The Salmon of Knowledge Didsbury

First established up the Northern Quarter’s hyper-hip Stevenson Square, one of town’s most popular hangouts for open air eating, drinking and partying in summer, and a destination for indoor debauchery in winter, The Salmon of Knowledge is many things to any people. Sports bar. Irish-themed boozer. Craft ale spot. And now we can add Didsbury Village haunt to the list. The Wilmslow Road site is the second to open, right in the centre of what may be South Manchester’s most upmarket suburb. Competition is fierce around here, particularly when it comes to pubs, but this place quickly got off to a strong start. 

Whether that’s anything to do with the “gallons of Guinness” the team promised locals before unbolting the doors and letting the world in, is anyone’s guess. Occupying the same building we used to know as The Dockyard, the idea is similar to the city centre iteration. That means keeping things relatively traditional inside, aesthetically and menu wise, making for a proper boozer but with a modern finish. That means not only do you get very well poured pints of The Black Stuff, alongside other beers and stouts from the hugely respected Franciscan Well brewery in Cork, Republic of Ireland, but you’ll also find plenty of other luxe treats, too. 

Irish dishes with finesse come from the kitchen, like classic boxty pancakes, while The Last Stop, based over in equally well-heeled Heaton Chapel — a few miles east — are on hand to supply the burgers. Better yet, you’ll find more than 50 of the finest whiskeys the Emerald Isle has to offer, which should be enough to keep even the most hardened expert interested for a few visits. A welcome addition to an already thriving part of Cottonopolis, live music and sports adds to the appeal. Out-of-towners should note you can get here easily on the East Didsbury Metrolink line, and the stunning Fletcher Moss Gardens is just a stone’s throw from the door. Give or take.