Opposite the Castle Hotel on Oldham Street, this pub has three ale pumps with a preference for local brewer JW Lees. This is one of Manchester’s most eclectic venues in the city centre and live bands play here regularly, when there not expect tunes to be beating out of the speakers. There’s two defined areas to sit, either at the front where the bar is located, or to the rear where leather sofas give a cosier feel, but the decor throughout is soft, well maintained and welcoming and there are no bright lights in your face.