The five Greater Manchester pubs which have been voted among the ‘best in the UK’

A number of Greater Manchester boozers have been named as some of the best in the UK by voters in the Greater British Booze Off. 

The competition, run by The Daily Star across a period of three months, asks readers to nominate their favourite watering holes under ten different categories, such as live music pubs, live sport pubs and the most unusual pubs. 

And, low and behold, a massive number of pubs here in Greater Manchester were crowned as the winners in several categories, including a number of runner-up places. For example…

Best Pub (Overall), second place: The Bear’s Paw, Hindley, Wigan.

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The Bear’s Paw in Hindley, Wigan, came in at second place in the category: Best Pub (Overall).

The boozer survived lockdown against the odds thanks to its new landlords Nathan and Matty. The pair have been described by their regulars as taking the pub from strength to strength and are a ‘formidable asset’ to the venue and wider industry in uncertain times.

One happy customer told the Daily Star that the landlords are ‘absolutely loved’ by locals and that they’re built a ‘fantastic’ rapport despite their short time at the Wigan establishment.

Best Live Sport Pub, first place: The Beehive Inn, Whitefield, Bury.

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Despite Manchester’s fierce blue and red rivalry, The Beehive Inn has become renown for housing both City and United fans without any trouble.

Rather than becoming a place for booze-fuelled scraps, this pub has established itself as a place of friendly banter welcoming to both sides of Manchester.

Visitors immediately recognise how proud of the city the pub is with the symbolic worker bee graffiti adorning the exterior.

The symbol came to particular prominence as a sign of solidarity after the Manchester Arena terror attack, and the Beehive’s garden pays tribute to the twenty-two victims who lost their lives.

Best Live Music Pub, first place: The Snug, Atherton, Wigan.

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Despite the pandemic hitting live music venues hard, The Snug in Atherton, Wigan, managed to continue providing local music with its online ‘Snug Sessions.’

Landlady Rachel told the Daily Star that while it had been a ‘tough few months’ during lockdown, the struggle was worth it because of the ‘great little community.’

And what makes the venue even more special is the fact that it’s nestled away in a hidden location, as one TripAdvisor reviewer found when he unexpectedly stumbled upon the place.

Hindleylad wrote: “Great little place hidden away down an alley off market street. Charming look and feel. Helpful genuine staff. Good coffee – and I’m fussy – fresh cooked food and homemade cakes. Recommended.”

Best Live Music Pub, second place: The Boulevard, Wigan.

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This hidden rock music gem has hosted countless bands and live acts over the years, and acts as a ‘second home’ to many Wigan locals.

It’s only fitting that the town that birthed iconic punk band The Buzzcocks should make it onto the Great British Booze Off list of definitive music venues, isn’t it?

Most Unusual Pub, first place: Why Not? Cafe Bar, Worsley. 

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Just one look at the exterior of this quirky boozer demonstrates why the Why Not? cafe bar in Worsley was crowned as the most unique and unusual pub in the UK.

The building looks more like a terraced house than anything else, but the owners have decked it out in an abundance of twinkling fairy lights and retro booze memorabilia to give it that special pub vibe.

Located in the Worsley area of Salford, it is a wonderful alternative to city-centre bars of Manchester.

You can check out the full list of Great British Booze Off winners and runners up here.