A restaurant in Manchester’s Gay Village has been added to the Michelin Guide, despite opening a mere eight weeks ago.
Maya is a canalside spot that sprawls across three floors on Canal Street, transforming a former warehouse into an opulent restaurant space.
Inside, you’ll find a brick-walled, velvet-furnitured space at ground level, a glittering gold and navy restaurant space downstairs, and then even further down, The Pump Room, a late-night bar where photography is forbidden.
Maya was first announced in 2022 (it opened after a few delays at the end of March 2024) and comes from the same team behind Isabel Mayfair.
The food side of things is all headed up by Mancunian chef Gabe Lea, whose CV includes Michelin-starred Le Manoir and The French at the Midland Hotel.
Its menu has been tweaked and perfected since its launch – which is good, because the earliest menu featured four pieces of asparagus as a ‘main course’ for £24, with no sides – and now Maya has caught the eye of the Michelin Guide itself.
The bar space at Maya in the Gay VillageDesserts at Maya, which has been added to the Michelin GuideMaya’s £25 asparagus has been removed from the menuMaya is a new restaurant and bar on Canal Street in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
The prestigious list of the best places to go in Manchester also includes Michelin-starred Mana and newcomers like Higher Ground and Another Hand.
There are only 13 in the entire Greater Manchester area deemed worthy of making it to the prestigious guide, so this is a big accolade so early on in Maya’s life.
The guide said it was an ‘elegant, beautifully appointed place’ and praised the ‘classical skillset’ of the team in the kitchen.
The Michelin Guide listing for Maya states: “In the heart of Manchester, close to the famous Canal Street, sits this impressively renovated basement restaurant.
“It’s an elegant, beautifully appointed place, with an art deco feel and a large cocktail bar that feels appropriate for an area of the city known for its party scene.
“The dishes often have a modern make-up but the kitchen’s classical skillset is evident in finely executed elements like a well-made sauce bonne femme to accompany top quality turbot.
“Four smart bedrooms are attached if you’re visiting from afar.”
The best deals and offers in Manchester city centre for the 2025 graduation season
Danny Jones
Forget festival season or even Oasis mania, it’s graduation time – same time every year, and we still feel a warm and fuzzy inside every time we see our round as punch smartpants in their silly hats, so we thought we’d celebrate them with a round-up of the best related deals and offers in Manchester.
You’re welcome, big brains.
Whether you studied at the University of Manchester, MMU, Salford Uni or otherwise, make no mistake: this is YOUR moment in the spotlight and you deserve to soak it all in, every last drop.
So, without further ado, here are some of the best graduation offers and deals Manchester city centre has to offer this year.
2025 Manchester graduation deals and offers | 2025
Starting off on Canal Street, MAYA is offering all graduates a complimentary drink of their choice upon arrival, plus the bonus of a complimentary bottle of fizz for food bookings of three guests or more.
2. Tender at Stock Exchange Hotel – Central
It’s a similar story over the tender Restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Niall Keating, inside the Stock Exchange, who is handing out free glasses of bubbly when booking a table.
Credit: Press shot (supplied)
3. The Cut and Craft – Central
Cut and Craft are serving a special graduation set menu consisting of three courses and a glass of prosecco for £50 per person (pp), available all day from Monday to Friday throughout July.
4. Hello Oriental – Circle Square and Trafford Centre
Hello Oriental diners and Class of 2025 members can raise a toast to their own success with either a free bubble tea, dessert – ‘Taiyaki’ soft serve or indulgent ‘Crème Brulée Bingsu’ – or a glass of prosecco when showing the graduation certificate or a photo of you in your hat and gown.
Complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon champagne (yep, the real good stuff) as well as an exclusive graduation set menu: two courses for £25 pp, or three for £30.
6. Zouk – Oxford Road Corridor
Free welcome drink with any main, sharing platter, or set menu item. You can choose from their brand-new summer special ‘Zouk Sunrise’ cocktail, an ‘Ocean Love Colada’ mocktail, a glass of Prosecco, or a soft drink. In fact, every guest gets a soft drink when adding ‘graduation‘to the booking notes.
Credit: Supplied
7. Electric Shuffle – Deansgate
Another free glass of prosecco is coming your way when booking a shuffleboard table during the 2025 graduation season.
8. The Lowry – Salford
If you’re someone staying over at The Lowry Hotel for graduation day this month, you will receive a bottle of champagne in your room completely gratis, as well as half-price bookings on a second bed and breakfast room for your loved ones/anyone with you for the big day.
There’ll also be discounted parking, not to mention 15% off all food and drinks, and gift vouchers for graduates to enjoy three small plates and a glass of prosecco.
Sexy Fish’s limited graduation menu is priced at £55pp and is available until 25 July, and comes with a congratulatory glass of bubbles. But that’s not all…
10. The Alan – Central
Joining forces with the stylish seafood restaurant, graduates can now enjoy an exclusive ‘dine and stay’ package starting from £195. Find out more HERE.
11. The Laureate at Hyatt Manchester – Oxford Road Corridor
Speaking of staying over, anyone rooming at the Hyatt Manchester over on Booth Street West can also grab themselves a bespoke celebratory cocktail.
12. Albert’s – Castlefield and Didsbury
Careering over to Castlefield, Albert’s Shed has a three-course set menu for £45pp, which includes a sparkling elderflower fizz cocktail. You can also opt to eat and drink just a tram ride or short drive away at their Didsbury location.
