This weekend, it’s Blues v Reds, because the Manchester Derby is back. Whether you’re United or City, you’ll want to catch all the action on the big screen, so if you’re looking for somewhere with a bit of atmosphere to shout, cheer or cry at your favourite footy team on the screen, here are the best places to watch the football in Manchester.
1. Brickhouse Social
Brickhouse Social boasts three floors, giving fans the chance to cheer on their team across the venue. The bar will have DJs, loads of free pool, pizza and drinks offers to enjoy as you watch the football. Renowned for its fanzones, the venue has 12 huge screens, a specially designed sound system and an unrivalled atmosphere, making it one of the best places in Manchester to watch the football.
📍 Brickhouse Social, 11-13 New Wakefield St, Manchester M1 5NP.
2. Tib Street Tavern
A popular spot when the football’s on – particularly on Derby Days – the Tib Street Tavern can be found nestled down the Northern Quarter’s curious Tib Street, offering proper pub vibes with screens at every turn. The atmosphere is absolutely buzzing with football fans, with two floors for fans to spread out across and find a spot to watch the match.
📍Tib Street Tavern, 74 Tib St, M4 1LG.
3. Black Cat Club
Manchester sports bar, Black Cat Club, is gearing up for one of the city’s biggest fixtures, the Manchester Derby, on 17th January at 12.30pm. The venue features multiple large screens and an immersive sound system, where red and blue fans can expect uninterrupted coverage of the biggest footballing days in the Mancunian calendar. Drinks will be flowing throughout the day, with some £5 pints and cocktails throughout January, making Black Cat Club a great spot to soak up the action and the atmosphere for Derby Day.
📍Black Cat Club, 43A Brown St, Manchester, M2 2JJ.
4. The Brotherhood
The Brotherhood is an industrial-style American sports bar that can be found just behind Albert Square, not only screening live football matches, but boxing, rugby and more. Enjoy beers and cocktails while watching the match, as well as wings, nachos, burgers, and other American classics.
📍The Brotherhood, 2 Mount St, M2 5WQ.
5. The Sawyer’s Arms
A traditional pub found on busy Deansgate, The Sawyer’s Arms serves up cold pints with plenty of space to watch the footy. One of Manchester’s oldest pubs, guests can expect tons of beers on tap, as well as English pub grub and a proper pub atmosphere.
📍The Sawyer’s Arms, 138 Deansgate, M3 2RP.
6. Dirty O’Sullivans
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Football fans can catch all of the Manchester derby action at Dirty O’Sullivans, shown across a selection of big screens in the city’s newest Irish bar. With space for both red and blue supporters, Dirty O’Sullivans’ is set to offer the perfect matchday atmosphere for one of football’s most fiercely contested fixtures.
To fuel the footie action, Dirty O’Sullivans will be serving top-notch Guinness alongside a hearty food menu inspired by Irish classics, including Guinness Onion Soup, Sully’s Handmade Sausage Roll and Irish Spice Bag Chicken Tenders. Adding to the occasion, Dirty O’Sullivans is running ‘The Craic Pot’ for customers who book a table. Every table booking will receive a coin, and every coin will unlock a prize which could include free drinks, 100% off the bill and complimentary food. Bookings are essential to take part.
📍Dirty O’Sullivans, 22 Lloyd St, Manchester, M2 5WA.
7. Cafe Football
Given that it’s a football-themed hotel, it’d be pretty bonkers if it wasn’t playing the footy, especially since it’s down the road from Old Trafford. Owned by Gary Neville, Cafe Football is part of Hotel Football – which neighbours the iconic home of Manchester United, Old Trafford. A venue inspired by the game itself, guests can expect tons of cold beers on offer, football-inspired cocktails, and more, as well as Man United memorabilia, and even a food menu inspired by the game. Expect it to be packed out with reds.
📍Cafe Football, 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Stretford, M16 0SZ.
8. The Shack
Bringing life to live sports, The Shack is an underrated place to enjoy the football in Manchester, frequently screening live sports, however, limited spaces are available so booking is advised to ensure you can watch the football in peace (or not). Tuck into proper footy food like burgers and fries alongside sipping some cocktails, plus the bar screens some reality TV too.
📍The Shack, 69 High St, M4 1FS.
9. BOX Bar
One of Manchester’s most popular dedicated sports bars, BOX Bar is the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere. Reds are sure to enjoy their classic bar grub (crowd-pleasing with plenty of burgers and pizzas, of course), alongside cocktail steins, a spacious bar area for both seating and standing, and plenty of big screens to watch the match on.
📍BOX Bar, 125 Deansgate, M3 2BY.
10. Calcio!
Pretty new to the city, Calcio! in the Northern Quarter is home to sports and retro video games so not only can you watch the footy action you can unleash that competitive nature of yours with a game! Not only is it one of the best spots to watch football in Manchester but it is also a great spot for tacos as Calcio! has Rio Mex serving up Brazilian-Mexican street food fusion for you to feast on. And should you want to sweeten the deal of a win or defeat on the big screen, the Brazilian-style mini churros with chocolate custard are a must.
📍Calcio! 24 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1FY.
11. Port Street Beer House
Fancy a proper pint? Serving craft beers galore, from sour sessions to showstopping stouts, Port Street Beer House has got you covered. And the football is covered too. The beer house has a walk-up-only policy, but be quick to nab yourself a seat in front of the screen. You can sit in comfy booths or flee to their outdoor terrace if you’re not liking the score.
📍Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, M1 2EQ
12. Mulligans
Mulligans, based just off Deansgate in the heart of Manchester, is an authentic Irish Pub, renowned for having the best pint of Guinness in Manchester and is Manchester’s oldest Irish pub. Mulligans shows a whole host of live sport including GAA, football, rugby and horse racing, and of course, will be showing the latest footy match, and is one of the best places you could watch. What’s more, it’s most definitely a reds pub.
📍Mulligans Of Deansgate, 12 Southgate, Manchester, M3 2RB.