Manchester’s known for a lot of things. Football, music, northern soul, creativity and damn tasty food and drink.
I’m proud to have grown up in the city and when it comes to the Manchester hospitality scene, I see it as a duty to be an ambassador for all the amazing things that are going on.
Had the pleasure of doing exactly that on the latest episode of Japan Eats! A podcast that celebrates Japanese food and drink culture, it was fun to chat with host Akiko Katayama about the following:
🍶How Manchester is flying the flag from sake education outside of London
🍶Using creativity and copywriting to further the drinks industry
🍶 Bars, restaurants and concepts that are acting as the bridge between the UK and Japan
Building on that momentum, here are some of my favourite bars and pubs in the city of Northern Soul that you should check out next time you’re in town.
Whisky Jar
Found in the Northern Quarter, Manchester’s answer to London’s Camden Town and New York’s West Village, The Whisky Jar is the city’s best whisky bar.
Shelves are stacked with drams from all over the world and it’s an ideal hangout for folks who’re starting on their whisky journey or people who’ve been sipping for years.
Briton’s Protection
A Manchester staple, the Briton’s Protection may hold the title for the city’s oldest pub.
Step inside and find a cosy nook to settle in with a craft beer or a whisky collection that gives the Whisky Jar a run for its money.
The Sparrows
Fusion concepts do well in Manchester and a perfect example is The Sparrows.
Found in the Green Quarter, the restaurant serves Polish food alongside a selection of Japanese drinks and the combination is out of this world.
It’s also the best sake retail shop in Manchester and is set to open a sake bar soon.
Horse and Jockey
Found in the suburb of Chorlton (which has loads of fond childhood memories for me), the Horse and Jockey is the quintessential English pub. Cosy, inviting and historical.
Peter Street Kitchen
Another key part of the Manchester hospitality scene is that our hotels have some great bar and restaurant concepts like Peter Street Kitchen, which is found in The Edwardian.
Peter Street is a slick set-up of Mexican food meets Japanese drinking. The bar is elegant and features an amazing range of sake, beers, whiskies and other spirits.
The Liar’s Club
Tucked away beneath pizza legends Crazy Pedro’s, The Liar’s Club offers the city’s best rum collection.
The venue attracts a younger demographic and I think it’s worth braving the place before midnight to enjoy a quiet sip of rum from far-flung territories.
Port Street Beer House
A craft beer nerd’s paradise, Port Street has some of the most off-the-wall booze to get stuck into.
The Edinburgh Castle
Found in the Ancoats district (which keeps on topping the world’s trendiest places to live for some reason), the Edinburgh Castle needs to be stopped at for the Guinness quality alone.
Matt & Phreds
Jazz fans need to get their asses down to this bar as often as possible.
Sonata
One of the newest additions to Manchester, Sonata is a cabaret bar that specialises in table service.
You can listen to some of the most creative acts on the UK scene without needing to leave your seat.
Blues Street Kitchen
This place ticks all my boxes for bourbon and blues vibes.
The Gas Lamp
Want to experience a trip back in time to a Victorian drinking den? This is the pub for you and has an impressive craft beer collection.
The Thirsty Korean
Another reason to visit Chorlton, The Thirsty Korean provides casual Korean dining and an epic menu of soju.
This is Korea’s national spirit and the range of flavours are worth diving into.
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