Castlefield is, without doubt, the most beautiful area of Manchester city centre to go for a drink, especially in summer when it can get incredibly busy.
Located alongside the Bridgewater and Rochdale Canals, the Museum of Science & Industry and the old Roman fortress on Liverpool Road, it houses some of Manchester's best independent bars and pubs, together with some of the city's finest restaurants.
A wonderfully historic setting, Castlefield is an area you can't help but fall in love with and, when bar culture really hit Manchester in the mid 1990's, stylish Mancunians, footballers and celebs flocked to its trendy canalside bars.
Sadly, the area suffered badly when fashion dictated the crowds walk a few metres along the cobbled road to the nearby Deansgate Locks. The likes of Quay Bar, Box Bar and Jackson's Wharf all closed down long before the Beetham Tower blocked their once beautiful view of Manchester's skyline.
Situated on Manchester's most prime real estate plots, their architectually brilliant shells were left to decay by landlords who tried and failed to get planning permission for huge ugly apartment blocks to replace the less profitable bars.
Fortunately, thanks in part to local community groups and campaigning by Pride Of Manchester, amongst others, today there are some wonderful new bars and pubs in Castlefield, which is seemingly busier than ever before.
It is especially popular on sunny days or when Manchester United are playing at home, with Old Trafford just a 30 minute walk along the canal towpath, with boats also running to the stadium from Castlefield. |