The Old Nags Head

You'll find this place tucked between the shiny new bars that have colonised Jackson's Row, stubbornly maintaining its old-school pub credentials while everything around it gets increasingly fancy. The dark wood panelling and traditional layout feel properly lived-in rather than designed, and the regulars propping up the bar at 2pm on a Wednesday suggest this is still very much a locals' spot despite the city centre location. The beer selection won't win any awards for innovation, but they keep their lines clean and the pints are reliably good. It's the kind of place you duck into when you need a breather from Manchester's relentless march towards craft beer enlightenment – sometimes you just want a proper pint in a proper pub without someone explaining the hop profile.