Smithfield Hotel's Lovely Beer Festival

ED Hathaway is always moaning to us that he never gets enough coverage on Confidential over the estimable beer festivals and general pubby loveliness of his fine Georgian boozer, The Smithfield Arms.

The Winter Ale festival is the first of many the pub will host throughout the year with others celebrating various days and landmarks.

So let’s give credit where credit’s due and shout loud and proud about The Smithfield Hotel’s annual Winter Ale Festival.

There will be over 50 real ales to choose from with tipples from brand new breweries that have entered the market in the last 12 months through to one of the oldest breweries in the UK, dating back to 1719 (go on Monsieur Hathaway, let us know which one?).

Based in the Northern Quarter on Swan Street, The Smithfield Hotel is one of the oldest public houses in Manchester with a wealth of history and a renowned reputation for its traditional hand pulled ales. The Winter Ale festival is the first of many the pub will host throughout the year with others celebrating various days and landmarks.

The Winter Ale Festival is an opportunity to help promote new microbreweries to the real ale drinkers who like to have a selection of different drinks from breweries they may never get to otherwise experience. Ales this year come from as far afield as Cornwall, Kent and Northern Scotland.

Doors open at 11am on the 18 January through to the 22 January and entrance is free.

The Smithfield Hotel is at 37 Swan Street, City, M4 5JZ.