The best beer garden in the Northern Quarter? Quite probably. This great pub is packed with Old Manchester charm, and progressive punters who want something a little more authentic than another shiny bar with exposed piping

Ask anyone who knows anything about Manchester pubs and they’ll soon start waxing lyrical about The Briton’s Protection. It’s one of the oldest pubs in Manchester – if not the oldest pub – and it has a magnificent, sun-trapping outdoor space to sit and enjoy beers and whisky with friends. Highly, highly recommended for all you beer garden connoisseurs.

Bexley Square is at the heart of Salford’s most fast-growing and desirable area and it’s also home to The New Oxford. It’s a classic old-school pub with a vast range of drinks to enjoy on benches outside. Expect cheerful staff, friendly punters and enough open space to enjoy the sun when its out – plus protective umbrellas when it isn’t.

This fantastic restaurant and remodelled old-school pub in Salford has a huge and expertly laid-out beer garden, plus a few little secret extra outside areas for drinking (and eating) too.

It doesn’t get bigger than Freight Island, which is basically one huge outdoor drinking space, with a few indoor spots for good measure. There’s about a dozen areas to kick back and enjoy some food and drink, so you’re very likely to get a space (although booking ahead is always advised).

The best venue in the Green Quarter, by some measure, Grub has plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy food and drink on a sunny day, and shelter when it’s wet. If you haven’t been yet, why not?

A credit to Levenshulme, this crowd-funded family-friendly drinking and dining space has a great outside seated area where your kids can play, plus you can watch bicycles whizz by, and buy clothes and food from the occasional pop-up market. Not forgetting drink. Yes, you can drink out there to your heart’s content.

Head to the heart of Spinningfields for cocktails and craft beers in wicker chairs at The Lawn Club’s raved-about beer garden.

Based at Great Northern’s thriving plaza, The Mews Bar and Charcuterie has an open-air seating area, ideal for those high-quality drinks and food boards.

Society Manchester has a glorious outdoor canalside drinking space in the very heart of the city, with multiple street food vendors to choose from and a range of high-quality drinks. Plus, there’s a water feature that feels more like Madrid than Manchester.

The focal point of Tony Wilson Place, it might be one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice drink in the sunshine, courtesy of its rather impressive outdoor drinking space.

Fast becoming one of the city’s standout venues, DSW (as those in the know like to call it) has an awesome terrace around the back that first welcomes, then captures that elusive Manchester sun.

Alan Partridge might not approve but we’re enormous fans of the pedestrianisation of the Northern Quarter, and Common’s area on Edge Street is one of the district’s very best. It’s quiet enough to avoid the Ibiza strip feel of nearby areas but full of trendsetting 20-30somethings, just like the early days of the NQ.

A great Salford pub, The Eagle Inn has greatly expanded its outside drinking area, both front and back, making it perfect for either popping in for a quick half or settling in for a session with like-minded pals.

The Duke’s 92 beer garden is legendary across the city. This canalside bar is well worth a visit, assuming you can get in – its reputation can mean lengthy queues for a table. But it’s well worth it, the outdoor space is one of Manchester’s best.

Rain Bar’s hefty beer garden is legendary among old-timey Manchester drinkers, and by old-timey we mean been around since the 90s, no doubt banging on about nearly going to the Hacienda, which you see over the river (or the luxury flat version, anyway).

This acclaimed Middle-Eastern restaurant has a small but very pleasant outside area, perfect for small plates and wine in the sun.

Everyone knows Peveril, or Pev, as insiders like to call it. It’s a great old school pub in a great spot, and let’s be honest, as soon as there’s a hint of sun every available seat outside is taken up by happy punters who won’t shift for hours. If you manage to bag a spot, you’re a very lucky so and so.

The Kampus complex is big and bold, with multiple food and drink venues, and that means countless little areas to sit outside and drink and eat, plus a host of pop-ups throughout the sunny months. A great example of modern Manchester doing things right.

Port Street Beer House is a great NQ drinking spot. But it’s the outside that shines: a great sun-splashed beer garden, cosy enough to be friendly but spacious enough to feel safe and relaxed. And let’s not forget the beer. You’ll struggle to find a better choice of ales in Manchester.

Fan of gin? Get yourself down to Atlas and hope you can get a seat in the excellent beer garden right at the back of the venue. It’s a friendly space, with a lot of history for all you Madchester music heads.

A rustic Kentish Oast House (that’s a traditional hop-drying shed, of course) plunked down amidst the glass and steel corridors of Spinningfields, with a nicely kitted-out beer garden for those al fresco drinks.

This legendary dive bar and favourite haunt of many a touring act (thanks to its proximity to the Academy live venues), has a little-known beer garden-slash-roof terrace up top. Well worth a visit, whether with a group of mates or for people-watching the Oxford Road masses just outside.

A beer garden, or roof terrace rather, so good they named the venue after it. Even though it’s actually based on the 19th floor, which, quite honestly, drives me bananas. Still, a stunning outdoor space with stunning views, well worth a visit.

High above Thomas Street, Terrace NQ offers a beautiful rooftop beer garden. When the sun is shining, this is easily one of the most pleasing places to sink a pint in the Northern Quarter.

It’s not the biggest outdoor drinking space in the world, but it’s an exceptionally nice one and the beer here is so good we’ll give them a free pass.

If you fancy moving out of town, jump on the Metrolink and head to Chorlton. While the residents are often lampooned as the “liberal urban elite”, you can’t argue with the choice of watering holes on offer. The Beech is a grand choice if you’re up for the appropriately sharp-elbowed trick of switching seats to chase the late evening sun.

One of Salford’s finest establishments, with a history that involves a reliably excellent series of live shows and ownership by Paul Heaton, one of the North’s greatest songwriters. They also have a small but perfectly-formed outside drinking area – get there early for a guaranteed seat.

Tariff Street has been closed off to cars and now you can sit outside and enjoy a drink safely, with minimal exhaust fumes. The Whiskey Jar is a great intimate, darkly-lit bar but it’s not ideal during hot sunny days, so sit outside when the weather is balmy.

The Woodstock is a beautiful, traditional old pub with a wonderful beer garden. If you are over Didsbury way and in search of some outside drinking, you’ll struggle to find much better.