August has arrived, and with it, we’ve unearthed some cracking Manchester restaurant and bar deals.
Plenty of local bars seem to be capitalising on the terrible weather we’ve been having by launching rain-specific happy hours, and the proliferation of 50% off dining deals doesn’t seem to have slowed down at all.
There is also a pub in Salford giving its diners the chance to win £72,000 worth of prizes when they dine from its £22 set menu this month that is well worth a look-in.
Keep reading to discover the best dining deals and drink offers in Manchester this August.
50% off food and drink – Manchester August dining deals
Image: The Bay Horse
Image: The Firehouse
Corbieres
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The offer: Free pizza
T&Cs: Free pizza when you buy a drink, every Tuesday to Friday from 4-7pm
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Disorder
The offer: 50% off bottles of prosecco, 50p wings
T&Cs: Drinks offer only available when it’s pouring down with rain. Say ‘If it rains, it pours’ at the bar to get the deal. 50p wings every Wednesday.
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Ducie Street Warehouse
The offer: £5.55 selected drinks and dishes
T&Cs: Available Monday to Thursday from 5 to 5.55pm.
Elnecot
The offer: Soup and sandwich £8
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T&Cs: Available Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm.
Italiana Fifty Five
The offer: 50% off food
T&Cs: Available Sunday to Thursday throughout August, booking required.
La Bandera
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The offer: 50% off food
T&Cs: Mondays and Tuesdays, maximum six per booking. Booking required.
Muse Uppermill
The offer: 50% off the menu*
T&Cs: *some exclusions apply. Available every Thursday
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On The Hush
The offer: 50% off food
T&Cs: Available to walk-ins 12pm to 2pm, Thursday and Friday
The offer: Three small plates £17.50, five for £27.50
T&Cs: Available Wednesday to Saturday, 4 to 10pm.
El Gato Negro
The offer: Three dishes for £18
T&Cs: Available Monday to Friday 12 to 4pm, all day Sunday.
Exhibition
The offer: A dish and a drink for £10
T&Cs: Available Wednesday to Friday, 12 to 4pm.
Habas
The offer: Main, side and a drink for £15.
T&Cs: Available Tuesday to Friday, 12 to 5pm.
Hawksmoor
The offer: Two courses for £26, £15 steak and frites ‘strike offer.
T&Cs: Set menu available for reservations made Monday-Saturday until 6.30pm and all day Sunday. Steak and frites offer applies whenever there is a rail strike (book quoting ‘strike steak’).
Henry C
The offer: £5 negronis (from a choice of ten)
T&Cs: Available Thursdays 4pm-late.
Juice Box
The offer: £5 negronis
T&Cs: All day every day, 12-10pm.
Our Neighbourhood Bar
The offer: 30% off pizza
T&Cs: Available every Monday in August
The Black Friar
The offer: Two courses for £22
T&Cs: Available from a set menu all day Monday, 12 to 6pm Tuesday-Friday. Walk-ins and bookings welcome
The Famous Crown
The offer: Four bar snacks for £22
T&Cs: Available throughout August.
The Jane Eyre Ancoats
The offer: £7 cocktails, £30 house wine with two snacks, £8 classic cocktails on Sundays
T&Cs: Tues – Thurs 3 to 6pm ongoing, every Thursday throughout summer, Sundays from 6pm.
The Jane Eyre Chorlton
The offer: Lunch menu 3 for £15
T&Cs: Tuesday to Friday, 12 to 5pm.
Public
The offer: £4 pints and wine, £6 daiquiris
T&Cs: Available only when it’s raining, weekdays until 8pm.
Santé
The offer: £15 for 3 small plates or tapas
T&Cs: Available weekly, starting from 4pm Tuesdays and finishing at 5pm Fridays.
Featured image – The Manc Eats
Eats
TWO Greater Manchester restaurants awarded prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmands
Daisy Jackson
Two restaurants in Greater Manchester have been presented with one of the most prestigious accolades in hospitality – a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Both Erst in Ancoats and Cantaloupe in Stockport have been awarded the distinction, alongside Almanac in Glossop (technically just outside the region, but close enough).
The new additions bring our region’s total to five Bib Gourmands in total, joining El Gato Negro, Higher Ground, and The Sparrows.
Michelin Bib Gourmand recognises ‘restaurants that serve high-quality food at great value’ and are often much more accessible than the Michelin Star selections.
