Manchester's Top Ten traditional pubs as chosen by Dave & Barbara - What do you think ?

Top Ten Manchester Pubs
Having lived in Manchester for most of our lives, we feel that we know the pubs here very well. We organise pub crawls of the city at least twice a year, with around 30 to 40 friends joining us. We have listed our favourite crawls, then our top ten pubs of the city centre. Manchester was founded by the Romans but grew as a vast industrial city in the Victorian age. The oldest pub dates back to 1544, with quite a few being Grade 2 listed buildings, dating back 100's of years. Various exciting stories can be discovered on the crawls with tales of murder, ghosts and arson. The pubs have survived bombings, and the threat of demolition - even in recent times. Most of our crawls start and end near a station making them handy to access or stay in Manchester for a few days to discover many museums, historic locations and walking tours. It is certainly a fantastic city to visit.
10. The White Lion, 43 Liverpool Road, M3 4NQ
This pub dates back to 1778, even before the World's first modern passenger railway system was built nearby in 1830-launching the railway revolution. It is adjacent to the reconstructed foundations of a Roman fort, and over the road from the Manchester Museum of Science and Technology. Don't miss the Manchester United memorabilia featured on all the walls and interesting aerial photos featuring Manchester's past. There are lots of ales, food, and an outdoor area. Another of our favourites.
9 The Grey Horse, 80 Portland Street, M1 4QX
This welcoming locals pub is in competition with The Circus two doors down to be Manchester's smallest pub. The circus winning. It is a single room, and can get busy. It serves locally produced Hyde's beer - always good value, as well as real ale from all round the Country. Claiming to have one of the best tasting pints of Guinness in Manchester, pitchers of cocktails, weekly wine offers and a variety of lagers, there is something for everyone.
It is converted from early 19th century weavers cottages, and named after an act in the circus that used to overwinter in this block-hence the name of The Circus pub nearby. There is a tiny heated outdoor yard at the rear which can seat two people. This pub is popular after work and with real ale hunters.
8 The City Arms or The Vine, 46 Kennedy Street, M2 4BQ
The City Arms is one of a line of 3 pubs- great if one of them is too busy-tucked away down a quiet street near the Town Hall. It is a fairly small traditional pub, decorated in dark wood, occupying a former 18th Century town house. Some nice old photos line the walls, don't miss the glazed tiling on the way to the toilet. A good variety of ales on tap. Always features in The Good Pub Guide.
The Vine next door to The City Arms dates from prior to 1886, and now occupies 2 buildings. The first is an 18th Century town house with a row of windows on the upper floor, that would resemble those in a weaver's cottage. The 2nd building used to be an office/warehouse building . Absolutely stunning green tiling on the outside, and stained glass windows. It is deceptively large, being spilt over 3 levels, check out the large range of whiskies.
7 The Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham St, M4 1LE
This pub stands out in the Northern Quarter and must be visited. It was first opened in 1776. Start by admiring the brown tiled and mosaic facade added in 1898, followed inside by a fantastic mahogany bar, with a ceramic glazed bar counter front, one of only 13 such examples in the whole of the UK. Look down for the magnificent mosaic floor of 'The Castle'. Behind the bar is the snug, containing old-fixed seating, and bell pushes. Down the corridor to a beautiful performance room with a glorious timber skylight, finally a nice compact outdoor area. It always features in The Good Pub Guide. The current owners took over in 2009, and have restored the interior to its 19th century glory. In the late 20th century many a music lover has stopped here on their way to see live acts at the local Band On the Wall music venue. In 1979 the pub hosted the famous interview between John Peel and Ian Curtis of Joy Division fame.
Read the full blog and information on pubs 6 down to 1 on our website www.hikingwithdaveandbarbara.com

[@chriscassin7232]

Excellent choices, hard to argue. Know them all. Smithfield Tavern might have had a shout out, along with Thomas’s and Sam’s Chophouses. But look forward to watching some of the other videos.

[@suesutcliffe4843]

Can’t believe you have not included the Marble Arch. A remarkable pub . One of our favourites

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Sorry Sue I too think the Marble Arch is a great pub, but decided it was not quite in the city centre. That was the only reason is was not in our top ten. Otherwise is would if definately been up there.

[@Mokum1961]

@@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629 Wheatsheaf, Millstone, Unicorn, Old Monkey, Ape & Apple...

