Cask, Manchester

Despite the name, this bar specialises in continental beers, with a massive selection both on tap & in bottles. Bottles feature German wheat beers, strong Belgian imports, special Dutch lagers and many more from around the globe. The bar will not stock any beers which are brewed under licence. Staff are friendly & knowledgeable about the beers. Four handpumps face you as you enter. There is usually a beer from Pictish with others typically from Track, Ilkley, Malllinsons and Squawk.

In total there are 14 keg taps split between UK and international beers. Four lines are guests which may be from the UK or the USA. There is always a nitro-stout on offer. The pub is larger that it looks on the outside and makes good use of its limited space. An extremely narrow entrance consisting of listed doors, brings you into a small lobby area with the end of the bar on your left. To the right there is a table in the window and a couple down the adjacent wall before an open area with a ledge for resting your drink. A steep staircase opposite the bar takes you downstairs to the recently refurbished toilets. Beyond the staircase and bar the pub opens out into a larger back room with soft furnishings. No food is served (other than bar snacks) but the pub is relaxed about bringing your own food - "you are welcome to bring your own sandwiches as long as you take your rubbish with you"! This even extends to having menus for the local sandwich delivery shops available on the bar. You can also bring in Fish and Chips from the excellent next door chippy, again, taking your rubbish with you. The jukebox features a wide selection of Manchester artists (and a fair amount of The Pixies) - it can be reasonably loud in the back room but is comfortable in the front seating area. The clientele are a mix of after work business men, trendy locals, beer lovers, tourists & even the odd celebrity.