Manchester has over 500 licensed premises downtown, spanning the gamut from traditional pubs many centuries old, to chic wine bars for the fashionable set.
The Lammars, on Hilton Street on the northeast corner of the city centre has been voted the Best Bar in Manchester by the Pride of Manchester Awards for the last two years, and for good reason. Blending old-style décor with modern furnishings, it feels more like a trendy living room than a bar, which is, of course, the effect they are going for. Prices are reasonable for a city centre bar that attracts such accolades.
The previous year, the winner of the Best Pub in Manchester (as opposed to the Bar category) was The Old Nag’s Head, which is one of the busiest pubs in the city centre. Located on Jackson’s Row since 1880, The Old Nag’s Head is a traditional Victorian drinking establishment with the upgrades one might expect in this day and age, such as pool tables and a juke box. The pub also offers traditional British food.
One of the more unique bars in central Manchester is Chaophraya, which combines a popular Thai restaurant with a stylish cocktail lounge. Thai food has swept the city in recent years, and the level of quality is hard to match outside of Thailand itself. The sunken seating is particularly fun, and they can send a traditional (for Thailand, rather than Manchester) three-wheeled Tuk Tuk to pick you up and deliver you to their George Street location.
The Bluu Bar was one of two bars that kick-started the surge in popularity of the Northern Quarter as an entertainment district, the other being the Odd Bar. In combination with the Odd Bar’s offspring to the south, Bar Odder, they share a similar seventies/eighties funky vibe that transcends what it means to be a public bar. All very cool, well priced with good food.