The news of the extra additions comes ahead of the Michelin Guide ceremony, where the ultimate accolade of the Michelin Stars will be awarded.
Michelin inspectors said that Erst is ‘inch perfect’ and a ‘great fit’ for the local dining scene.
Erst is one of the Greater Manchester restaurants awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand
They wrote: “A restaurant that feels inch perfect for 2026, Erst combines a natural wine bar with small plates and stripped-back industrial design.
“It’s a great fit for the Manchester dining scene and is another success for the city after receiving several other accolades in recent years.
“Bold flavours burst out of every dish, with the signature topped flatbreads being just one highlight.”
As for Cantaloupe in Stockport, the guide pointed out that the North West has a glut of wine bars and small plates restaurants, but praised this one in particular for its ‘welcome simplicity’.
They wrote: “Another wine bar and restaurant designed for sharing – anyone living in northwest England is certainly spoilt for choice.
“It’s Stockport’s turn this time, with Cantaloupe offering locals and visitors alike a daily changing menu packed with bright Mediterranean flavours and a welcome simplicity. The chefs know when to hold back and their dishes are all the better for it.”
Addressing their win, Cantaloupe wrote: “Well, wow, what fantastic news. Today we’ve discovered we’ve been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand. We’re thrilled and are grateful to all our staff for making it happen.
“Big thanks to all our guests too for spending their hard earned money and time with us.”
And of Almanac, the Michelin Guide said: “One of three new Bib Gourmands in and around Manchester this year, Almanac has revealed itself as a gem of Glossop High Street.
“Operating as both a bar and restaurant – look out for the concise but well-curated wine list – it’s got the kind of welcoming feel that makes you want to come back again and again. The cooking is traditional and proud of it; order the mince on dripping toast for evidence.”
Beloved Northern Quarter restaurant TNQ announces shock closure after two decades
Daisy Jackson
One of the Northern Quarter’s most long-standing restaurants has announced its shock closure after almost 22 years in Manchester.
TNQ, an independent restaurant with a British menu, said that the current climate has made the restaurant ‘no longer a viable business’.
In a shockingly honest statement, the business said that its energy bills have rocketed to a staggering £8,000 per month, and that the two owners have forgone their salaries to try and keep TNQ afloat.
But despite being ‘busy and often fully booked’, the business has been left in a ‘heartbreaking situation where we have to close the doors for good’.
“Thanks E-on and thanks Rachel Reeves”, TNQ said in a statement today.
As for the staff who work at the High Street restaurant, TNQ bosses say they’re committed to paying them ‘every penny they are owed’ and are helping them to find new jobs in the industry.
TNQ said of their staff: “Our amazing team have worked blood sweat and tears over the years, grafted 80 hour weeks busting a gut to deliver our best for our guests. We are incredibly grateful to all our staff for their endeavours, loyalty, commitment and support over the 22 years.
“We are so sorry to all of them that we can no longer continue.”
TNQ statement in full
Unfortunately this is a heartbreaking situation where we have to close the doors to TNQ for good after nearly 22 years.
We have got through the banking crisis, double dip recessions and Covid but the current climate has made the restaurant no longer a viable business.
Our E-on bills are up to £8000 per month, wage costs have rocketed particularly after the last two budgets, food costs have soared and business rates continue to increase.
This has created a perfect storm resulting in the permanent closure of our beloved restaurant.
Last October we borrowed £100k which was personally guaranteed by 2 of the shareholders in order to try and weather the storm and 2 owners stopped being paid salary but unfortunately this wasn’t enough to save our restaurant.
Our amazing team have worked blood sweat and tears over the years, grafted 80 hour weeks busting a gut to deliver our best for our guests. We are incredibly grateful to all our staff for their endeavours, loyalty, commitment and support over the 22 years.
We are so sorry to all of them that we can no longer continue. We are committed to paying all our staff every penny they are owed. We are also working with our friends in the industry to find new jobs for everyone where we can. It is a truly gutting and heartbreaking situation. Sorry.
Thank you to all our partners and suppliers over the years, many of whom we have formed great friendships with.
Finally, thank you to all our wonderful guests who have supported us over the years, many of whom we are proud to call our friends. We will be in touch with all our bookings in due course and we can only apologise that we can no longer accommodate you.
Our restaurant has been busy and often fully booked but it’s just not enough to be a sustainable business. We are so sorry but this is goodbye from us at TNQ, one of the longest established independent restaurants in our magnificent city.
Georgina Pellant -
5th August 2023 
