Returning to visit the UK after a ten plus year hiatus. Will be in Manchester and Chester for the first time. Looking for recommendations for pubs serving real ale in “traditional” UK styles. I know about CAMRA, but hoping for some personal insights. Also will have a little time in London. In the past, frequented the likes of Wenlock Arms, Market Porter, Bree Louise (RIP), Dog and Duck, Royal Oak, etc. Would appreciate any personal favs in central London as well. Good food to go with excellent real ale would be a plus. thanks & cheers
Hi there, as well as being a long standing BeerAdvocate I am also a CAMRA officer and lived in Manchester for 52 years. The Peveril of the Peak is a must, as is the Old Monkey and the Grey Horse on Portland street give great old world pub experience and are next to each other. The Marble Arch is a ten minute walk from the city centre but has gastro pub grub. The Moon Under Water gives a more affordable menu but is still a very high standard for a Wetherspoons. If I am free I am willing to show you around Manchester and am also happy to answer any further queries wither here or on the DMs. Hope you have a great time here and in Chester.
The old city of Chester is awesome, but I've only spent about 2 days there. Will give you some ideas since it's not the type of city that gets much conversation here. My notes can be circumstantial, so these places might have a very different feel on different days. I went to: The Boathouse - great JW Lees pub with river views, good food Albion Inn - really great spot Duttons Ye Olde Boot Inn - stuffy/quiet old Samuel Smith pub The Brewery Tap - more of a modern craft beer vibe The Cross Keys - very atmospheric and pretty wooden Joule's pub Bear and Billet Town Crier Bull and Stirrup - Wetherspoons spot, not recommended unless you like their atmosphere Olde Cottage - felt more like a neighborhood spot than a tourist spot, loved it's charm @WhatANicePub
I've never been to Chester and most of the place I would recommend in Manchester have been mentioned already. I would only add to try to drink in as many Holt's pubs as you can. I liked the Derby Brewery Arms (the Holt's brewery tap) when I was last there. I gather it has been hipsterified since then, but the beer should still be good. For food hit up the curry cafe across the road.
Nice, last fall I had an awesome trip to Manchester, Chester, Liverpool, Leeds. Chester may have been the highlight for me (I loved walking the castle walls), such a cool walkable town with so many great beer spots. While I focused on cask ale, I also enjoyed some non cask craft. Chester highlights: Started at the Chester Station Tap Room: Plenty of casks, cool little pub The Pied Bull: Brews their own beer, solid british cask ales, very nice pub, patio out back Cavern of the Curious Gnome: Cask and solid beer (had a Cantillon here) That Beer Place: More of a bottle shop but has cask and draft too. Loads of interesting craft beer, I think I had a BA stout and BA barleywine here The Cellar: cask and craft, nice spot. In London, my favorite for cask might be Ye Olde Mitre but I've also walked the entire Bermondsey Beer Mile which was probably my overall favorite beer experience.
