Pubs near Etihad Stadium: Where to get a pre-match pint in Manchester

Manchester City fans will make their first trip to the Etihad Stadium of the 2026-27 season when Bournemouth visit on the opening Sunday of the new Premier League season.

Matchdays see plenty of Citzens supporters heading to the pubs around the Etihad Stadium, with many stopping for a drink before kick-off or after the final whistle.

If you're planning a visit to the Etihad and want to find the best pubs to enjoy a pre- or post-match drink, our guide below has you covered, whether you're supporting Manchester City or the visiting side.

Pubs near Etihad Stadium: Home fans

As you would expect, the majority of pubs near the Etihad Stadium are for home fans only. The most prominent and notorious pub for Man City fans near the Etihad Stadium is Mary D's. This is a rough-and-ready pub where fans are sometimes required to show their match tickets to gain entry, mainly to ensure no away fans get in. The pub can be found at 13 Grey Mare Lane (M11 3DQ) and is a seven-minute walk away from the Etihad Stadium.

Other pubs near the Etihad Stadium for home fans include:

• The Townley (31 Albert St, Beswick, Manchester M11 3QW)
• Grove Inn (652 Ashton New Rd, Clayton, Manchester M11 4AT)
• The Corner Shop (Rylance St, Manchester M11 3NA)

Pubs near Etihad Stadium for away fans

Away fans have limited options when it comes to drinking near the Etihad Stadium, with most pubs within a one-mile radius traditionally dominated by Manchester City supporters.

Those looking to stay close to the ground can instead head to the fan zone outside the East Stand, which offers a convenient option for a pre-match drink.

Alternatively, The Townley is generally more welcoming towards visiting supporters, although fans are advised not to wear club colours and to behave respectfully. Manchester United supporters, however, are advised to avoid the pubs in this area, including The Townley.

Due to the lack of options around the stadium, most away fans elect to drink in Manchester City Centre before the match. There are a huge number of pubs in the city centre (more on that shortly) and the stadium is just a 30-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station.

Instead, fans can jump on the Manchester Metrolink from either Deansgate, St Peter's Square, Piccadilly Gardens, Piccadilly, Market Street or Victoria and find themselves on a direct route to the Etihad on matchday.

The reaction in Mary D’s, the Man City pub near to the Etihad, to the Aguero goal against QPR that won them their first Premier League title, back in 2012… ? pic.twitter.com/nS9fjSPrbX

— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) June 21, 2022

Alternatives to pubs near Etihad Stadium

As mentioned, there are countless pubs in Manchester City Centre, all of which are welcoming to away fans on matchdays. If you are walking to the stadium, then you will want to stay around the eastern part of the city centre; otherwise, you are going to face a lengthy walk to the Etihad. Some of the most notable pubs in and around this area include:

• The Piccadilly Tavern (71-75 Piccadilly, Greater, Manchester M1 2BS)
• The Crown and Kettle (2 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5FE)
• The Piccadilly Tap (Gateway House, Station Approach, Manchester M1 2GH)

The Etihad Stadium has its own Manchester Metrolink Station, which opens up pub options for fans. The following pubs are all nearby to a city centre Metrolink Station on the same line as Etihad Campus:

• The Britons Protection (50 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5LE) Near Deansgate station
• The Peveril of the Peak (127 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5JQ) Near Deansgate station
• The Vine (42-44 Kennedy St, Manchester M2 4BQ) Near St Peter's Square station
• The Salisbury (2 Wakefield St, Manchester M1 5NE) Near St Peter's Square station

Some fans elect to go even further afield into some of the smaller towns around Manchester before a match at the Etihad Stadium. On a matchday, the Altrincham line runs directly through to the Etihad Stadium, which opens up more options for supporters who just want a quiet drink away from loud and lairy football fans. Some options on this route include:

• The Brook (6 Brooklands Rd, Sale M33 3SQ) Near Brooklands Station
• The King's Ransom (Britannia Rd, Sale M33 2AA) Near Sale Station
• The Bridge (Dane Rd, Sale M33 7QH) Near Dane Road Station

Inside the stadium

Another alternative is to get inside the stadium early and take advantage of the concourses for a couple of hours before kickoff. Man City's official beer partner is Asahi, which is very popular with lager connoisseurs. Other alcohol is also served and the club frequently offer fans half-price deals if they get inside the ground more than one hour before kickoff.