The King's Arms

Owned by former Beautiful South and Housemartins lead singer Paul Heaton, this Salford institution has tapped into the gentrification of Chapel Street with a lovable mix of old and new styles. Some features date back to Victorian times with lovely woodworks and tiled floors, as well as a carved wood, cathedral- esque performance space on the top floor.

The seating is that of an old-fashioned boozer, with a snug and an ample beer garden for when the sun pops its head out. But look closer and you’ll see the décor is a little off, like an old family home whose matriarch spent a bit of time in a hippy commune and never really grew out of the style. Look even closer and you might notice that this is also the set for the student union in the Channel 4 comedy ‘Fresh Meat’. A pub of many faces.

Stand-out beers come from local brewers First Chop and Privateer, while Saddleworth’s Greenfield Brewery makes a regular appearance.

Though the drink selection is excellent and the pub grub of Pieminister pies and various homemade specials is some of the best in the city, it’s the pub’s extra- curricular activities that mark it out as a destination of repute.

The snug hosts comedy nights, knitting clubs and more. The top floor is reserved for theatre and performance; local promoters Hey! Manchester put on gigs there with international and local talent. It has also housed some of comedy’s brightest up and comers at the annual Greater Manchester Fringe, which it helped get off the ground.

A beautiful looking pub, with a great personality.