The best pub lunch in Manchester

Ancoats gastropub The Edinburgh Castle is recognised as one of Manchester's top eateries, as well as being a great place for drinks. Dinner is served every day with pub lunches available Friday-Sunday. Downstairs the venue has a cosy feel with a refined dining room upstairs. This historic pub serves sophisticated British food and a wide range of whiskeys.

Opened in 2024, The Lamb of Tartary is based in a Grade II-listed building in the Northern Quarter. This gastropub combines modernity and heritage, and serves lunch five days a week. The all-day menu at this spacious contemporary pub includes gnocchi and a cheeseburger, but come on Sunday for a slap-up Sunday lunch with all the trimmings.

The Bay Horse Tavern reinvents the classic Victorian boozer for modern times. The venue combines traditional design with modern style, creating a cosy and vibrant space. The all-day menu includes tasty lunch options such as sandwiches, pies, and classics like curry and Lancashire hot pot. On Sundays you can choose from four roasts, including a vegan Wellington.

A traditional pub housed in a building that's hundreds of years old, The Old Wellington has a striking timber-clad exterior and a similar historic look on the inside. Lunch is served every day, featuring classics like pies and burgers. On Sunday you can visit for a traditional Sunday lunch - there's a choice of three roasts with all the trimmings.

Have a pub lunch in Salford at The Black Friar, a renowned gastropub. It's housed in a historic building but has decor that brings it up-to-date. Sophisticated dishes are on the à la carte menu but traditional pub grub is offered for lunch – think burgers, curry, and pie. Kids' meals are served and there's a traditional roast every Sunday.

Grade II-listed Worsley Old Hall is a rustic and traditional country pub in a striking timber framed building. There are centuries of history behind this cosy spot and these days it's a popular destination for elevated pub food. The gourmet menu changes each day to bring diners fresh flavours, plus there's a traditional Sunday lunch every weekend.

The Crafty Pig stays open from morning until late. It's a popular spot with craft beer drinkers but is known for its food options too, including bottomless brunch. The varied menu includes lots of modern and indulgent dishes from tacos and wings to burgers and pizza. This is a bright and contemporary venue with rustic wood panelling. 

Homemade food is served for lunch at High Street Tavern. This family-friendly pub is cosy and comfortable with a distinctive chequered floor. Breakfast is available here and for lunch you can try sandwiches, pizza, and pub favourites like pies and burgers. A broad range of drinks are on offer and there are board games to entertain you too.

The Lost Dene in Spinningfields is a lively city centre pub with a smart and polished appearance. Live sport is shown, a varied range of drinks are served, and food is available too. There's a dedicated pub lunch menu of sandwiches and wraps, whilst the main menu includes hearty choices such as steaks, burgers, and lasagne.

Housed in a red brick building, The Lass O'Gowrie is a popular pub with an expansive beer garden. A large range of drinks are served but this place is known for food too. Classic dishes like pie, breaded scampi, and burgers are on offer here, in addition to meals for kids. A traditional Sunday lunch is also available here.

Horse & Jockey in Chorlton is based in a 500-year-old building that has been a pub for more than two centuries. It has its own microbrewery and tap room as well as various cosy and contemporary spaces. If you fancy a pub lunch here, you can opt for pizza or try international recipes like curries, pasta, and beef or vegetarian burgers.

The Eagle & Child in Ramsbottom sits at the edge of Greater Manchester. It offers impressive views of the Lancashire moors and has a spacious garden with a tipi for special occasions. If you're hungry you can try sourdough pizza, sandwiches, or refined dishes like risotto or lamb rump made with local ingredients. Sunday lunch is also served here.

Based in a Grade II-listed building, The Marble Arch is a traditional pub spread over two floors. It has a classic appearance and offers indoor and outdoor seats. British and global pub food like pies and beef bourguignon is served here, as well as an indulgent roast on Sundays. Cask and keg beers are also a speciality at this award-winning pub.

Located in Chorlton, The Beagle is a bustling contemporary pub with a terrace and a conservatory. The interiors are minimalist and colourful. Ales, craft beer, and cocktails are served, plus this place does pizza - get a 14 or 22-inch pizza or opt for a slice if you just want something a little lighter. A range of toppings are on offer, including veggie options.

Crown & Anchor looks traditional from the outside whilst inside it has a contemporary style with art, plush booths, and exposed bricks. Beer, including local brews, is a speciality, but food is served too. Diners can try out pizza, curries, and other old favourites like burgers and steaks. Children and dogs are also welcome at this establishment.

Based in the middle of the city, The Abel Heywood is a stylish gastropub that also offers guest accommodation. A modern take on a Victorian gin palace, it has a traditional wood-panelled interior. Classic pub grub is on the menu - expect the likes of sausages, pies, burgers, and sandwiches. A Sunday roast is also served here.

The Didsbury gives off major country pub vibes thanks to its rustic appearance. It retains many of its 18th-century original features like wooden beams and fireplaces. Traditional pub food is served here and there's a separate lunch menu centred on sandwiches and lighter bites like fish cakes and roasted vegetable tart.

A lively pub located in Spinningfields, The Oast House is a rustic venue that stands out from the modern architecture nearby. It has a large and spacious terrace too. A varied range of drinks are on offer as well as contemporary pub food - expect gyros, burgers, and hanging kebabs. Visit on a Sunday to enjoy a traditional Sunday roast for lunch.

A stylish gastropub in the middle of Manchester, The Fountain House has a grand interior as well as an outside terrace. Seasonal dishes with global influences are served here, with menus that change regularly. The main menu features pies, burgers, and fish, plus there's a lunch-only selection of sandwiches. A traditional Sunday lunch is also served here.

Founder's Hall opened in 2024 and is a modern pub for Manchester. Beer drinkers are in for a treat here, with an extensive range of brews available. Food is also a priority, with the menu designed to go well with a pint. Options range from small plates to filled savoury muffins, pies, and burgers. The setting is eclectic and there's a positive atmosphere.

Traditional pub The Bank has a lengthy history but today it's a classy and bright drinking spot. Whisky is a speciality but a full range of drinks are on offer. Food is served too - you can have breakfast here or choose small bar snacks, as well as classic dishes from the main menu such as macaroni cheese, pies, and burgers.

Canalside pub The Wharf is known for its picturesque outdoor area and its traditional pub food. The interior is rustic and inviting, with wooden beams and exposed bricks. A large selection of drinks are offered, whilst the food menu includes light bites like soup and burrata, plus hearty mains like steak and pasta. Sunday lunch is popular here too.