Dukes 92

Dukes 92 sits right on the canal in Castlefield and it’s been a Manchester drinking institution for decades. The building is a converted stables next to a lock on the Rochdale Canal, and the terrace overlooking the water is one of the best outdoor drinking spots in the city. On a sunny day – and Manchester does get them – finding a table here feels like winning a prize. People plan their weekends around it.

The cheese and pate boards are legendary. Sounds simple, sounds boring, but they’ve been doing them forever and they’re consistently good. Big boards, quality cheese, decent bread, proper accompaniments. It’s the ideal thing to share over a few pints and it’s what Dukes is known for. The rest of the menu is solid bar food without any ambition to be more than that.

The drinks list covers everything – wine, cocktails, draught beer, spirits. Nothing groundbreaking but reliably decent. The space itself is big enough to absorb large crowds without feeling overwhelmed, though the terrace does get packed at peak times. Inside is split across several rooms with different vibes. Castlefield as an area is quieter than the city centre which gives Dukes a more relaxed, almost village-pub feel despite being ten minutes from Deansgate. A Manchester classic that’s earned its reputation honestly.