a chat with friends.  

Housed at the end of a Victorian terrace in leafy West Didsbury, The George Charles building was originally a greengrocers owned by an Armenian immigrant who called himself George Charles. These days, the owners honour that heritage by using the freshest ingredients in their dishes, and cooking everything from scratch. They offer everything from hearty breakfast and brunch dishes, to gastropub classics and small plates. These days the team also shares its kitchens with sushi and pan-Asian whizz kids Unagi. The menu is available everyday from 12pm, and we couldn’t recommend it more.

The Bay Horse Tavern is a Northern Quarter institution, dating from the Georgian era when the original venue was built. It offers a selection of pies and locally-sourced rotisserie meats, including sirloin of beef, roast chicken and gammon, served with beef dripping chips or mash with fresh bread baked daily in-house. A selection of small plates are also available to buy; all plays on traditional pub classics as well as a wide range of bar snacks. Epic rotisserie roast dinners are also available every Sunday.

Pie & Ale serves delicious pies and tasty beverages seven days a week! Expect local craft beer as well as cocktails and wine, alongside pies freshly made in-house by dedicated chefs. You can also watch live sport here, from football and rugby to golf and tennis. It’s family-friendly and that includes dogs, too!