Manchester isn’t just the home of the Premier League Champions, it’s also home to some of the UK’s best bars, clubs, and pubs. Manchester City play at the Etihad Stadium (also known as the City of Manchester Stadium or Eastlands as some locals call it) located in the East end of Manchester.
Having originally been built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the stadium sits at the heart of what is now known as the Etihad Campus and part of Sportcity. This series of sport venues means the area immediately around the Etihad doesn’t offer much in terms of decent boozers – even less so for away fans.
So, let’s have a look at the best places for a pre-game tipple for both home and away fans.
The Townley
31 Albert St, Beswick, Manchester M11 3QW
First up, The Townley pub is a good choice if you are looking for a boozer within a short walk of the Etihad Stadium. Just 3 minutes down the road, The Townley is a friendly and welcoming pub for home and away supporters to enjoy a pint before and/or after watching a City game. The pub has some on-site parking and also has a beer garden out the front and back.
The Bradford Inn
112, Bradford Road, Manchester M40 7AS
Another local choice of pub is The Bradford Inn which is located a short walk from the ground. The pub is another option for away supporters and offers good indoor and outdoor facilities in the form of pool tables, karaoke, live music, multiple TVs showing Sky and BT, plus a large beer garden.
Mary D’s
Howarth Close, Beswick, Manchester, M11 3BR
A favourite for home fans, Mary Ds is the closest pub to the Etihad and is therefore only open to home fans. Nonetheless, its popularity among the City faithful makes it an ideal choice for anyone looking for the best pre-game atmosphere to go with their beverages.
The Cornershop
Merchants Roadd, Hotwells, Bristol, BS8 4PZ
Another favourite in the blue half of Manchester is The Corner Shop. Located just a 2 minute walk from the City of Manchester Stadium, this convenient boozer is home fans only and is prone to being busy on a match day.
Grove Inn
652 Ashton New Road, Beswick, Manchester, M11 4SQ
The last local pub on the list is the Grove Inn which is again just a short stroll from Manchester City’s Etihad stadium. The Grove Inn is a history-filled pub in Clayton with a spacious lounge and pool tables, plus a beer garden at the rear. What’s more, the Grove is one of the closest pubs to the Etihad that also serves cask ales.
Printworks
The Printworks, 27 Withy Grove, Manchester, M4 2BS
As mentioned, the areas immediately neighbouring the Etihad Stadium don’t offer a huge choice of options in terms of pre-match pubbing. However, the Etihad Campus is only a 6 minute tram ride, 30 minute walk, or brief taxi ride from Manchester’s most popular drinking spots in and around Picadilly and the famous Northern Quarter. One of these is the Printworks, a vibrant and trendy hub for food, drink, and entertainment housing over 20 bars and restaurants under one roof. There is something for everyone here, whether you are a local home fan or a travelling away supporter. You can grab a stein of German beer at The Bierkeller, a Guinness at O’Neills, a Fosters at the Aussie-themed Walkabout, or an English ale at Wetherspoons and Yates.
The Pen and Pencil
57 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EJ
Only a 15-minute walk from Ashton Gate is Bedminster Cricket Club which has a bar and even has carp parking available for £5 on Another popular choice for those travelling to a game from the city centre is The Pen and Pencil in Manchester’s northern quarter. The Another popular choice for those travelling to a game from the city centre is The Pen and Pencil in Manchester’s northern quarter. The bar and restaurant is open from 10am until late which makes it an ideal choice for both pre-game and post-game boozing.
Been to one of these pubs and reckon we’ve got it wrong? Your favourite boozer not on the list? We rely on our community of enthusiastic pint lovers to keep things up-to-date, so if you spot an error please head over to a pub’s listing page and update its information. Cheers!
