The proper Greater Manchester pub in trendy town named as one of UK's perfect boozers

A popular Greater Manchester boozer has been named among the best proper pubs in the UK. 

National Geographic Traveller (UK) sought to find those ale houses that prefer good beer over fancy grub and queueing at the bar over those new-fangled QR codes. And The Magnet in Stockport was praised for its “no frills focus” and getting the basics “bang on” as it made the top 12 alongside places in London, Brighton, Belfast and beyond.

The Wellington Road North hostelry is in a coaching inn built back in 1840 and had been derelict before being reopened back in 2009, going on to win multiple awards including best pub at the Greater Manchester Beer Awards in 2017. It has two terraces in its beer garden, a games room and even colouring books for kids and adults. 

Dogs are welcome and the food is largely nuts and snacks apart from Friday night, when stone-baked pizzas are served courtesy of Stockport's own The Pizza Maker. In terms of the all-important booze there's up to 14 cask beers and 12 kegs on sale at any given time as well as craft gins, single malts and a selection of wines.

On The Magnet, National Geographic Traveller (UK) said: “You may have heard talk that Stockport is becoming trendy — with The Magnet attracting a lot of attention. And quite rightly, too. If everyone had a neighbourhood local like this, the world would be a better place. Spread across several rooms, it gets all the basic things bang-on with a no-frills focus on drinks, snacks and, crucially, the community. Beyond a brilliant beer selection and impressive array of gins, there are pub games and a sun-soaked beer garden.”