Easily identifiable by its black-and-white exterior and the huge crowds seated outside in good weather, Sinclair’s is another Grade II-listed building which survived an IRA bomb and a move to its current location. If you’re feeling the pinch this is a good place to head as the place is a Sam Smith’s pub, meaning good-quality beers at very reasonable prices. Credit: Google Mapsplaceholder image
Easily identifiable by its black-and-white exterior and the huge crowds seated outside in good weather, Sinclair’s is another Grade II-listed building which survived an IRA bomb and a move to its current location. If you’re feeling the pinch this is a good place to head as the place is a Sam Smith’s pub, meaning good-quality beers at very reasonable prices. Credit: Google Maps

12 iconic Manchester pubs where you can still enjoy a traditional pint including Britons Protection

Adam Lord
By Adam Lord

Manchester World Editor

Published 27th Feb 2023, 16:02 GMT
Updated 11th Aug 2024, 15:48 GMT

Manchester is changing - and so are people’s drinking habits.

There’s chains popping up all over the show and seemingly a craft brewery on every corner. Thankfully we’re here to report that there are still plenty of classic, iconic boozers on the go in the city.

After a no-frills pint? Then this lot have been doing it for decades or more and know just what you’re after. There’s no shuffleboard to be seen for miles - just a pint of your finest. It’s at this juncture there should be a real shout-out to CAMRA for keeping places like this delightful dozen alive for the next generation of drinkers.

Anyway here’s our selection of those well worth a visit for a classic pint - and maybe a bag of crisps.

This Oldham street pub is the sister venue of Gullivers and has its own intimate performance space which is popular with musicians. It’s another beautiful historic watering hole, dating back to 1776. Photo: Google Maps

9. Castle Hotel

This Oldham street pub is the sister venue of Gullivers and has its own intimate performance space which is popular with musicians. It’s another beautiful historic watering hole, dating back to 1776. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps

This wonderfully smart red brick and stone pub in the Northern Quarter really does feel like a trip back in time as so many original 1920s fittings, including the wooden island bar, still remain. It’s listed as a pub interior of national historic importance by Camra, attracts a crowd of local regulars and is a good place to sip a pint and watch a sports match on the TV. Photo; Google Maps

10. The Unicorn

This wonderfully smart red brick and stone pub in the Northern Quarter really does feel like a trip back in time as so many original 1920s fittings, including the wooden island bar, still remain. It’s listed as a pub interior of national historic importance by Camra, attracts a crowd of local regulars and is a good place to sip a pint and watch a sports match on the TV. Photo; Google Maps Photo: Google Maps

The Old Nags Head on Jackson’s Row is a traditional boozer which has its walls covered in Manchester-related pictures and a huge mural of the city’s famous faces on its roof terrace, where you can have a pint overlooked by Tony Wilson declaring on the chimney that Manchester does things differently. Photo: Google Maps

11. The Old Nags Head

The Old Nags Head on Jackson’s Row is a traditional boozer which has its walls covered in Manchester-related pictures and a huge mural of the city’s famous faces on its roof terrace, where you can have a pint overlooked by Tony Wilson declaring on the chimney that Manchester does things differently. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps

Tucked away in residential streets in the Northern Quarter, The Wheatsheaf is a reminder of what this area used to be like and was originally built for workers at the fish market (now a craft centre). There’s a warm welcome at this traditional boozer which is for over-25s and is LGBTQ+ friendly and has pool, darts and a cash machine inside in case you want an extra round. Photo: Google Maps

12. The Wheatsheaf

Tucked away in residential streets in the Northern Quarter, The Wheatsheaf is a reminder of what this area used to be like and was originally built for workers at the fish market (now a craft centre). There’s a warm welcome at this traditional boozer which is for over-25s and is LGBTQ+ friendly and has pool, darts and a cash machine inside in case you want an extra round. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps

Previous
3 / 3
Next Page
Related topics:PubsCocktailGinTVDartsAmericanCAMRAManchester
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice