Best Craft Beer Pubs and Taprooms in Manchester

Manchester’s craft beer scene is thriving, with dozens of independent breweries and taprooms putting the city on the UK beer map. As one travel guide notes, “Manchester’s brewing scene is thriving with micro and nano breweries popping up all over the place”. Home-grown names like Cloudwater and Seven Bro7hers now have national reach, and city centre bars are packed with rotating taps pouring local ales, IPAs, stouts and more. From historic pubs in the Northern Quarter to brand-new brewpubs, there’s no shortage of spots craft beer lovers will want to seek out. We’ve rounded up ten standout venues in Manchester’s city centre – plus two bonus picks just outside the core – that showcase the rich Manchester beer scene.

Port Street Beer House (39-41 Port Street, Northern Quarter)

Located in the heart of the Northern Quarter, Port Street Beer House is a locally-renowned brewpub that’s been “serving craft beer and real ales…from here, there, and everywhere” since 2011. Its taproom features 18 keg lines and 7 cask lines, pouring an ever-changing line-up of local and international craft beers. In other words, Port Street is a paradise for beer geeks: whether you’re after a crisp New England IPA, a rich imperial stout or a classic pale ale, you’ll find something new on tap. The bar also stocks hundreds of bottled and canned beers to take away. Its staff are famously knowledgeable, and the pub’s beer board often highlights exciting small-batch brews. Port Street’s popularity is reflected in its accolades – it was even named the best bar in Manchester by RateBeer users – and its relaxed, communal vibe (with long sharing tables) makes it a great place to sample something different and chat with fellow beer fans.

The Marble Arch (73 Rochdale Road, Ancoats)

The Marble Arch is a historic, Grade II–listed pub that serves as the original flagship for Marble Brewery – one of Manchester’s oldest craft brewers. Under its soaring barrelled ceiling, the pub’s bar boasts nine hand-pulled cask ales and eight keg lines, pouring fresh Marble brews alongside a few guest beers. Marble is known for classic styles like its Lager, Pale Ale, Porter and the ultra-dry Off Menu, and at the Arch you’ll often find a mix of these plus rotating specials. The Marble Arch also offers hearty pub fare cooked with beer in mind – think steak-and-stout pies, fish and chips, burgers – plus vegan and veggie options. In summer you can relax in the hidden beer garden behind the pub. Whether or not you’re a Marble Brewery fan, the Arch’s combination of historic charm and top-quality draft beer makes it worth visiting for any craft-beer enthusiast.

The Gasworks Brew Bar (10 Dale Street, NOMA)

The Gasworks Brew Bar brings an industrial-chic taproom to the former Gaythorn Gas Works site in Manchester city centre. It’s part of The Dockyard pub group, and its in-house microbrewery produces fresh lagers, ales and ales-on-tap. As one guide describes it, “the in-house brewery is slinging out some of the freshest pints around, served directly from tank to tap”. Typical beer styles include light Pilsner, pale ales and IPAs; the taps often feature house-brewed lagers and guest kegs from nearby craft brewers. The space is open and airy with rustic yet modern décor, plus a shuffleboard table and plenty of communal seating. The Gasworks also partners with local street-food vendors: for example, its kitchen menu (Thief Street) might offer Korean barbecue waffle fries, chicken katsu curry or gourmet burgers to pair with your pint. Altogether, The Gasworks is a “prime spot for craft beer in the heart of the city” – perfect for an afternoon or evening sampling freshly brewed beers in a lively setting.

Wilson’s Social (14 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter)

Wilson’s Social is a friendly Northern Quarter bar built around a huge selection of craft beers. It’s famous for over 18 rotating taps pouring local and regional brews. The emphasis is on Manchester and UK craft names: you’ll often see lines from Cloudwater, Seven Bro7hers, Runaway, Squawk and other nearby breweries, as well as acclaimed UK cans and bottles. The vibe is laid-back and cosy, with a glasshouse-style front and a courtyard. Along with pub sandwiches and burger specials, Wilson’s regularly hosts events like live music, quiz nights and beer tastings. In short, “Wilson’s Social is a haven for craft beer lovers”. It’s a great stop if you want a deep pour of something locally made – perhaps a juicy NEIPA or a complex sour – in a friendly neighbourhood pub atmosphere.

Fell Northern Quarter Taproom (35 Dale Street, Northern Quarter)

Fell Brewery (originally from the Lake District) opened its first city taproom on Dale Street, bringing award-winning craft ales into the middle of Manchester. The Fell Northern Quarter Taproom is intentionally relaxed – a bright, industrial-style space with Fell’s full range on offer. All the brewery’s year-round beers (like the floral Lakeland Way pale ale or the spiced Fell Red ale) are available alongside seasonal specials. Plus, the bar often features “guest pours” – rotating taps of interesting beers from other UK breweries. Beyond beer, Fell NQ has a unique collection of drinks: the menu boasts rare ciders and over 50 whiskies, so there’s something for any spirited drinker. You can also buy cans to take home. Overall, Fell NQ serves “the full breadth of Fell’s craft beer range, served alongside an ever-evolving selection of guest pours” – making it a must-visit for adventurous beer fans exploring the Manchester craft scene.

Pelican Bar (35 Dale Street, Northern Quarter)

Pelican is a craft-beer bar from the team behind Squawk Brewing Co., named after the local bird motif on Squawk’s cans. Housed in an airy Grade-II–listed building on Dale Street, Pelican is all about beer. It has 14 keg taps and 4 cask lines, pouring Squawk’s own brews (IPAs, pale ales, lagers, etc.) as well as a rotating selection of guest beers from around the UK. The range covers everything “from pils to imperial stout,” so you can always find something new. The bar’s atmosphere is fun and inclusive – dogs and kids are welcome, and the team runs geeky quizzes, DJ nights and other events. A highlight is the house-made pizza (from Nell’s Pizza, on site) sold by the slice. With its combination of friendly neighbourhood vibe, creative beer list and quality pizza, Pelican has quickly become a Northern Quarter favourite for both locals and visitors.

