UK’s best beer gardens revealed – and three are in Greater Manchester

Searches for ‘pub gardens’ have increased by 68% over the last 30 days in the UK, demonstrating how desperate we are to enjoy a cold beer in the sunshine.

Now, new research has officially ranked the UK’s best beer gardens to visit this summer, by creating a seed list of the best beer gardens, and extracting Tripadvisor ratings and reviews for each. 

And while the Ben Nevis Inn in Fort William comes top overall, three in Manchester have made the list, which has been compiled by wellness experts at Eden’s Gate.

Top of the list for Greater Manchester is The Eagle & Child in Ramsbottom, with over 1220 Tripadvisor reviews and an average rating of four out of five.

Over 700 of these reviews give the pub a top rating of five.

The award-winning Bury pub with rooms has a freshly renovated outdoor leisure area, and offers a seasonal menu using local suppliers.

Recent reviews praise the “gorgeous outdoor area – perfect for families and friends” and “lovely view over Holcombe Hill”.

It comes fourth overall in the UK list.

The second Manchester pub to make the list is The Wharf, in the heart of canal basin in Castlefield, which comes sixth on the UK list overall.

The Wharf has received 1230 reviews on Tripadvisor, with an average rating of four.

More than 560 of these give it an excellent score of five.

“Brilliant service, delicious food and atmosphere,” says one recent review, while another says it is “great for outside drinking” and adds that “the surroundings are beautiful with the canals and boats and there’s always something new to see.”

Also making the list, at number 11, is Manchester institution Atlas Bar.

It’s received more than 330 reviews on Tripadvisor, with an average rating of four, and 188 of these give it a perfect 5.

In the railway arches of Deansgate, the independent bar, which also offers a great food menu and series of gin supper clubs, first opened back in 1996.

In 2012, and Atlas underwent a huge transformation under the new ownership of Mark and Elaine Wrigley, who are now celebrating 10 years at the helm of the city’s top gin bar.

The bar stocks the city centre’s largest gin collection, with over 570 gins and counting – and it is also know for its beautiful heated, and covered, outside terrace.

“It really comes into its own at this time of year as they have an expanded terrace at the back which is brilliant,” says one recent review.

“The inside is nice but take a trip out of the back and it’s a different world.

“Manchester has grown so much and there’s nowhere better to see that than here.”