Staying local.
Victoria Tap
Meeting the final member of our party at Victoria station meant only one thing, a drink at the Victoria Tap, highly recommended by Chris Dyson on his recent crawl around Manchester.
Easily missable.
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| Victoria Tap, Manchester |
But a healthy lineup. Adnams' Old Ale being a rarity up north, but I chose the Extra Special Marble; an ESB. A personal favourite style.
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| A welcome selection |
A vibrant atmosphere with a good soundtrack, featuring Talking Heads.
Would've happily stayed for a few*, but had to catch the tram to media city for street food at dine-in prices (fish, chips & peas £16) and a reluctant Jute by SALT.
And to finish the night, a Bitter by Black Jack at the dockyard with its multiple screens of golf and Michael Jackson (not the beer one) soundtrack.
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| Opposite the Dockyard |
*a second visit is cunningly planned for the train home.
TOP PUBS: The City Arms, Manchester
A pub that goes straight on my favourites list, if not in the top 3.
Multiple CAMRA award winning, The City Arms.
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| The City Arms, Manchester |
A perfect line up of 8 cask beers.
The Feckless by Red Willow was great and Nectaron by Saltaire good, but a little one dimensional.
A couple of keg lines and classic pub features.
If I only had one pub to visit in Manchester, it would be this on.
Rising Sun
With Deansgate ramping up with early evening trade, we found sanctuary in the nearest pub.
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| Rising Sun |
The approach offered no clue as to whether it was open, no A frame advertising real or craft, no smoker/vaper stood outside or music breaking through.
Thankfully as we drew closer the door was open with life inside. The interior of the one large long room didn’t offer much excitement, it was neither old or contemporary, possibly last decorated in the early 00’s?
Confirming dogs were allowed and cask was available, we were good to go.
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| Jam sandwich? |
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| Cask options at Rising Sun, Manchester |
Some friendly patrons made room for us all to seat and I enjoyed a pint of Odin by Brightside Brewing.
Two more of our party arrived, with more customers making room for them which prompted another pint, this time the Blonde by Lancaster Brewery.
The Rising Sun wasn’t on my radar, but was a thoroughly enjoyable pub, unpretentious and a welcome stop away from Deansgate.
During the last pint I trawled google, untapped and whatpub to find the pub of a past visit.
Thinking I found it, we moved on.
Peaking early
Many moons ago we drank in brilliant pub in Manchester, years of pints and Instagram posts led us to believe in was The Pevril of the Peak.
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| I wonder how many of those actually call in for a drink? |
So after a little mooching around the streets, we made it our first pub.
Five plus dog and rucksacks squeezed into the front room, filling the emptying seats of guys on their way to Britons Protection (also on the list).
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| The Pevril of the Peak |
A small but adequate selection of cask, comprising of Millstone Tiger Rut, TT Landlord of course and the delicious ‘C’ hopped Mancunian Blonde by Brightside Brewing.
I don’t need to add much about the pub, it’s on every tickers list and blog post. However, it wasn’t the pub of our drunken past, which does mean there’s another great pub to visit, we just had to find it.
Try Canuary - part 4
Another steady selection. The gin & tonic being surprisingly good. Clean, crisp and dry.
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| Botanicalist by Magic Rock |
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| Wild Drover by Loch Lomond |
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| Time Travelling Taxi by Brew York |
End of the line
At least it was for our pub crawl of Knaresborough.
The Track and Sleeper is a platform side micro pub, think old school posh waiting room with real ale. Perfect.
A Rooster’s choice of Baby faced assassin and YPA, that’s Yorkshire Pale Ale, obviously. Both in good form, Plus something by Gorilla?
Five pubs and Stanley was done, he even marched past York Tap on the way home, he usually likes a drink there!
Brew York
Finishing at Blind Jack's on a slightly sour note, I was hopeful Brew York at The Mitre would make up for it.
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| The Mitre, Knaresborough |
Previously a Market Town Tavern, a small local pub chain with a good reputation for good beer and food, Brew York took over the lease sometime in 2024.
A good cask line-up started well with the Blonde.
But ended badly with the bitter gone and returned and the porter also on the turn, which I stomached.
I'll give them benefit of the doubt being January (and even though they showed a Leeds game on TV), plus at least I can try them again when they open their next pub in York.
Too blind to see it
First half in Blind Jack’s, THE pub of Knaresborough was Amber Ale by Vocation and Floc. Of Hebden Bridge or Happy Valley to some (on my bucket list) and Canterbury respectively.
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| Blind Jack’s, Knaresborough |
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| Best of 2025 to date |
It was excellent. Toffee, caramel, chocolatey and fruity. Very complex and a lot going on but worked perfectly.
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| Sausage roll was lovely too |
Sadly, I only had a half as I was on a mission to chalk up new beers, but if I knew then what I know now; I would’ve stayed and consumed the Amber all night.
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| Fair selection |
The house IPA brewed with Brew by Numbers of ok, but unfortunately the Harrogate Gold was just turning.
Swinging by Cross Keys
Failing to eat at Mother Shiptons meant we had to leg it up the hill back into town before the bakeries closed.
Missing The Half Moon because dogs are only allowed in the courtyard.
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| No pampas grass!* |
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| Beer, crisps, dog |
*an old rumour, myth or legend is Ossett was swingers capital.
**a good article abiut beer and crisp pairing by Rachel Hendry at pellicle
Knaresborough - prettiest town in Yorkshire?
Well this view is hard to beat.
And the number of drinking establishments certainly make a good pub crawl.
A walk around town, past 2 of 3 closed Smith's pubs.
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| Commercial or Borough Bailiff |
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| Wellington Inn |
And a sift through the Blue Harbour and supermarket clothing lines in the numerous charity shops.
We decided we were hungry, so braved the hill down to Mother Shipton Inn.
As we should've expected, the kitchen was closed, either for January or due to it being 3.30pm. A shame as we've always enjoyed the food here and we’re looking forward to a fish finger sandwich.
Just a quick half of Theakston's Best by the fire it is.
Spotify Made in Australia must have been playing, featuring Mental as Anything and something I’ve never heard before:
Try Canuary - part 3
The Siren probably just pips the Cannonball by Magic Rock, who sadly have just called in the administrators.
Try Canuary - Part 1
With a few days before the dreaded return to work, it’s time to try January at home with a trio from Kirkstall.
A good solid bitter west coast or English IPA is my preference.
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