Published: Guide No.18 - August '23

Manchester is a popular destination for sports fans, not only is it home too two of the country’s premier football clubs (more of that later) it also offers visitors the chance to experience a diversity of sporting activities.

While it isn’t always possible to get tickets for many of the events and fixtures.

However, Manchester offers visitor’s quality bars and pubs where one can enjoy the build up and the excitement of an event, while possibly enjoying a pint or two...

We have rounded a few our favorites where you can follow and watch the action take place. Not far from the Etihad Campus is the National Cycling Centre, opened in 1984, it is sponsored by HSBC UK.

The complex includes a large indoor Velodrome, a BMX arena and outdoor mountain bike trails each of which are open to the public to book and use.

While it’s not the 1970’s anymore and Eddie Waring is no longer with us, Rugby is still a ‘northern’ sport. Eccles’s AJ Bell Stadium hosts two such clubs the Super League Salford Red Devils and the Rugby Union Sale Sharks.

There is a difference in how the two rugby games are played, yes really...

In 1974 Greater Manchester was formed and it encompassed Old Trafford, previously part of Lancashire. The Lancashire County Cricket Team (LCC) is still at Old Trafford and its cricket ground plays host to county and international matches during each season.

The National Speedway Stadium, in Gorton, is the home race track for the Belle Vue Aces.

There is a long history of Speedway in Manchester with an inaugural meeting held in 1929 in the purpose built Hyde Road stadium.

It was demolished in 1987 and the Belle Vue team moved to the NSS. Mondays are when the clubs regular meets are held should you fancy popping by for some ‘high octane’ excitement.

The Belle Vue Greyhound Stadium, opened in 1926, has been a casualty of COVID19 and dwindling attendances at the race meetings.

In its last few years of operation the stadium was a regular venue for Stock-car and Banger racing, but eventually the stadium was sold off and finally closed in 2020.

And so into the modern era; of course Manchester is best known for its football clubs Manchester City and Manchester United.

Their lasting rivalry has seen the fortunes of both clubs grow into world class brands both sporting teams of home-grown and international football talent.

You can take a tour of both the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford Football Ground.

These tours are very informative and give you the change to get ground side with the stadiums, check out the dressing rooms, ogle the trophies and you may even spot a few players.

If you’re traveling to support either of these football teams then for City fans we can recommend pre-match build up at The City Arms (Kennedy St, M2 4BQ) and The Waldorf (Gore St, M1 3AQ) the ‘Blue’ pub.

Whilst United fans will do well to visit The Old Nags Head (Jacksons Row, M2 5WD), one of George Best’s favorite haunts, here you will discover a whole raft of ‘Red’ celebrations.

Manchester is home to the National Football Museum and it’s the world’s biggest football museum telling the story of the UK’s national game from its humble beginnings to the huge world sport it is today.

Live Sports Bars

O'Sheas Irish Pub

80 Princess St, Manchester M1 6NF
osheasirishbarm1.co.uk

Pie & Ale

The Hive, 47 Lever St, Manchester M1 1FN
pieandale.co.uk

Second City Bar

23 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5EP
secondcitybar.co.uk

The Box Bar

125 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BY
theboxbar.co.uk

The Brotherhood

2 Mount St, Manchester M2 5WQ
thisisthebrotherhood.com

The Seven Oaks

54 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BW
sevenoaks.pub

Tib St Tavern

74 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG
tibstreettavern.co.uk

Walkabout

27 Withy Grove, Manchester M4 2BS
walkaboutbars.co.uk

Manchester Stadiums & Museums

AJ Bell Stadium

Stadium Way, Barton upon Irwell, Eccles, Manchester M30 7EY
ajbellstadium.co.uk

Belle Vue Speedway

Kirkmanshulme Lane, Manchester M12 4WB
bellevue-speedway.com

Etihad Stadium

Ashton New Rd, Manchester M11 3FF
mancity.com

National Cycling Centre

Stuart St, Manchester M11 4DQ
nationalcyclingcentre.com

National Football Museum

Urbis Building Cathedral Gardens, Todd Street, M4 3BG
nationalfootballmuseum.com

Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Talbot Rd, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M16 0PX
lancashirecricket.co.uk

Old Trafford Football Ground

Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M16 0RA
manutd.com

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