I’m thrilled to announce that my latest book, Manchester's Best Beer Pubs & Bars, from CAMRA Publishing, is available now. If you’re a fan of Pellicle, and the work we publish each week, then this is definitely something you’ll enjoy in companion to our features and podcast.

I first came to Manchester to explore its beer and pub culture in 2014 and immediately fell for it—to the extent that in 2020 I decided to make the city my forever home. Since moving here, my love for Manchester has only deepened further, and its vibrant, essential beer and pub culture is at the heart of that. Following my previous book, Modern British Beer, CAMRA Publishing's commissioning editor Alan Murphy asked if I'd like to pitch a new idea. I immediately asked if I could produce a guide to the city's beer scene, as I felt it was well overdue for an in-depth look at what makes it so special.

Most beer drinkers already know that Manchester is home to a great many breweries and pubs, but few know how deep this culture runs; with great venues pouring exceptional beer to be found in nearly every suburb, neighbourhood, and outlying town. Initially, I had the idea this was to be a guide focussed on the city of Manchester itself, but as I explored and went about my research, I realised that to ensure the guide properly represented the area's beer scene, it was essential to include the entirety of Greater Manchester.

Towns like Rochdale, Wigan and Stockport have incredible beer scenes of their own, each of them eminently accessible from the city centre. In producing this book I realised it's only when you view Greater Manchester as a whole that you can truly understand why it's perhaps its home to the most well-developed beer culture in the country. One that includes everything from 200 year old breweries, traditional boozers, world class modern breweries, exceptional bars and restaurants, all within—or close to—the centre of what is one of the most creatively eclectic cities within the UK.

Manchester's Best Beer, Pubs & Bars aims to sort the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, as it's a personalised collection of where I think you’ll find the best beer and pub vibes within the region. Over a period of 18 months I visited over 200 venues in the Greater Manchester area, and whittled the selection down to just over 180 of these. I’m almost certain I’ve missed some great spots too, but my hope is that if this volume is successful I’ll have the opportunity to produce a revised and expanded edition in a few years time.

This book is a heartfelt, personal guide to what I feel are its very best beer destinations. It isn't limited to venues specialising in real ale, either (although fear not, there's plenty of that) with several modern beer destinations also included. But that's not all! It also includes places that stock exceptional cider, serve delicious cocktails and wines, plus food-led venues to make sure you don't go hungry. There are even several pre-planned 'beer trails' to help you find your way around town.

Each entry in the guide is rich in detail, and written from a personal perspective. The book also features an in-depth story about the city's beer history which I feel provides the necessary context to help readers understand why the beer and pub scene here is so vital. This is told through the story of 200 years of brewing in Greater Manchester, before the guide begins in earnest.

Manchester’s Best Beer Pubs and Bars is available now. May it lead you to as many incredible pubs and pints as putting it together did for me.

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You can purchase the book directly from the publisher here. If you enjoy the book, please consider giving it a review to help more people find it. If you’re a member of the press and would like to request a review copy, or an interview with the author, you can contact me directly by emailing matthew@pellicemag.com

If you’re looking to buy a copy from an independent stockist, it’s currently available from the following retailers:

Farm Yard Brew Co, Gulf Lane, Cockerham, Lancaster LA2 0ER
Rare Mags, 5 Lower Hillgate, Stockport, SK1 1JQ