Eighteen pubs across Greater Manchester have been named in The Telegraph's prestigious guide to the 650 Best Pubs in the UK, selected by a panel of pub experts based on atmosphere, drink quality, and community spirit.
Historic Venues Shine in the List
The Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar, dating back to 1885, is one of the few remaining Victorian-era railway station buffet bars in the country. It has been featured continuously in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide since 1999 and hosts an annual crisp festival featuring unique flavors.
Manchester institution Peveril of the Peak, a Grade II-listed green-tiled pub dating to around 1820, is praised for its surviving Victorian interior features and has been hailed as having 'outstanding national historical importance' by CAMRA.
The Britons Protection, one of the oldest pubs in Manchester, served as a refuge for the injured during the Peterloo Massacre and as an army recruitment centre during the Napoleonic Wars. Today it is known for its real ale, terrazzo-tiled corridors, and beer garden.
Revival and Recognition Across the Region
Wigan's The Swan & Railway, once branded one of the worst pubs in Wigan, has undergone a successful reversal of fortunes. Owner John Brearley restored original features like stained-glass windows and a tiled drinking corridor, earning the venue CAMRA's Wigan Pub of the Year earlier this year.
In Salford, The Eagle Inn has built a reputation as a live music and comedy venue. Rochdale's The Baum, previously featured as Pub of the Week, also made the list.
Full List of Greater Manchester Pubs Included
The 18 pubs are: The Britons Protection, The City Arms, Peveril of the Peak, The Marble Arch, The Castle Hotel, The Magnet Freehouse, The Circus Tavern, The New Oxford, The Northumberland Arms, Salisbury Ale House, The Eagle Inn, Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar, Fletcher Moss, The White House, The Swan & Railway, The Baum, The Hare & Hounds, and The Grey Horse.
The guide, expanded from last year's 500 to 650 pubs, includes 75 in Scotland, 50 in Wales, and 25 in Northern Ireland. Telegraph beer expert Will Hawkes said: 'Despite desperate operating conditions, Britain still has hundreds of magnificent pubs, offering warmth, atmosphere, character and fantastic drinks. You'll find the best of the best in our guide.'
