The 20 pubs in Greater Manchester named among the best in England

By Ramazani Mwamba

Twenty pubs in Greater Manchester have been named among the 500 best in the country. The Telegraph has launched its inaugural guide to the 500 Best Pubs in England today. Chosen by ale expert journo, Will Hawkes, establishments have made the list for their charming character, welcoming staff, rich history and, most importantly, award-winning beer. From historic inns brimming with character to modern gems with innovative menus, every selection offers something unique. Local reputation, customer reviews, and personal visits all played a role in curating the list, the publication said. The guide will be refreshed yearly to make sure that those who should remain do so, while others who deserve to break into the list are added. Mr Hawkes said: “I’ve developed strong opinions about what makes a great pub, atmosphere, of course; fixtures and fittings that engender what Germans call gemütlichkeit, warmth, happiness and cosiness; good beer, particularly cask ale; and a sense of place.” Ash Corbett-Collins, chairman of CAMRA, said: “Our pubs are the beating heart of communities in every corner of the country, from rural villages to city centres and everywhere in between. “They bring people from all walks of life together and are a vital part of our social fabric. In good times and in bad, the pub is the go-to place for family and community events. “They deserve to be supported, protected and promoted so they can thrive as community hubs for centuries to come.” John Brearley, owner of Union Inns, which has two pubs on the list – The Swan and Railway in Wigan and the Woodman in Birmingham – said: “It’s thrilling to have been included in The Telegraph’s 500 Best Pubs in England. I think it’s really important that people support the best of our traditional pubs.” “The Thumb, as locals know it, is a freehouse with a traditional feel, offering pop-up food options, social clubs – from darts to running – and, of course, high-class beer.” “This sturdy whitewashed pub located by the clattering, humming Wellington Road is one of the best places to drink beer in England.” “This place is as pubby as it gets, all dark wood, hand pumps and Victorian beer vessels above the bar (although there is a brighter, conservatory area at the back). Food is a big part of the Baum’s business: when I visited recently I had Rag Pudding, a tasty Lancashire dish not unlike steak pudding.” “Come for the tiled corridor, with its vivid images of the Peterloo Massacre, stay for the atmosphere.” “The City Arms sits in the middle of a Mancunian pub one-two-three on Kennedy Street, sandwiched between The Vine and The Waterhouse. It’s the best of the three, in my opinion, largely because the beer is so good.” “It fulfils all the pub cliches: warm welcome, good beer, cosy atmosphere. The tiled exterior is a delight, too.” “Few if any pubs have played a bigger role in Manchester’s brewing renaissance over the past thirty years than the Marble Arch, a street-corner delight a short walk from the Northern Quarter.” “The Northern Quarter is not short of places for a drink, but few are as effortlessly comfortable as the Castle Hotel.” “The Circus Tavern sets out its stall straight away: ‘The smallest bar in Europe, the biggest welcome in the world’.” “The pub itself is modern but not jarringly so, with sofas, low tables and pub games, plus plenty of excellent beer, much of it produced at Blackjack’s brewery less than half a mile away.” “As a weathervane for what’s happening in pub decoration, you won’t do much better than The New Oxford, a red-brick street-corner pub on Salford’s Bexley Square.” “As a visual symbol of the Manchester that once was, it’s hard to beat the Salisbury.” “It’s a little tucked away, certainly, but for good beer and interesting music you’d have to go a long way to beat it.” “High-class station pubs are relatively common across the North and Midlands now, most of them based in revitalised and repurposed station buildings. None of the others, though, is quite like the Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar, which is both authentically Victorian and has a genuine pub flavour.” “It’s a traditional spot that has been refurbished in congenial fashion, with plenty of unique details to break up the classic ambiance.” “This brick-built former coaching inn has a predictably s ublime view, and attracts diners by the dozen as a result, but the beer is pretty reliable too.” “There are so many marvellous details inside the Swan and Railway that it is hard to pick just a few.” “City-centre classic that hums with Mancunian warmth” “In a city that rarely forgets to tell you how it does things differently, The Angel charts its own course.” “The Grey Horse is run by Hyde’s, one of Manchester’s four traditional family breweries. It might be the best place in the city centre to try their beers; it’s certainly one of the cosiest, with a wood-panelled bar and plenty of comfortable seating.” The full list can be found here.

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