Manchester Pubs
Dining and drinking in Manchester City Centre

• Barça
  Arch 8-9, Catalan Square, Castlefield,
  Manchester M3.
  Tel: 0161-839 7099. Fax: 0161-839 7022.
  This relatively new pub-bar-café-brasserie, owned by Mick Hucknal of the Manchester born pop group 'Simply Red' is part of the regeneration of Castlefield, and is set in the heart of the Urban Heritage Park, under two railway arches opposite Lock 92 on the Rochdale Canal. Definitively Spanish in character, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and beverages on sale, as well as an extensive menu of tapas dishes (Spanish for snacks), including paellas, sea foods, and salad dishes. There is a range of wines and sangria, including house wines, Spanish, South African, Chilean and Champagnes. Pleasant bar, with restaurant upstairs, and a carnival atmosphere. Popular and very busy at weekends and especially at Carnival time. Excellent morning coffees made fresh "à la continental".
  
  
• The Castle Hotel
  Oldham Street, Manchester. Tel: 0161-236 2945.
  Old fashioned Manchester in this small town centre pub in the Northern Quarter. Distinctive brown tiles and cosy interior with a warm welcome at the bar, which seems to have remained unchanged since it was built - nice if you prefer old traditional to new age kitsch. A good selection of beers including Robinson's Hatters Mild, Old Stockport Bitter, Best Bitter and Old Tom. There is a pool table and frequent live music on offer. Open Monday-Saturday 11.30am-5.30pm and from 7.30pm-11.00pm. Sundays from 12noon-3.00pm, and from 7.30pm-10.30pm.

Barça in Catalan Square

The Old Wellington Inn

Briton's Protection

The Castle Hotel

• Briton's Protection
  50 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester M1 5LE. Tel: 0161-236 5895.
  The building which houses "Briton's Protection", erected in 1811, is only one of two surviving original houses on Great Bridgewater Street - once a very desirable place to live. A traditional Victorian bar with old fireplaces, subdued lighting and original moulded ceilings. Open Monday to Saturday 11.00am-11.00pm and Sundays from 7.00pm to 10.30pm. Specialising in whiskies, the pub has over 100 varieties as well as Bourbons. Also real ales, "guest" ales, champagnes, wines and other spirits. Original and excellently cooked speciality meals include shark, venison and rabbit. Vegetarian dishes available, and bar snacks throughout the day. Friday night live entertainments. Beer garden at rear. Wheelchair access. Function room for pre-booked parties.
  
  
• Rothwells
  43 Spring Gardens, Manchester. Tel: 0161-835 1843.
  Set in the midst of Manchester's banking and financial centre, Rothwells is an elegant neo-classical building, Grade II listed and built in 1872, originally as a banking hall. Architecturally rich, it includes elegant Corinthian columns, domed ceilings with Zodiac motifs, marble-clad walls and mosaic floors. A large solid carved oak bar dominates. Real ales (CAMRA approved) and fortnightly "guest" beers, as well as a good selection of wines. Food available : traditional English breakfasts, and a changing lunchtime and evening dinner menu, including daily roasts. Snacks available all day. Serves the business and banking community - smart dress mandatory - no jeans. Available to hire for private functions. Wheelchair access, disabled facilities.
  
  
• Lass O'Gowrie
  Charles Street, Manchester M1. Tel: 0161-273 2896.
  An interesting pub, favoured by students from the nearby UMIST colleges and BBC types from the studios round the corner. Wooden floors and comfortable rooms. Food available and their own brewed beers. Frequent guest specialist ales on offer.
  
  
• Old Wellington Inn
  New Cathedral Street, Manchester M4. Tel: 0161-830 1440.
  Part of Manchester's old heritage, this fine Tudor building survived the redevelopment of the Arndale Shopping Centre in the mid-1970s, with a complete refurbishment and physical relocation (a piece at a time), and then again as a result of the 1996 IRA bombing of Manchester, when it was miraculously protected by the now demolished Marks & Spencer building which shielded it from the blast. Now relocated another 100 yards in a new Shambles Square.. Next door to Sinclair's Oyster Bar, it is a popular lunchtime haunt for weary shoppers. Basic beer (Bass Worthington) and plain but wholesome food.