A favorite pub walk of mine is around the Northern Quarter (or N/4) of Manchester. In approximately half a mile radius you can find possibly the widest range of cask beers available anywhere in the country, and also the only brewery anywhere which is registered with the Soil Association and the Vegetarian Society.

Firstly, the pubs: The Castle in Oldham Street is the only pub in Robinson’s estate to supply every cask beer they produce and boasts fine mosaic tiling at the entrance. A short distance away is the Bar Fringe in Swan Street, Manchester’s Belgian style bar, which also sells British real ale. Just along the road is the Smithfield, a traditional pub with ever changing guests. In Tib Street is Bar Centro, with more guest ales. The Hare and Hounds on Shude Hill is one of Manchester’s oldest pubs, and boasts magnificent interior tiling.

Across Rochdale Road, you will find the Beer House in Angel Street, run by Ian Casson, formerly of the Stafford Arms in Stafford, and a pub which always has at least 12 beers on at any time. Regular beer festivals add to the daily choice. Just up the road is the Marble Arch. a fine pub with marble pillars, mosaic tiling and a sloping floor - and the home of the Marble Brewery. Laurel and Hardy films are shown here on the third Wednesday of every month, and admission is free. Two streets away is the Pot of Beer, with Polish meals a specialty. The farthest out is the Queens Arms in Honey Street (off Red Bank), with Taylor’s Landlord and changing guest ales plus a large range of Belgian beers.

Though not N/4, on my way back to Piccadilly railway station I always call in at the Jolly Angler on Ducie Street. Hydes beers, traditional surroundings and lively conversation (usually about football) - what better way end a stroll?

Now the Organic Brewery: Situated at the back of the Marble Arch at 73 Rochdale Road is a micro brewery which is now 100% organic and whose beers are VEGAN. No animal products are used at any stage in the brewery’s process, and all ingredients are from Soil Association accredited sources. They boast that their beers are made only with organic malt, organic hops, GMO free yeast and water. Chocolate Heavy (5.5% abv) is an exception, as this includes organic cocoa powder, which you can really taste! Their beers contain no preservatives to increase shelf life, or foaming agents to increase the size of the head. Most importantly, though, no finings made from fish bladders are used to clear the beer. This means that the beers are naturally cloudy, as evidence by the names of some of the beers: Chorlton cum Hazy (3.8%) and Cloudy Marble (4%). The brewers claim the beer is healthier as "all the goodness in the form of yeast and proteins are left in".

In a society full of gimmicks, Marble Brewery have gone to a lot of trouble to get back to basics, and Potters Bar wishes them well with their organic venture. www.marblebeers.co.uk

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