Launched in 2013, The Dockyard has been at the centre of life and the soul of Media City ever since. To say the team here are passionate about beer and other booze would be a huge understatement, and their knowledge, and willingness to help you find the perfect tipple, is immediate from the off. Whether it’s a particular style of hop-based drink or a blend of grapes you’re looking for, chances are they have a wealth of information to pass on about the drink, even if it’s one of the few they’re not serving behind the bar itself.

In addition to the generous drinks lists, you’ll also find a fully operational kitchen, and food here tends to work on a seasonal basis. Although firm favourites like the excellent burger range, salads and vegan wraps are year-round staples for obvious reasons. Sunday roasts are another permanent fixture, while specials change by the day. Orders aside, The Dockyard is a great destination for brain boxes, with an excellent pub quiz known for fun and competitiveness every other Wednesday. On other evenings, you’re just as likely to find open mic events, live bands and acoustic artists. Oh, and did we mention discounts for students and others working in hospitality?

The word ‘heritage’ isn’t often used in connection with MediaCityUK, the ultra-modern broadcasting and digital district that provides the BBC with a northern headquarters, offers a home to Coronation Street, and space for a multitude of independent production studios. That is until you come to The Dockyard Media City. Opening for business just one year after BBC staff in Manchester and London were relocated to the neighbourhood, this rustic ale house — designed to offer a homely counterpoint to the area’s dominant architecture — has quite literally watched its surrounds take form and blossom, and remains a local institution.