Britons Protection

The Britons Protection has been on Great Bridgewater Street since 1811 and shows no sign of becoming anything other than what it is: a proper Victorian pub with one of the most impressive whisky collections in the city. The back room has murals depicting the Peterloo Massacre, which happened a short walk from here in 1819 – so there’s some history to go with your drink. The whisky selection runs to over 300 bottles and takes up a serious amount of wall space. If you know what you’re after, great. If not, the bar staff have opinions.

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The real ales are kept well and rotate regularly. It’s not a gastropub and it’s not trying to be – the food offering is minimal and that’s fine. What the Britons Protection does, it does properly: a well-maintained Victorian interior, good beer, exceptional whisky, and a crowd that tends to know what they’re there for. Close to the Bridgewater Hall and Hallé venues, which makes it a natural pre- or post-concert stop for anyone who appreciates the combination.