Survey of 311 pubs and bars found 72% serving cask ale - and Guinness is the most common

MANCHESTER has emerged as the cask beer capital of Britain, following a major new study into the beer sold in the city’s pubs and bars.

The Manchester Beer Audit 2017 has found 411 different cask ales on sale in venues throughout the Manchester City Council area, beating nearest rival Sheffield, which boasted 385 beers in its last survey, as well as Nottingham (334), York (281), Norwich (254), Derby (213), and Leeds (211).

The survey also confirmed that Manchester is leading other cities in kegged 'craft' beers too, with 234 different beers on sale throughout the city, an increase in variety that has been sparked by the recent boom in craft brewing.

More than 80 independent breweries now operate across Greater Manchester and these breweries account for 38 per cent of all cask beers on sale and 36 per cent of craft keg beers.

“The figures confirm what Mancunians already know – this is one of the best beer cities in Britain and possibly the best place in the world to enjoy great cask beer,” said Connor Murphy, organiser of Manchester Beer Week, which runs from Friday 23 June until Sunday 2 July. 

"This is possibly the best place in the world to enjoy great cask beer"

The Manchester Beer Audit 2017 was organised by the nine Greater Manchester CAMRA branches in association with Manchester Beer Week and saw 311 pubs and bars surveyed by more than 100 volunteers on May 20.

It found 824 handpumps and 1,957 keg fonts on bars across the city, with 72 per cent of all pubs and bars selling cask ale.

Guinness is the most common beer in the city, appearing in 50 per cent of all venues, while Sharp’s Doom Bar and Joseph Holt Bitter are the most common cask beers, found in 31 and 29 venues respectively.

However, Robinsons is the most prominent cask brewery, featuring in 36 venues, while Manchester’s own Shindigger topped the craft keg charts, featuring on the bar in 23 venues.

CAMRA’s own contribution to MBW is the Central Manchester Beer & Cider Festival, which runs from Thursday 29 June 29 to Saturday 1 July at 53two Theatre, 8 Albion Street, M1 5LN.