Manchester's best burgers

The beer at this excellent Ancoats boozer is the real draw, but once you're inside you'll definitely be tempted by their stellar burgers. They mix things up a little, so expect pork and chestnut patties or veggie pumpkin burgers alongside the regularly returning - and quite brilliant - house Marble burger.

The signature burger packs quality meat into a brioche bun along with an excessive assortment of toppings, which range from steak to Monster Munch (yep, really). As good as the burgers may be, it’s the formidable ‘Bacon Bacon Fries’ that steal the show; skin-on fries smothered in bacon-flavoured mayonnaise, topped with crispy bacon bits. Bring your roomiest trousers.

Brewdog are one of the runaway success stories of the new wave of British brewing, now boasting scores of bars across the UK and beyond. The burger output from their impressive barbecue menu is certainly something too - they've been known to do a mean Juicy Lucy and a cracking southern-style Dixie. 

You can't really go too far wrong with anything cooked up on the grill here but make sure you check out their burgers. Keep things simple with either the beef or the chicken fillet and you'll be well pleased; go all out and add smoked bacon, cheddar, grilled mushroom and onion and you'll be delirious.

The two burgers on the menu are worth more than a mention. The 'B&P House Burger' and ‘Beef’ham Tower’ are both exceptional. The latter comprises a house-made patty, sweet chilli beef brisket, horseradish, suet pudding, mushy peas, onion rings and chilli sauce, in a brioche bun. An homage to iconic Manchester building the Beetham Tower, it’s so tall it needs a skewer just to keep it upright.

There's certainly plenty of choice when it comes to the burgers here - and it's not just all about the beef. Soft-shell crab, pulled pork, buttermilk fried chicken and veggie options all feature impressively. Its pièce de résistance, though, is 'The Big Manc', a souped-up (and huge) version of that golden arches classic - just thinking about it is enough to make you weak at the knees.

Main courses at this popular grill naturally include barbecued meat and lots of it, but the burgers do brisk business too. You can opt for a trio of sliders with all the fixings, fries and ‘slaw or go big with the 100 percent rump option, wherein a flame-grilled patty is topped with tomato, onion, lettuce and BBQ mayo. For those with a big appetite, Southern Eleven runs regular ‘Man vs Food’-style extreme eating challenges.

Neighbourhood is a Spinningfields restaurant by the team behind nearby BBQ joint Southern Eleven. The burgers here are similar (so very good), with sliders, mini Wagyu burgers and a brilliant Neighbourhood house burger with the bar's own take on a 'mac' sauce all doing a roaring trade. And with good reason.