How many bars and pubs are there in Manchester's busiest areas?
We counted 420 bars and pubs within 1 km of the centres of 10 Manchester areas. Northern Quarter is the most crowded at 58.3 per km²; Rusholme is the least, at 1.6.
Mapped
420
in 10 areas
Busiest area
58.3/km²
Northern Quarter
Average rating
4.3★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Bars and pubs by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Quarter4.4★ average | 18358.3/km² | 58.3 | 4.4★ | INTENSE |
| Deansgate4.3★ average | 13643.3/km² | 43.3 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| Altrincham4.4★ average | 206.4/km² | 6.4 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Chorlton4.4★ average | 175.4/km² | 5.4 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| West Didsbury4.4★ average | 175.4/km² | 5.4 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Didsbury4.3★ average | 165.1/km² | 5.1 | 4.3★ | MODERATE |
| Fallowfield4.3★ average | 103.2/km² | 3.2 | 4.3★ | LOW |
| Levenshulme4.5★ average | 103.2/km² | 3.2 | 4.5★ | LOW |
| Salford Quays4.5★ average | 61.9/km² | 1.9 | 4.5★ | LOW |
| Rusholme4.3★ average | 51.6/km² | 1.6 | 4.3★ | LOW |
Where is it least crowded?
- RusholmeLOW
5 bars and pubs within 1 km (1.6 per km²), averaging 4.3★.
6 bars and pubs within 1 km (1.9 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
- LevenshulmeLOW
10 bars and pubs within 1 km (3.2 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
Fewer bars and pubs is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 420 bars and pubs in the 10 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up166 (40%)
- 4.0 to 4.4195 (46%)
- 3.5 to 3.926 (6%)
- Below 3.510 (2%)
- Under 10 reviews23 (5%)
Chains seen most
Brands with two or more outlets inside one area circle.
- Slug & Lettuce7 outlets · 2 areas
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Questions
Is Manchester saturated with bars and pubs?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 10 area centres we mapped, density runs from 1.6 per km² in Rusholme to 58.3 per km² in Northern Quarter. 2 of the 10 areas count as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which Manchester area has the most bars and pubs?
Northern Quarter, with 183 within 1 km of its centre (58.3 per km²). Next come Deansgate (136) and Altrincham (20).
What is the average rating of bars and pubs in Manchester?
4.3 out of 5, across the 397 bars and pubs with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Salford Quays (4.5), the lowest Fallowfield (4.3).
Which bar chains are most common in Manchester?
In the areas we mapped: Slug & Lettuce (7 outlets in 2 areas).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every bar on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of Manchester.