[@ritabarber8752]

Great to see the old pubs. Hope to see them again. I live in Australia. 😙

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

It it never too late to return to Manchester, although the weather has not changed - take care Dave & Barbara

[@shaneobrien2257]

Great video 🙏. The City Arms and The Vine are my favourites in Manchester.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Yes Shane I love both of those as well. Plenty of great pubs in Manchester. Cheers Dave & Barbara

[@MrTowton1461]

Great tour of some fab pubs. Was up in Manchester recently visiting my son who lives there and went into a few of these pubs. Absolutely amazing night out. Thank you and best wishes from down South.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Thanks Lurcio - much apprecieated - cheers Dave & Barbara

[@manumaneric8874]

Some great choices there, I would include the Marble Arch and Deansgate Tavern.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Hi MANUMAN ERIC ( Great Name by the way ) they were both in the individual crawls and probably should of made the top 10 especially for us the Marble Arch. Just too many great pubs in Manchester. Cheers Dave & Barbara

[@manumaneric8874]

@@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629 but what about the Hare and Hounds or the Bulls Head - It’s like trying to decide which is your favourite child!

[@colinevans39]

If you spin your camera right round that would help 👍

[@a4driver699]

Love it! Love Manchester...from an American City fan however! You guys are great. Can't wait to come back.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Hi A4Driver - American City fan is fine by us as we just love football or any colour. In fact heading to watch Stockport this weekend. Check out our website www.hikingwithdaveandbarbara.com if you want to check out some of our hikes - cheers from good old Manchester - Dave & Barbara

[@davefb]

Great list ! Gasping now :). I'd put forward The Sailsbury to add to the list, especially because of its link to 'little ireland' and the history surrounding that. ( Engles wrote about it in his book 'the condition of the working class' ) . Good for pre-gig drinks as well :)

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Hi Dave. Yes, we both love Salisbury, and it is featured on one of our pub crawl videos. It did not make the top ten, but it's still a cracking pub. Noy sure which pub crawl it's on but it definatly fearured somewhere hikingwithdaveandbarbara.com/pubcrawl.html Cheers Dave & Barbara PS we went on a tour of Chethams School and Library in Manchester a couple of weeks back where Marx and Engels used to hang out. Well worth a tour

[@pugman111]

Great review.keep up the good work.

[@brenda6580]

Thank you very interesting.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

You are welcome!

[@john-k6k6w]

Nice 👍 One Guy's Peace ✌️ be With You

[@monton80]

Fantastic list. The grapes, mother macs, sawyers, Abercrombie, Salisbury, O’Shea’s, bank, could have gone on.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Glad you liked it - Wish United were playing better though - cheers Dave & Barbara

[@SteveKearns-v7b]

Yep, like many others I can't believe you didn't include the Marble Arch & the Salisbury ! Marble Arch is just round the corner from the C & K and probably closer to Piccadilly Gardens than the White Lion ! Might have been worth mentioning for non Mancs that the BP and Pevs are quite close to each other, but then again they all are - and many more !!!

[@MrMegan1962]

The Oyster bar was jacked up 20 feet in the 70s, and moved across the city brick by brick in the 90s

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Yes it is amazing ow good it still looks - beer still cheap as well

[@MrOldways]

Ah The Old Shambles..... many a good session there in the early 70`s when it was still at the old site.... we used to park our motor bikes on the grass out front & get wrecked.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

The good old day. I can remember it near to Marks and Spencer 😊

[@colinevans39]

The shambles was moved in 1999 thanks 👍

[@johngreen8026]

Solid choices

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Thanks John - never easy to please as there are so many good pubs in the city centre - Cheers Dave & Barbara

[@sirtarquin928]

I used to go in the Lass when I was at Manchesrter Poly

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Hi Sir Tarquin - We love the Lass Gowrie, but there are some great pubs in Manchester 😊

[@mckproductions8202]

Well. Cheers for that guys. Concise, interesting all relevant points without going on to long and losing the thread. I've spent this ridiculous year booting around the country going to "real" boozers, having grown up pushing my Tonka toys through the sawdust of the Spotted Dog in Barking, East London. However I never visited Manchester or Leeds the only two cities in England I've never been to as a visitor, I now have 10 good reasons to visit Manchester. If you ever get down here check out the Spanairds in Hampstead. Prospect of Whitby in Wapping. Pride of Spitalfields just off Brick lane ""real cheap "" and my local The Scolds head in De Beaviour , Dalston. Ta Matthew

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Thank you Matthew - Been down to the Prospect of Whitby but none or the others YET. Hope you can make it up north one day. If you are hiker you can check us out hiking - This video is Barbara and I doing Europe's toughest trek - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGO9aJ6QirODj9U cheers dave & barbara

[@davidgevans8932]

The Nags Head is my favourite manchester pub anyone who supports Utd will love it!

