Jack in the Box, Manchester

Small bar in one corner of the Mackie Mayor building, with eight real ales on (mostly from Blackjack). an impressive place with stalls for beer, wine, coffee and (very expensive) street food. The whole place is well run and doing very good trade even on a moody Tuesday afternoon. Probably not the spot for a quiet pint but it’s a buzzy sociable place.

Blackjack Brewery bar in the Mackie Mayor former market building, now a food hall. Usual deal with mixed seating in the centre, but it benefits from having some other tables slightly tucked away round one side. I found six of the eight handpumps in use, and opted for the Early-Days Northern Porter (£4.60). Ten craft keg beers also available, together with a couple of Broadoak boxed ciders.

I must admit that I was very surprised when I walked through the non-descript door into the large market space of the Mackie Mayor building. There are lots of small vendors in here, mostly food. The Jack in the Box stall is to the left of the entrance, I spotted it easily due to the large queue. I counted eight hand pumps on the counter that were drawing Black Jack Brewery’s beers and numerous bottles on the back bar. The service was friendly, but painfully slow.