City Arms — Restaurant in Manchester

Have been visiting this real ale haven since 2010. Unfortunately, prices have gone up from 3.30 to 3.50 recently, some beers selling at even 3.60. This place is a chameleon. Why? Dead and quiet as a morgue of a Monday night (Feb 2) - I was the only customer! Jam-packed on Friday afternoons (Feb 6) with suits galore :-) They keep a fine selection of ales, some of them guest beers, some have become regular signatures (eg Pride of Pendle). Several chapters of my 2013 Manchester thriller PSYCHOPATH WEEK actually take place (and were written) in the City Arms. Pay them a visit and you might find the same characters still drinking in that shop. Always my first port of call when in Manchester. I've withheld one star - as the pub, to me at least, is a no go zone when the suits are in. Not my clientele, not my cup of tea. The quality of service and produce, however, is always of a very high standard, and the omnipresent barmaid with the (pardon my ignorance) Star Trek or Mad Max boots...

For anyone who is familiar with The Pogues' song Sally MacLennane you may remember the line "I'd like to to say I'll be returning when I can, to the greatest little boozer and to Sally MacLennane". Well, if The City Arms was the greatest little boozer to which they were referring, it would be a well deserved title. Dave the landlord is great and Chris and all the bar staff make the place a proper pub. This isn't a place that's been hipster-done-up with fairy lights and "cool" knick-knacks, this is the real deal. There's no music, no telly - not to try and send a message, there's no sign telling people to talk to each other, this place doesn't need it. It's just what a great boozer should be. Maybe I shouldn't post this as I don't want anyone else to know about...

Superb side street traditional style pub in Manchester City Centre, offering a great selection of cask ales and a few keg in lovely condition.

As you can see from the photos, the range of styles on cask - all of the board is cask except from the bottom two, and is constantly rotating - is very varied and well balanced from a DDH Pale, bitter, mild to porter - and the breweries they are supplied from are absolutely top notch.

I paid £5.50 for a pint of the Brew York DDH Pale, which was served in the correct glass with a lovely head.

Staff are friendly, and the atmosphere was good with a nice splattering of couples and groups in on a Monday lunchtime.

Definitely one for ale lovers...