The best pubs in the Northern Quarter

The best pubs in the Northern Quarter

The Northern Quarter is one of Manchester's most buzzy areas, located in the middle of the city and brimming with cool places to hang out. Along with trendy bars, there are traditional pubs here, so whether you're after some pub grub or just want a great place to enjoy a few drinks, you'll find no shortage of options in NQ. We can help if you're planning a pub crawl or are searching for your new go-to boozer – take a look at this guide to the best pubs in the Northern Quarter.

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  1. Top pubs in the Northern Quarter
    1. 1
      The Bay Horse Tavern Restored Victorian pub
    2. 2
      The Unicorn Popular bustling pub
    3. 3
      The Castle Hotel A must for music lovers
    4. 4
      High Street Tavern Welcoming and family-friendly
    5. 5
      Tib Street Tavern Top pub for live sport
    6. 6
      The Abel Heywood Northern Quarter gastropub
    7. 7
      The Hare & Hounds Unassuming local venue
    8. 8
      The Freemount Lively late-night pub
    9. 9
      The Crown & Anchor Pub packed with history
    10. 10
      The Crafty Pig Contemporary and on-trend
    11. 11
      The Lower Turk's Head Centuries of history
    12. 12
      The Wheatsheaf Humble and fuss-free
    13. 13
      The Rose & Monkey Hotel On-trend pub
    14. 14
      The English Lounge Relaxed pub for drinking and dining
    15. 15
      The Millstone Charming and cheerful

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Top pubs in the Northern Quarter

The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern
The Bay Horse Tavern – Pubs in the Northern Quarter
The Bay Horse Tavern

The Bay Horse Tavern

Restored Victorian pub

Having undergone a big restoration in 2017, The Bay Horse Tavern is a modern version of a classic Victorian pub. These days, the venue combines traditional and contemporary style to create a cosy and vibrant environment. Choose from a large range of drinks, indulge with classic pub food, or join fun events like open mics and a weekly quiz.

The Unicorn

Popular bustling pub

A compact and bustling pub with a cheerful atmosphere, The Unicorn is a popular drinking spot in the area. The venue has a classic look, shows live sport, and has regular live gigs. Special offers on drinks give you value for money - the options here include spirits, refreshing pints of lager, and shots to get the party going.

The Castle Hotel

A must for music lovers

Compact pub The Castle Hotel has a legendary reputation in Manchester, known as a hub for music and literature. Its history goes back to 1776 and these days it's a big part of the live music scene. Diverse acts play here, plus there's a jukebox. Ales are a speciality behind the bar but you can also try locally-brewed beers, amongst other options.

High Street Tavern

Welcoming and family-friendly

Located at the edge of the Northern Quarter, High Street Tavern is a comfortable family-friendly pub. It's based in a distinctive curved building but inside it's full of light and has an eye-catching chequered floor. The bar serves a wide range of drinks, plus there's pizza and traditional pub grub. Board games are available to play whilst you're here.

Tib Street Tavern

Top pub for live sport

Tib Street Tavern has a lively and relaxed atmosphere and offers comfortable surroundings with soft banquettes and exposed brickwork. Live sport is a big deal here, and the big screens mean you won't miss a thing. Sit down and watch all of the major sports fixtures whilst sampling the varied range of drinks available at the bar.

The Abel Heywood

Northern Quarter gastropub

Style-conscious gastropub The Abel Heywood is a popular destination for drinks and food, but it also offers boutique guest accommodation. The pub looks traditional with wood panelling and serves a variety of drinks, including locally-produced beers. Classic pub food is served here all day, with the Sunday roast being particularly popular.

The Hare & Hounds

Unassuming local venue

Located at the edge of the Northern Quarter, The Hare & Hounds is a low-key local pub. It has an eye-catching tiled exterior and an interior brimming with tradition. The atmosphere here is peaceful. The pub is known for its ales and offers traditional bar snacks such as sausage rolls. There's regular live music, too.

The Freemount

Lively late-night pub

The Freemount will soon catch your eye thanks to the green tiles and plants that clad its exterior. The interior is fuss-free, with pillars and wood panelling. This is a lively spot where the party goes on until late. Live music is on regularly, and the pub shows live sports fixtures as well.

The Crown & Anchor

Pub packed with history

Historic pub The Crown & Anchor is a traditional drinking spot with guest rooms. The atmosphere is lively at this down-to-earth establishment, which has a classic pub aesthetic both inside and out. A varied selection of drinks is on offer here, in addition to satisfying pub food, including a weekly Sunday roast.

The Crafty Pig

Contemporary and on-trend

Craft beer fans can enjoy a drink in the Northern Quarter at The Crafty Pig. This contemporary spot has a bright interior complete with rustic wood panelling. Budget-friendly food and drinks are on offer here, including craft beer, cocktails, pizza, and burgers. Events like bottomless brunch also take place here.

The Lower Turk's Head

Centuries of history

The history of The Lower Turk's Head goes back hundreds of years. Today it's a refined and spacious venue set over two floors. The ground floor has two separate bars whilst upstairs there's a heated terrace. This pub hosts a variety of events and specialises in beers and ales. Added to that, there are boutique guest rooms.

The Wheatsheaf

Humble and fuss-free

If you're looking for a down-to-earth backstreet pub, check out The Wheatsheaf. This long-established pub is friendly and welcoming, with a fuss-free appearance. DJs and live sports provide entertainment, but you can also play darts, dominoes, and pool. A broad range of drinks is on offer here, but the ales are especially popular.

The Rose & Monkey Hotel

On-trend pub

Built in the 18th century, The Rose & Monkey Hotel is now a modern and trendy pub. It's a fun and cheery venue with comfortable spaces and eclectic decor. There's live music and a weekly quiz here, plus the venue serves a wide range of drinks and plant-based pies. Guest rooms are also available here, and discounts are available for travelling musicians.

The English Lounge

Relaxed pub for drinking and dining

Enjoy drinks or food in an easygoing setting at The English Lounge. This venue has an imposing exterior and a contemporary look inside, as well as a compact terrace. A diverse range of drinks are served here, plus pizzas and classic pub grub, including a Sunday roast. Live sport is shown and private hire is available for events. 

The Millstone

Charming and cheerful

Charming traditional pub The Millstone has a smart green exterior and a fuss-free typical pub look inside. The atmosphere is cheerful and friendly, plus there's regular entertainment from DJs and karaoke. This long-established local venue serves a range of drinks, including craft beer and cask ales.

Pubs in the Northern Quarter – About the guide

The best pubs in the Northern Quarter - Our guide to the best pubs in the Northern Quarter is updated regularly. If you know of a great pub in the Northern Quarter that we haven't featured in our guide, feel free to get in touch. Please let us know if you see any mistakes in our guide to the top pubs in the Northern Quarter. Have you visited any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

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At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.