Congratulations are in order! The Bull's Head has made it into the Good Pub Guide published by…read moreCAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale, friend of my locals the Crescent, New Oxford and King's Arms). Many say that this pub would get a lot more custom if it wasn't on the 'wrong side' of Piccadilly Station as it were. However this does mean that it gets a nice eclectic clientele, including office suits at lunchtime which often suggests quality food (smart types are picky about their food, I've met plenty of them). The food itself is your hearty, tasty pub grub from upmarket peppery steak pies and gammon and eggs to sirloin steaks and corned beef hash. The chips are particularly nice. The beers include the Marston's standard Burton, Pedigree and specials like Long Hop, as well as many festival ales such as Everard's, Brains and Ringwood's. Down to earth, upbeat and friendly staff serve the pub's varied customers, creating a jovial and relaxed atmosphere. Certainly a worthy addition to the guide.

Because of The Star and Garter's odd choice of not opening until the gig starts (You're a pub with…read morethirsty MetalHeads stood outside for upto an hour,you do realise how much money you lost in that hour?) We were forced to wet our whistle elsewhere,and a quick check on the app showed that The Bulls Head was the nearest,so head there we did. It is always nice to go into a pub that has a good mix of clientel,and this was one of them,a smattering of regular looking folk? Check,a few suit and ties having a swift one after work? Check,and on this particular evening 2 Metalheads after a nice drop of ale. We both had a pint of Boon Doggle on draft (They have a really good selection),which went down a treat,as did the pub itself,it is a really nice place that I will certainly go back too the next time that i'm not able to get my drink on before a gig.. Good stuff

Great pub that pours a proper Guinness and has wonderful food. The staff is attentive and friendly.read more

Walked in @ 5:00pm. The bartender was wearing a shirt…read moreadvertising the beer I ordered. Hé paused 5 seconds and then told me it was unavailable. He then suggested a "similar" beer that I'd already had on several occasions that was not even remotely close to the AmberAle that I was looking to drink. Seriously? He flatly was a jerk. Must be new protocol in Manchester pubs. Experienced it repeatedly. Was more interested in the chat with his mates then providing any service whatsoever. Don't waste your time unless you enjoy a surly uninterested bartender and crap service.

Traditional city pub, knowledgeable staff, very well-kept ale, comfortable seating and beautiful…read moreheritage interior. There's a fussball table I hadn't noticed before! Titanic plum porter and Tiger Rut were both on tap (cask) when we last visited - great to have such a range of light to dark even in the summer months.

'Pint or a half?' A…read morehop and skip from the architectural wonder of the Bridgewater Hall is Peveril of The Peak. Like the nearby Briton's Protection, it's one of Manchester's original drinking dens and one of the few places to escape modernisation. Outside is a mix of shocking pea and pastel green tiles whilst inside there's three different rooms with a distinctive 1970s feel. The walls are decorated with pub memorabilia and faded photos of celebrity musicians and actors whilst the jukebox is stacked with lots of Mancunian hits. There's also a pool table, dart board and bar stools encouraging conversation and friendly banter rather than getting legless or watching a widescreen TV. Prices are reasonable for the city centre and the staff are friendly. I'm more of a spirits girl than a beer swiller but for those that like a pint at the end of a long day, they have Deuchars, Tiger, Jennings Cumberland and Copper Dragon Golden Pippin ales on tap.

I'm pretty sure I'd be here every weekend if I lived in this part of Manchester…read more Port Street Beer House is an unassuming little pub with a fantastic (and massive) list of brews, both local and international. Service is friendly and efficient, and even the stronger stuff on the menu won't set you back too much: a pint of most beers will run £4-5. I grabbed a pint of a super-fresh saison from Blackjack (a Manchester-based brewery) and enjoyed it in the small-ish garden out back. The only drawbacks? It get can very packed---and it's cash only.

Port Street should be high on any lover of craft beers hit list, whether living in Manchester or…read morejust in town visiting it's perfect place to pop in for 1 or 2 (and see what their amazing list of guest beers is offering this week) or spend a long afternoon in warmth working your way through their extensive range while catching up with friends. That extensive list includes around 20 beers on tap, with at least 100 bottles on offer - mainly sourced from some of the finest USA, UK and Scandinavian breweries around. Prices are fairly high but no more than you'd pay in any other city for the same craft beer - it is though always worth checking the price (and strength) before you order a pint of that rare, one barrel produced collaboration between 2 of your favourite breweries - it could be time to get a new mortgage! There's a large lounge room upstairs and beer garden out the back with ample seating for around 40. Capacity is one problem with this place and it can get very very busy at the weekends so try to get in early or go offpeak. Don't miss out on their regular "meet the brewers" nights on a Monday evening. What usually starts off as a civilised tasting of a few very good beers turns into a bit of a Monday night session - something that's no good for anyone. These monthly events have been known to make Tuesday's very hard work in the past :-) They also run nearby Common and Chorlton's The Beagle - plus Indy Man Beer con so make sure you check these out to complete the full set!

The City Arms. If you've ever been then you'll feel manly just thinking about it! Grrrr! It should…read morebe called the The City Gun Show, I can actually feel my testosterone levels increasing with every typed word. This is a proper boozer from a time when men had mutton chops and women just weren't allowed the hell in damn it!! Oak filled, serving real ale and housing pool tables that it just isn't big enough for -probably to increase the chance of a fight breaking out- this is a pub that has laughed in the face of progress for over 50 years. Go there to watch or talk about sport. If the mood takes you just go ahead and punch somebody.