Cloudwater Brewery Taproom (Unit 9, Piccadilly Trading Estate)

Manchester’s internationally famous Cloudwater Brew Co. has a spacious on-site taproom at Unit 9 of the Piccadilly Trading Estate. This is truly a beer lover’s paradise. The taproom sports 20 draft taps, all pouring Cloudwater’s freshest releases and barrel-aged specials. Every beer flows from a walk-in cold store held at just 3°C to ensure maximum freshness. Expect cutting-edge modern styles: in one visit you might sample a bright, hoppy session IPA, a juicy double IPA, and a rich barrel-aged imperial stout. Cloudwater often collaborates with artists, so the interior features bold artwork and a modern design. There’s also a shop corner selling cans of Cloudwater and merch to go. On weekends, local street-food traders set up outside (or sometimes inside) so you can pair your beer with gourmet snacks. In short, Cloudwater’s taproom combines “20 draft taps brimming with fresh releases and barrel-aged delights”, making it one of Manchester’s premier craft beer destinations.

Track Brewing Co. Taproom (Unit 18, Piccadilly Trading Estate)

Just a few doors down the Piccadilly estate is Track Brewing Company’s taproom, at Unit 18. Track is a home-grown Manchester brewery specialising in West Coast–style pales and DIPAs (and playful variants named after pop culture, like YUZU or GOLD TOP). Their taproom has 20 keg lines and 3 cask pump, pouring Track’s core beers and seasonal experiments, plus a couple of guest taps. The space is dog- and child-friendly, with a casual seating area and a plancha-grill for Slice Culture Pizza (so you can grab a slice with your pint). Track’s brewers aim for clean, crushable yet flavourful beers – the Pale Ale “Gold Top” and hazy New England–style beers are crowd-pleasers. If you love bold, hop-forward beer and like the idea of having a pint at the very brewery it came from, Track Taproom is worth the short trek out of the main bar district.

DogHouse Manchester (18-20 Fountain Street, Spinningfields)

Manchester’s BrewDog hotel (DogHouse) offers a craft-beer bar experience in Spinningfields. On the ground floor is a BrewDog bar pouring 30 taps of “epic craft beer”. As you’d expect, many taps are BrewDog’s own beers (the famous Punk IPA, Hazy Jane, etc.), but they also showcase rotating guest brews from top UK and international craft breweries. The menu is full of gastropub fare (smash burgers, wings, etc.) tailored for beer pairings. Upstairs there’s a rooftop bar (with city views) for more taps and cocktails. The whole venue is carbon-neutral (a point BrewDog highlights), and the rooms upstairs even have in-wall beer taps for guests. Whether or not you stay overnight, the DogHouse serves “a line-up featuring some of the best craft breweries from across the world alongside our own brews”. In other words, it’s a big, beer-focused bar perfect for fans who want variety in one place.

Café Beermoth (10 Aytoun Street, City Centre)

Tucked just off Spring Gardens, Café Beermoth is a craft-beer bar with a European feel. It bills itself as “an Eden of ales and pints”, and it lives up to that. Behind the long wooden bar are seven cask hand pumps and ten keg lines, giving you a choice of crisp cask-conditioned bitters (often local firkins) and a wide range of keg craft beers. Many beers here come from top indie breweries: for example, local Runaway beers on cask, or bottles from wild-ferment stalwarts like 3 Fonteinen. The interior is cosy (with booths and wood accents) and even has a view into the cellar. In addition to beer, Beermoth serves Belgian-inspired snacks like the famous “sausage rolls” and pies from a local butcher. It’s a favourite among aficionados who want an eclectic, well-conditioned beer list in central Manchester – a perfect spot when you’re wondering where to drink craft beer in Manchester near Piccadilly and Spring Gardens.

Bonus Craft Beer Spots (Greater Manchester)

The Beagle (456 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton) – A few tram stops south of the city centre is The Beagle, a popular pub in the Chorlton neighbourhood. Sister venue to Port Street’s owners (Common & Co group) and home of Nell’s Pizza, The Beagle offers a great craft-beer selection to complement its American- and Mexican-inspired menu. It regularly rotates guest beers on tap, from local breweries and beyond, making it a lively spot for beer lovers. (Bonus: it’s dog-friendly and has a covered terrace, so it’s cosy year-round.)

Heaton Hops (62 Wellington Road South, Stockport) – In Stockport’s Heaton Chapel area, Heaton Hops is an award-winning bottle shop and taproom. Its founders have stocked shelves with hard-to-find beers and run events for years, and the taproom boasts eight keg lines and two casks. You’ll find an ever-changing line-up of craft beers – IPAs, pale ales, stouts, sours – from innovative UK breweries. (Heaton Hops was even voted Best Pub by Manchester Evening News.) If you’re willing to venture a little outside Manchester city proper, Heaton Hops is a friendly place to sit and try unique beers in Stockport, one of Greater Manchester’s beer hot spots.

Manchester’s beer scene has never been more exciting. From established institutions like the Marble Arch to cutting-edge brewery taprooms like Cloudwater and Track, there’s a pint with your name on it at nearly every corner of the city. Beer lovers will find Manchester’s craft pubs and taprooms full of variety, community and passion – the perfect places to explore IPAs, stouts, lagers, sour ales and more. We encourage you to sample broadly and support the local breweries: after all, in Manchester each pub is part of a vibrant tapestry of independent beer culture. So raise a glass – Manchester is ready to pour you its finest.