Celebrating a massive milestone in Manchester, Australasia’s ’15 for 15 years’ deal isn’t technically a graduation special, however, at just £15 for a main course and a drink (or £18 with a glass of wine, prosecco or beer), you’d be a fool not to consider this spot for your post-graduation celebrations.
14. The Black Friar – Salford
Not too far from here, you’ll find the beautiful Black Friar bistro and pub, which is offering a free bottle of prosecco to anyone who books a table at the venue this graduation season. Sorted.
Credit: The Manc
15. 20 Stories – Spinningfields
Across the other side of Spinningfields, 20 Stories’ July graduation menu promises two courses and a glass of fizz for £29pp, or three for £34pp. Available every Monday to Friday from 12-3pm, as well as Mon-Thurs between 5:30 and 6:30pm throughout July.
16. Podium – Deansgate
Down the road at Beetham Tower, a.k.a. Hilton Manchester, graduates eat completely free when three paying adults book to dine. You can reserve a table now and also grab a free ‘Gin-ovation’ cocktail from the Cloud23 sky bar (a fair) few floors upstairs.
The Rrefuge restaurant inside the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is keeping things nice and simple: a free glass of prosecco to the star of a table when mentioning graduation during booking.
18. Tattu – Spinningfields
Two-course graduation lunch menu for £32.50pp, or dinner from £44.90, as well as a complimentary cocktail for the graduate, and a special scroll that may or may not contain a special golden ticket inside, which could contain one of several prizes.
Credit: The Manc
19. Fenix – St John’s
At the back end of Spinningfields, Fenix is also offering a two-course graduation lunch menu for £32.50pp, which comes with a complimentary glass of prosecco; if you want to dine in the evening, it’s the same number of courses, only with proper champagne instead and for £44.90.
As part of the Permanently Unique hospitality group, they are also offering the scroll and a potential golden ticket opportunity.
20. The Ivy – Spinningfields
The Ivy is serving up a stunning three-course graduation menu, which ends with their signature seasonal special ‘Graduation Chocolate Bombe’ dessert, for £35.95pp. You also get a memorable keepsake to take home, and that’s all we can tell you.
From Spinningfields to the edge of Salford, Manchester bottomless brunch favourite Menagerie is offering a celebratory lunch and drink for £15.95pp, between 12 and 5pm, with a complimentary drink for you and your party when adding ‘Graduation‘ in the booking notes.
22. Browns Bar and Brasserie – Central
Browns are also pulling out the stops with a very reasonably priced three-course graduation menu for £39.00pp, which also comes with a complimentary glass of champagne for the graduate.
This one only applies to Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) graduates, but the value couldn’t be overlooked; get 20% off the bill when you book a table for 6 or more people and pre-book using code ‘graduation‘ and bring proof of your graduation from Man Met.
24. CitySuites – Central
Second to last is CitySuites, who also quietly boast arguably the best overall graduation celebration package of all: a bottle of prosecco, a £10 Selfridges voucher, £30 credit per night to spend in their on-site bar and restaurant, as well as full access to the spa pool, breakfast, robes, parking – the lot.
Available until 3 August, this one is perfect for those based out of town. You can book HERE.
And the last of our Manchester university graduation offers and deals is up there with the cream of the crop: The Midland. You can get 15% off their ‘Excellence’ afternoon tea package (£55.00pp).
Whatever you opt for, you deserve it – congratulations to all of you!
The restaurant that’s giving away free food simply by singing Oasis
Thomas Melia
A nationwide restaurant chain is giving away free food to any customer simply by singing an Oasis song to their server.
Well, if you haven’t heard of the long-standing phrase sing for your supper, this UK restaurant has taken this literally as its new offer makes you do just that.
Italian chain Prezzo has launched its latest deal, encouraging its diners to sing an Oasis song to get their hands on some free food, and it coincides with the summer reunion tour of the legendary Manc band.
Each day, the restaurant will be giving away a free portion of lasagne for up to four people per table if you can sing the opening verse from the 1994 cult classic, ‘Digsy’s Dinner’.
If you manage to recite “What a life it would be / If you could come to mine for tea / I’ll pick you up at half past three / We’ll have lasagne” when purchasing a drink, you could get your hands on some complimentary classic Italian scran.
You’ll have to act fast to claim your free plate of lasagne, as this offer is only applicable to the first two tables that recite the lyrics to the Oasis track every day, per Prezzo location.
Make sure you sing the verse from ‘Digsy’s Dinner’ before you order, as if you sing after placing an order, you may not qualify.
Hey, we take freebies seriously, so you don’t have to…
You don’t have to worry about staying in tune or doing your best Liam Gallagher impression either, as you’re singing technique is not being judged, just make sure your table-side performance is audible enough for your server to hear.
Prezzo Italian is running its ‘Oasis Sing For Your Supper Promotion’ from 4 July until 29 September 2025 and if you take part during the Live ’25 tour run, you can score yourself some free lasagne for up to four people on your table.
This sounds like a ‘Supersonic’ way to start your upcoming Oasis gig day or a perfect way to ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ after a jam-packed day of summer activities.
The closest Prezzo Italian location to Manchester city centre is over at MediaCity UK, and all the information you need to know before you warm up your inner ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ can be found HERE.
So, in answer to LG’s famous question, “Does anyone fancy some lasagne?” – yes, we do, especially if it comes free.
Daisy Jackson -
30th May 2024 
