CityLife

CityLife Food and Drink Festival best pubs

Tandle Hill Tavern

SHOCKING news that pubs have closed at the rate of five a day during the first half of the year.

British Beer and Pub Association figures show they are shutting up shop 18 times faster than in 2005.

All the more reason to treasure the ones that remain. The five on the citylife.co.uk Manchester Food And Drink Awards 2008 pub of the year shortlist are all brilliant, thriving examples of this endangered species – each having quite different strengths.

The Arden Arms, Stockport

The Crown, Worthington near Wigan

The Crown, Heaton Lane, Stockport

Bar Fringe, Swan Street, city centre

The Marble Arch, Rochdale Road, Manchester

Sign of the times is that the sixth name on the list has shut. We are still hoping Robinson’s brewery will find a tenant for The Castle in Oldham Street – and the cash to do it up. CityLife will keep you informed.

Last year’s winner, The Tandle Hill Tavern at Slattocks, near Middleton, is a hard act to follow.

This year’s pub of the year will be announced at the Manchester Food And Drink Awards gala dinner at the Palace Hotel on Monday, October 15.