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Manchester has plenty of places to grab a pint, but only one city centre pub has now been officially recognised by Guinness itself for pouring something truly special. Mulligans of Deansgate has been named in the first ever Guinness Harp Guide, a new list celebrating the 35 best pints of Guinness across Great Britain.
For anyone who knows the place, the accolade won’t come as a shock. Mulligans isn’t just a pub off Deansgate. It’s an institution. A place where the atmosphere hits you as soon as you walk in, the music spills out into the street, and that perfect creamy pint sits proudly on every table. Regulars have been saying it for years. Now Guinness has said it too.
The pub also picked up Manchester’s Most Loved Pub 2025 at the I Love Manchester Awards earlier this year, making it one of the most decorated boozers in the city right now. And if that wasn’t enough, Mulligans underwent a major expansion last year that has taken the beloved venue to a new level.
Long known for being cosy to the point of bursting, with queues often stretching down the street, the team opened a brand new upstairs space that has more than doubled capacity. The area includes high ceilings, multiple levels, and a top-floor nook perfect for live music. It means better flow, more room to breathe, and more chances to soak up that trademark Mulligans atmosphere.
The new upstairs bar also offers a fresh experience for anyone who wants something a little different. While the main bar downstairs remains walk-in only and as lively as ever, the mezzanines upstairs now include optional table service via QR code with dedicated servers. The space is also available for private parties and events, giving fans of the pub a new way to celebrate the moments that matter.
Owner Pádraig Brady said at the time: “This expansion not only allows us to host more guests but also provides an even more dynamic environment with additional live music and new premium services and spaces which will be available for hire. We look forward to our customers experiencing this new venue.”
Live music remains a huge part of what makes Mulligans special, with performances seven days a week and now even more opportunities for bands to take the stage in the new upstairs area. If the ground floor has the feel of a classic Dublin pub after a few rounds, the upstairs brings that energy to life in new ways.
Still, the star of the show remains the pint. According to Pádraig, getting it right is no accident. “Every pub gets the same kegs. It’s what you do after that that counts,” he says. “The pour, the kit, the cellar, the music, the atmosphere… it all matters. Being recognised by Guinness shows that consistency is everything.”
And the numbers back it up. Mulligans pours more than 13,000 pints of Guinness every week. That level of demand forces the team to operate with near-military precision. Resting times, pour technique, glass temperatures, head height. Nothing is left to chance.
Darragh Curran, better known as The Guinness Guru, has long called Mulligans’ pint the best pint of Guinness outside Ireland. “It tastes like home,” he said after one visit.
“If I went into one of my top five pubs in Dublin and I got this, I probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid. It’s unbelievable.”
Regulars feel the same. Danny, a familiar face at the bar, admits it’s almost eight quid a pint but says you’re never disappointed. And with the new upstairs space easing the pressure on the famously packed ground floor, that perfect pint is now easier to enjoy than ever.
For Manchester, the Harp Guide nod is more than a bragging right. It’s a statement. The city is home to one of the greatest pints of Guinness in Great Britain, poured in a pub that blends Irish heritage with unmatched local charm.
If you haven’t visited since the expansion, now is the moment. And if you’ve never been at all, you’re in for a treat. Mulligans is pouring pints, hosting music, and creating memories better than ever. Cheers to that.
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