I was once addicted to Coca Cola and put on about 5 stone in 6 months. I also get the feeling that I will perennially be addicted to pizza because I simply cannot stop wanting it for every meal. Since going to Bruges with me mam on the ferry from Hull last year I’ve also been addicted to Belgian beers. As a result I offer up a selection of the best places in Manchester to get your hands on some…
Bøck Bière Café
Located in the old Lounge 10 (and Filthy Cow) on Tib Lane, this newcomer portrays itself as “a European-style with Belgian, Parisian and German influences.” More importantly, the cosy interior is home to 10 taps and over 75 bottles – predominantly pumping out enchanting brown Belgian nectar. They also do sharing boards and butties for when you’re drunk off one bottle.
Bøck Bière Café, 10 Tib Lane, Manchester, M2 4JB
Bøck Bière Café
Port Street Beer House
Looking through the beers in Port St Beer House is like trying to list everything Rik Waller orders at a kebab house on a Saturday night – it’s huge, and can be very daunting. However, the very knowledgeable and friendly staff are always on hand to point you in the direction of Brussels or Brugge – more specifically the Saison Dupont.
Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, Manchester, M1 2EQ
Port St. Beer House
Saison Bar
Saison has been on Burton Rd in the heart of West Didsbury for a couple of years now and has firmly established itself as a great place to go for a fantastic selection of beers, obviously including Belgian ones. I challenge anyone to drink a bottle of the Rochefort 10 and not start slurring their words and spitting.
Saison Bar, 236 Burton Road, West Didsbury, M20 2LW
Saison Bar
Gasworks Brew Bar
Not only do these beer-mentalists make their own craft beers right opposite the bar, they also stock a decent selection of Belgians to get your gob around. Alongside their in-house Refractory Pale Ale you’ll find some corking classics including Rochefort 6 and BB’s favourite Delirium Tremens.
Gasworks Brew Bar, 5 Jack Rosenthal Street, Manchester, M15 4RA
The Gasworks Brew Bar
The Knott
It seems to me that the Knott has been around for absolutely bloody ages, which is impressive for somewhere down the far end of Deansgate Locks where places change owners more often than a Gary Mabbutt footy sticker in ’94. Clearly it is doing something right, which includes a massive selection of Belgian beauties, decent food and some great craft ales too.
The Knott, 334 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4LY
The Knott Bar
Beermoth
I’ve walked past Beermoth loads of times, and only recently decided to pop in for a look around. I still remember when it was Oi Polloi and the selection of beers manages to reflect the range of bad haircuts that the shop used to have coming in. Loads. A staggering selection of Belgian beers, and there’s even the Beermoth Café on Brown Street where you can have a seat and drink if you don’t fancy drinking alone at home surrounded by tears.
Beermoth, 70 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG
Beermoth Café, 40A Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 1DA
Beermoth
Font
Every student’s favourite “is there even any booze in this cocktail” haunt manages to supply a truly staggering range of booze. Seasonal craft ales, sexy ciders, cheap erm..cocktails and plenty of Belgian beers manage to keep the young, beautiful crowds happy into the early hours. They do really good curly fries too! Locations in the city centre, Fallowfield and Chorlton.
Font, 7-9 New Wakefield St, M1 5NP
Font Fallowfield, 236-238 Wilmslow Rd, M14 6LE
Font Chorlton, 115-117 Manchester Rd, M21 9PG
Font
Bottle
With a shop and a bar at the back, and a wide range of craft and bottled beers, Bottle manages to brighten up Heaton More enough that you might want to actually visit there. As usual they wouldn’t be in this list if they didn’t sell some brilliant Belgian beers, including the truly delicious Abbaye des Rocs (9% vol.) which everyone should try at least 3 times.
Bottle, 9a Shaw Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport, SK4 4AG
Bottle
Prairie Schooner Taphouse
I once popped in here after having a tattoo done (by Ben Almond) and was very impressed by their selection of Belgian bottles – I ended up getting a couple of Brugse Zot’s in for the pain. This micro pub and bottle shop sells real ale out of their 4 pumps as well as offering live music nights, bring your own vinyl nights, DJ sessions and quiz nights. Get yourself down if you’re in Urmston.
Prairie Schooner Taphouse, 33 Flixton Rd, Urmston, M41 5BQ
Prairie Schooner Taphouse
Mort Subite & Belgian Bar
Altrincham manages to have two really authentic Belgian bars within its modest borders, both with an astounding selection of both draught and bottled beers. The imaginatively named Belgian Bar is right across the road from Instagram favourite Altrincham Market, while Mort Subite just a little further down the road. Great for a proper bevvie after splurging £10 on a toastie at the market.
Mort Subite, 28-32 Greenwood St, Altrincham, WA14 1RZ
Belgian Bar, 40 Greenwood St, Altrincham, WA14 1RZ
Bar Fringe
Last time I was in Fringe I had been on a pub crawl around the city centre. Unfortunately for me, its geography caused it to be the last stop, meaning I was downing some seriously strong beer and promptly ‘Browned Out’. I do remember that they had a great selection of booze, as well as a brilliant atmosphere – very unassuming due to its location and the fact it looks like someone’s house from outside.
Bar Fringe, 8 Swan St, Manchester, M4 5JN
The Waterhouse
A lot of people slag off Wetherspoons, but I’m not one of them. I think they are brilliant, especially the selection of craft ales, ciders and spirits. Of course they also serve Belgian beers, typically in bottles, with the choice changing between locations. Just last week I had a Kwak in Paramount at the top of Oxford Road, but my favourite will always be the maze-like, real fire smashing Waterhouse opposite the Town Hall. The beers are also cheap! Yes!
The Waterhouse, 67-71 Princess St, Manchester, M2 4EG
The Waterhouse