Another day, another pub that I've walked past a billion times and never thought about going in! If…read morethe truth be known I think I always thought it was part of the Vine Inn next door which I've been in a few times over the years. Located in a part of the city that is clearly on the up (just off St Peters Square) it's a traditional boozer of the very old school variety - deceptively sized with a tiny front bar but loads of seating in the back! The drinks on offer are all a little bit stuck in the past for my beer tastes but this isn't a problem for most patrons - they just do lots of bitters, lagers and stouts. I have to say that their beer flights are great value at just over £3.00 where you can get a third of each beer of your choice up to a pint - really good idea and great to see it appearing in more and more pubs! City Arms is somewhere that's cool to pop into if you're after a quick pint or meeting with friends, I just can't see myself wanting to spend all night here - I think I'd get very bored, very quickly of the beers on offer - but this is my own overly pretentious beery opinion!

This place is amazing. The most unbelievably friendly staff, great beer on draft, an interesting…read morecheese menu.... and perfect fish and chips. I came here with my 8 year old daughter last night and we were welcomed very warmly with amazing food and amazing service. Now I completely understand why this place has so many great review. They are well deserved. Hopefully I can return in the next few days.

Great classic pub. Delicious beers and good looking food. Back patio had lovely seating for when…read morethe small pub area fills up. Staff handled the crowd very well. I would highly recommend.

This is a very popular pub and there are many reasons why this is the case. They cater for their…read morecustomers brilliantly and provide a warm, friendly environment with great service. It can get very busy but it is still a friendly place and the atmosphere laid-back. The live music is great and they show horseracing and football on the TVs around the place. Best of all though is the Guinness which must be the best in Manchester!

Be fecking Jesus this a good pub. Proper Irish, not themed…read more Really cosy, friendly and inviting. Made all the better for being just off the beaten track, the best place to enjoy a Guiness in Manchester. Just a shame it shuts so early- I'm still getting used to this about Manchester.

The food was delicious and reasonably priced. Good atmosphere. Staffs were polite and friendly…read more Good selections of drinks and food. Site clean and tidy

We were in Manchester for business for three days (from Canada). We loved this place so much we…read morewent twice. The meat pies are incredible and every single server we encountered was wonderful.

Housed on Fairfield Street, behind Piccadilly Station, the Star & Garter is a red brick pub that…read morelooks like a crime scene from a Hitchcock thriller. It was featured in the 50s film noir Hell is A City and since then, seems to have gone from chic to shabby with little investment or TLC. The carpets are frayed, the seats are grubby and the walls upstairs are painted chocolate. Endearingly, none of this seems to bother the students and regulars who flock there for the monthly Smiths nights and occasional rock and punk gigs. The gigs are housed upstairs on the first floor - where there's a small stage and bar - whilst the club nights straddle the ground and first floor. Drinks are cheap and cheerful and there's a long-running indie night every Saturday called Smile. You might hear the odd Brian Wilson song but you're more likely to hear everything from Pulp and Placebo to Belle and Sebastian. In short, the Star & Garter is a venue that's more about the music and the people than the ambience or the interior. Which takes us right back to Pulp and..... A Little Soul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XMDfMaKDa0

I'll never forget the first time I went to the Star & Garter. I was really dubious about what my…read morefriends had planned for me, considering we were heading in a direction that seemed to be slighty outside the city and more than slightly IN to Manchester's Red Light district. 'Guys...' I found myself saying ominously in the way the first dingbat of a bimbo to get killed in a horror movie always does. Then when we arrived, I was confused. 'Why are we at what looks like one of those run down burnt out old hotels on Chapel Street?' my brain was asking me. But I pressed on. I was accompanied by indie expert Mr Bateman, his lovely girlfriend and the Bambi-eyed Jess X, all of whom seemed to have the lowdown on what's cool these days. And upon entering all my woes disappeared. For here is a pub-cum-club almost as famous in the city as Night and Day, with something to offer every poetic soul with a floppy haircut and a love for Morrissey. (That includes myself, and you'll hear more Smiths songs in here than you can shake a stick at.) The Star and Garter is a great venue, with a pub downstairs and seats comfy enough to think you're in the Crescent, and a club upstairs where you can dance your socks off to the best of Manchester's music scene. The Smile clubnight, held every Saturday, is always filled to capacity and something of a phenomenon. Live bands often appear on Thursdays and Fridays, but one Friday each month is reserved for the worship of the miserablist with the quiff, the legendary Morrissey, and The Smiths. Yes, it's an actual Smiths disco. Where else would you find a disco dedicated to one man/band? Not only does this speak volumes about how important Morrissey is to Mancunians, it says a lot about Star & Garter's knack for pleasing their public. I've never had a bad night here. Brave it through the brothels and find your way to this gem of a place - you won't be disappointed.

So I'm here tonight to see Jason get North Manc CAMRA pub of the year - you can probably tell I…read moreagree. It's aesthetically unique, cosy and inviting. The beer is kept in superb condition, rotated every day and it has some of the best bottles in town. It's just one of the best pubs in Manchester for beer and atmosphere!

Reopened about four years ago now, this Grade Two listed pub is really intriguing in many ways. The…read moreCrown and Kettle used to be a courthouse in the 19th century and rumours still circulate that it is haunted; its that kind of place you see. An absolute must for real ale lovers, there is no brewery attached. Instead, they have up to eight pumps (a minimum of four) of both real ales and more mainstream beers like Fosters. Both these and drinks that I myself actually drink are very reasonably priced for a pub just on the outskirts of the Northern Quarter. If you're not familiar with the area just walk all the way down Oldham Street then cross over the main road- its right in front of you. It is very quiet during the day but that is what some people want after all. No, where the Crown and Kettle really could do with improvement is the food. I think it really lets itself down as it just isn't good pub food- maybe if they perked up the menu more people would straggle in during the day. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they don't want trade to be roaring at all hours - just a thought.