[@Mokum1961]

George Best used to drink there, right?

[@davidgevans8932]

@@Mokum1961 The pub is a shrine to him if you've never been its worth a visit!

[@christopherjames5895]

I think I have been in 9 of those

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

9 out of 10 is not bad. Which one have you not been to ? Cheers Dave & Barbara

[@shaundonohoe2638]

Tiny pub but worth a visit

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Hope you enjoyed the video Cheers Dave and Barbara

[@johnstewart9745]

Ox noble frequent haunt of buffalo bill , worked 27 booth st always drank in the vine KENNEDY st the year heard it through the grapevine came out .all pubs been In except white lion 🇬🇧🦨🇬🇧🦨crown and kettle old police court room ,

[@encapsulation]

No Marble Arch .?

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Yes sorry - just thought is was just outside the city - love the Marble Arch though

[@chriscole4746]

Know all the pubs.Great video,but I think you've alienated all City fans,like me!

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

No offence meant Chris as we love good football played by either of Manchester great clubs 😊 & Stockport ( home club )

[@bigturd9361]

Don’t worry no many actually go even without a pandemic 😷

[@geoffreygleave3346]

why was the olde monkey on portland st not mentioned

[@spursp2321]

@@geoffreygleave3346 cos its not that great

[@simonmiller8917]

Some good choices there but like others have Said Marble Arch and I'd also go for The Angel and The Jolly angler. Oh if you like your small bars try The smallest Pub in world en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Signal_Box_Inn

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Hi Simon - loved the smallest pub link. I have always liked the Angel and the Marble Arch - probably should of made a top twenty. We have walked past the Jolly Angler many time and it always seems full or shut. Will give it ago next time we pass for sure. 😀😀😀

[@garethwilliams976]

I think the Britons should be number 1 as it is genuine whereas the Old Wellington is really a fake. Not in the same place and facing the wrong way with most of the structure renewed. just compare with photos taken in the 50's and early 60's to see what I mean! Still a decent drinkery though but certainly not the best in the city.

[@PaulGriffin-pc8nb]

Brilliant vid informative as well but these pubs were are pubs back in the day not now overpriced apart from a couple no banter full of rules an tourist Manchesters ego is getting to big an forgetting the people who built that city

[@colinevans39]

I'm sorry it was 1971 when the shambles pub was moved brick by brick. 😳🙏

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Thanks Colin. I will tell Barbara to get her fact right. Hope you enjoyed the video anyway. Cheers Dave & Barbara 😊🤣

[@bernardcox9307]

It was raised up in 71. Moved later. My dad worked on raising it up.

[@garethjones6082]

where is the nags head the only one i haven't been in in your list

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

The Old Nags Head is at 19 Jackson's Row. Just off Deansgate near to John Rylands Library Gareth. Give it a go if you get a chance - cheers Dave & Barbara

[@tonymarshmarsh9176]

Don't bother....not that great

[@michaelmoran2022]

What about marble arch.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Yes sorry - just thought is was just outside the city - love the Marble Arch

[@best7best711]

All great boozers....can't wait to get back in them.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Thanks best7best7 much appreciated - Dave & Barbara

[@keh.32]

Dave and her

[@carolcr4024]

Spoiled by some sound issues.

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

Sorry about that carol - will try and and do it better next time - Cheers Dave & Barbara

[@JMc-xi6ii]

Oh, ok. Let’s stop the traffic along the busiest routes through Manchester City centre so YOU can hear more clearly? 😒

[@sandykenuk]

Manchester is blue

[@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629]

So true and we cannot argue with that. Cheers Dave & Barbara

[@michellepratt1166]

Lovely to see you guys still making the videos. Britons Protection is my no 1. Thought we were going to see you guys have a cheeky pint or two. ​@@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629