A small two room pub sandwiched between two other pubs in a back street close to the side of the town hall. As you walk in it has a considerable row of real ale pumps offering a good local (and a few from further afield) craft ale selection. The look is classic city centre boozer with comfortable leather based wall seats and stools around small tables that don’t take long to fill-up. At the rear there is a small area for smoking.

A delightful little place with eight hand pumps offering beers mainly from local craft breweries. The City Arms is one of three pubs in a row – the others being a Wetherspoon’s and The Vine – close to Manchester’s magnificent town hall. There’s a small front bar, which I think is standing only but I can’t be sure as it was busy with people watching sport on television when I was there (although, mercifully, there was no sound and no music). The back room is rather homely, with dark green banquettes, an art deco fireplace and a leaded stained glass window which must open onto a yard as there was little light. There’s no bar in the back room but the beers are listed on a blackboard. It’s a “Locale” pub, meaning that it promotes beers from the local area, and there was a good selection. There’s also a whisky bar with eight single malts. (Visited 18 June 2012).

Central location with the monumental Town Hall nearby. It is, in fact, located on the back of the decent worth-visiting Wetherspoons pub Waterhouse facing the Town Hall. City Arms has a traditional two-roomed pub décor with a local feel to it. Relaxing and very quiet early on a Sunday afternoon. Eight different cask ales to choose from, I had beers from small breweries like Box Steam, Hornbeam and Greenfield. Polite service (08.07.2012).

Very small traditional boozer in the heart of the city and very near the Town Hall. Generally a great atmosphere but gets full very early on due to its deserved reputation. Not the biggest range on offer but almost always something of interest and the beer’s very well kept. Pleasant and knowledgeable bar staff - they’ll happily let you sample before choosing. Haven’t sampled the food so can’t comment. Recommended.

Small, centrally located pub, divided into a drinking area by the bar and a seating area down a couple of steps. Five or six handpumps with an ever changing selection of well kept beers. Friendly and efficient service. Good pub food served lunch time. A nice a friendly pub with a reliable selection of cask ales if you happen to find yourself thirsty in the Manchester city center.

Fairly small, traditional style watering hole. Good Beer Guide regular for many years. Handy as a pit stop if you are in Manchester City Centre [most of the top Manchester pubs are a little way out from the centre]. Can be busy with local office workers at lunch time. The two regular beers are Tetleys Bitter and Mild but there are 5 guest beers on handpump. Not necessarily the most esoteric range but you may well find something of interest. By no means essential but useful if you are in the immediate vicinity [which I often am if working in Manchester]. Does food but I’ve never eaten there.