WITH the price of beer on the rise after last year's poor weather forced up the price of hops, £4 pints have turned from a horrifying nightmare into, in some places at least, a lager reality.

This is bad news at the best of times but in the midst of a credit crunch, with living costs on the rise and less money in your pocket at the end of the week, it's even more painful.

Sometimes a cheap pint is the best pint. But if value for money is what you're after, don't think this means you have to forgo the city centre in favour of a budget local boozer. Instead head to Sinclairs Oyster Bar, the black and white pub on Exchange Square.

This place is one of the best run in Manchester, so you wont have to run the gauntlet to secure your budget beverage. It's a three-times winner of the Best Bar None Award: a worthy accolade dished out to the pub demonstrating the highest standards of responsible operation, for which competition is fierce.

Independent

Sinclairs is owned by Yorkshire's oldest independent brewery Samuel Smiths. All the beers are Sam Smiths own, and the spirits and soft drinks are small-brand alternatives: measures designed to keep the cost of drinks to a minimum.

At busy times, or if you plan to drink in the pub's large outdoor patio (which it shares with neighbouring Old Wellington), you'll get your drink in a plastic cup.

It's a small pub, split over two floors that are defined by nooks, crannies and traditional pub decor, and it gets busy.

The downstairs bar at weekends can feel claustrophobically full - but the bar staff work fast and you never queue too long even at the busiest times. Which include match days.

It's not the most sophisticated night out but it's cheap, central and well run, and sometimes that's more than enough.

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