Edinburgh Castle and Bangkok Diners Club

The food element of award-winning Ancoats pub The Edinburgh Castle has had several overhauls in recent years – but it’s retained its place in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs throughout.

Downstairs, you’ll find a beautifully restored, traditional Victorian pub – think cask ales and cocktails by candlelight. Upstairs, where once the best of British reigned supreme on the menu, you’ll now find the Bangkok Diners Club. The bold flavours and new-wave fusion cooking plays to the strengths and heritage of owners Bo and Ben Humphreys.

Dishes such as raw bass with calamansi nam jim and rice bran, and chicken thigh skewers with coriander root, have real impact and a deft layering of flavour that captures the essence of Thai food. Must-trys include the smoked mackerel, grapefruit and ginger salad, and the salt-aged beef nam tok with bone marrow aioli.