Founder’s Hall

Founder’s Hall is a smartly-refurbished pub with an enviable position on Albert Square.

To celebrate its owners JW Lees’ brewing history, you’ll find a vast range of cask ales, craft lagers, traditional brews and small batch Boilerhouse beers. There are also cocktails and, notably, beer cocktails too. They’re also one of the best places in Manchester to enjoy the newly revived Boddingtons cask.

The menu is comforting pub food, designed to go with a pint so expect things like some pretty fine pies, casual sandwiches served on oven bottom muffins – about as Lancashire as it gets – and bitter-battered fish and chips. Try saying that last one after a few too many.

It’s a busy place but, with a load of handpumps and keg lines, there’s plenty of space at the bar. And there is room to spread out – not least onto the terrace overlooking the Town Hall. There’s a cracking pub quiz every Thursday, live music on Fridays and DJs on Saturdays.

Founder’s Hall isn’t a trendy bar by any stretch of the imagination but it’s a good, solid pub in an unbeatable location (and Manchester’s pubs are just as important as its hip basement cocktail dens). With its wide range of beer and its reasonable prices (for city centre drinking), Founder’s Hall is always going to find an audience.