Manchester

Dukes 92
Castle Street
Cheap and Cheerful bar

Dukes 92 is situated in the heart of Castlefield overlooking the Bridgewater canal and within walking distance of Deansgate Locks. Like a spacious version of a typical pub, Dukes is laid back and low-key and has plenty of outdoor space at the front and back. Like most of the bars in Castlefield this place is for summer drinking, once the sun comes out it suddenly gets very busy!

Alberts Shed
20 Castle Street
Style Conscious bar

It's a risky business opening a bar (or bar-cum-restaurant) and the decision to site Alberts Shed in Castlefield couldn't have been an easy one. The area has seen a number of high profile closures, so it was a brave decision for the owners. The gamble has so far paid off, as the swanky Alberts Shed has proved to be a winner and the quality of food and drinks is excellent, without breaking the bank. During the Summer they're happy to open up their glass frontage and let you sit outside with the rabble from the nearby Dukes 92, who aren't half as bad as we make them sound. Sitting in the sun eating Pasta and drinking wine was something that we enjoyed this year.

Dimitris
Campfield Market
Indie and Underground bar

A place that truly comes alive in the summer, Dimitris is located in the Campfield Market building at the junction of Deansgate and Liverpool Road (Close to Deansgate Locks). It's more of an eating establishment than an actual bar, but its still worthy of a mention here due to the outdoor-indoor eating at the back. Campfield is one of those strange twisted elderly buildings that probably played host to hangings or witch burning trials (or possibly a market) but has ended up being a restaurant. Character drips from every rusting bolt, and there's a covered walkway at the rear that acts as a dining room. Probably the closest thing you can get to a Mediterranean eating experience in Manchester.

Binary
5 Arundel Street
Modern bar

A small, but lively, bar on Ellesmere Street in Castefield. Built beneath the Moho building, part of the area that has almost entirely been taken over by Urban Splash developments, this is the second license premises in the area, and the time seems (almost) right for a venue of this calibre. Four years ago a private members bar opened up beneath Timber Wharf, but with barely 600 people living in 'nu' Castlefield, the sliver of land between the real Castlefield and Hulme, the venture didn't last long. Now the area is much different, with the redeveloped St Georges Church, the award winning Moho and Burton Place, plus the nearby developments by Dandara, there's quite a community building up. Binary hope to capitalise on all the youngsters who live nearby, and they've bagged themselves a reasonably late license (11am Mon to Wed, midnight on Thur, Fri and Sat). Food served until 9pm, sandwiches, soups, sharing platters, fresh pizzas (also available for takeaway) Happy hour available, selected beers and cocktails, 2 for 1, Mon-Thu & Sat, 5-9, Fri, 4:30-9, All Day Sunday free wifi, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii Large screen TV for Sky Sports and Setanta Quiz nights on Tuesdays