Manchester Pubs – Indie Pubs
Ian Jones, Food and Drink EditorIf there’s one thing Manchester does well, it’s pubs. And we’re talking pubs of all colours and stripes, from the classic old man pub brought up to date for the 21st century, to more modern-thinking public houses with a focus on ever-more weird and wonderful craft ales. You’ll find them everywhere, but as you’d expect the Northern Quarter makes a strong showing, with a few newer entries from Ancoats and the NOMA area of Manchester.
But what’s an indie pub? Rather than being a place where Oasis and The Stone Roses are blared out on repeat (though you’ll certainly find a hint of that in some, we’re not shy about our peerless music CV), it’s a pub that has an independent spirit. Nothing too fancy, you won’t find any social media influencers here posing for Instagram shots, though you might find a few dogs dozing under tables. It’s a style that borrows from the past – expect plenty of exposed brickwork and a nice range of beers and spirits – but has a very modern feel to it. Head upstairs or to the backroom and you’ll find anything from spoken word nights, to impromptu live gigs, all with a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere.
Basically, when people say “the spirit of Manchester” they mean somewhere friendly but always forward-thinking, and that’s what each of these pubs represent. Sure, Manchester has a reputation as one of the greatest clubbing cities in the world, but when it comes to pubs, we’re unbeatable.
