White Lion Manchester

Walk into the White Lion and you'll clock it immediately—this is a pub that's thought about what it's doing. Liverpool Road in Salford's got plenty of boozers, but this one's different. You get the sense they've invested in their beer selection without being pretentious about it, and the kind of food that makes you want to linger over a pint rather than rush off. It's got that lived-in feel that comes from locals actually giving a toss, where the bar staff know their stuff and aren't trying too hard. The sort of place where you'll end up staying longer than you planned because there's always another cask worth trying.