An Irish bar famed for its live music is heading up to Manchester for the first time, and is promising £2.50 pints to lure us in.
Nancy Spains will be venturing out of London for the first time promising to bring the ‘ultimate traditional Irish pub experience’ to the Northern Quarter.
If you were to ask what the hottest trend in hospitality is right now the answer would, apparently, be Guinness. We’re drowning in the stuff.
This latest opening is more about Murphy’s, another Irish stout, than Guinness (they actually won’t serve Guinness at all) but the craic will be much the same.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nancy Spains is actually set to open almost directly opposite the aforementioned Salmon of Knowledge, taking over the former Corner Boy unit on Stevenson Square in the heart of Manchester.
To celebrate its opening, the pub will be serving its first 5000 pints of Murphy’s for just £2.50, so that it can show off the atmosphere that’s established it as ‘one of London’s favourite pubs’.
They’re promising an array of Irish whiskeys behind the bar, live music performances, and a lively late-night setting.
Nancy Spains was set up by three brothers who travelled all over their home county of rural Kerry researching Irish pubs, before launching two venues down in London.
They want it to balance a traditional pub with the vibrancy of the city.
ADVERTISEMENT
Peter O’Halloran, co-founder of Nancy Spains commented, “We’re so excited to be launching in Manchester, bringing Nancy Spains to the heart of the Northern Quarter.
“After the success of our two venues in London, it was only right to bring Nancy Spains’ infectious spirit and Irish pride to Manchester. Slainte!”
Nancy Spains will open its first Manchester pub on Saturday 15 March at 21 Hilton Street.
10 rooftop bars and restaurants in Manchester with amazing views
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester skyline is ever-changing, and there’s nowhere better to soak in the views of our city than up high in a rooftop bar or restaurant.
Our city used to be pretty terrible for outdoor drinking space full stop, and even worse for sky-high terraces, but there’s been a real switch in recent years.
Now, there are glamorous restaurants perched way above our heads, cosy pubs spilling onto their rooftops, and even hotels with secret terraces and gorgeous views.
Manchester recently gained a brand-new rooftop terrace in the form of Chotto Matte, which had us thinking about where else to head for a sky-high cocktail or three.
Have a read of the best rooftop bars, restaurants and terraces in Manchester.
Chotto Matte, St Michael’s
Chotto Matte opens in Manchester on 10 OctoberCocktails with a view
The newest, shiniest addition to the city centre is Chotto Matte, a glamorous restaurant serving a Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei menu that includes sushi, robata, and plenty more.
This stunning new restaurant at Gary Neville’s St Michael’s development has 360º views of Manchester, and from its 348-capacity rooftop terrace, one of the best outlooks in town.
The all-weather rooftop terrace overlooks Albert Square and the Manchester Town Hall, which is slowly but surely emerging from behind its scaffolding.
YES bar has one of the best rooftop bars in Manchester
YES has not one, but two amazing outside spaces – one a ground-floor terrace that’s weirdly just across the road, the other a gigantic rooftop terrace.
There are cocktails on tap, great happy hour deals, and a few different food spots to order from like Pepperoni Playboy and the Trippy Chippy.
And back downstairs, YES hosts regular gigs and club nights in its iconic Pink Room.
20 Stories is Manchester’s highest rooftop terrace, and probably our city’s best-known spot for a sky-high dinner.
Perched way up above Spinningfields, you can see most of the city centre from up here, in a swanky setting.
Dining here at any time is a special event, with breathtaking panoramic views adding an extra bit of oomph to the equally top-tier food and drink offering.
King Street Townhouse, off Albert Square
Spritzes on the King Street Townhouse terraceThe terrace at King Street Townhouse hotel
Tucked up on the sixth floor of the award-winning boutique hotel King Street Townhouse, you’ll find a rooftop terrace with beautiful views of the city’s skyline.
As Manchester buzzes along beneath you, you can tuck in to everything from full charcuterie grazing boards to seasonal snacks and small plates, all served alongside an impressive wine and cocktail list.
This often-overlooked local spot is a firm favourite of those in the know, thanks to its sheltered location that basks in the sun all afternoon, and when the Town Hall refurbishment is complete it’ll have the best view in town.
Big Hands, Oxford Road
Miles away from the glitz and glamour of the city centre rooftops is Big Hands, a cool, weird and wonderful bar that’s seriously popular with students and gig-goers, thanks to its proximity to the Manchester Academy venues.
With decent prices catering to those gigging on a budget along the busy university strip of Oxford Road, a lovely dimly-lit aesthetic complete with gig posters galore; a rooftop garden terrace adorned with twinkly lights and plenty of plants, it’s a pure vibe in here.
ADVERTISEMENT
The views might not be the best, but the vibes are right up there, and you can grab some amazing Italian street food from Rizzo’s – formerly T’arricrii) while you’re here.
Climat, Blackfriars House
Climat. Credit: The Manc GroupClimat. Credit: The Manc Group
Most of Climat is long and narrow, following the expanse of the open kitchen – and that happily means that almost every table gets a front-row seat to the views from this rooftop restaurant and wine bar.
Popped up high on Blackfriars House (but not so high up that everyone feels like an ant beneath you), it’s got a spectacular outlook over historic landmarks like the Barton Arcade, St Ann’s Church, and the Royal Exchange.
There are more than 250 different wines on the menu as well as a menu of ‘food you want to eat’, as if you needed any more temptation.
Kore Studios – A new reformer pilates studio with a smoothie and acai bar has opened in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new reformer pilates studio has opened in Manchester, with its own on-site acai bowl and smoothie bar.
Kore Studios is a new wellness destination for the city, just off the busy drag of Deansgate.
It’s a design-led, calming space, all neutral natural textures and soft lighting, with 12 premium reformer beds in the studio and a full health bar in the front.
On the menu here you’ll find a menu of nutritious smoothies, juices, acai bowls and matchas, including beautiful dupes of the viral Erewhon smoothies.
Highlights from the Kore Studios acai menu include the Amazon Classic with banana, strawberries, granola and coconut, and the Power Bowl with peanut butter, banana, chia seeds and almond butter.
There are also tropical acai bowls, and some piled with a dollop of Nutella for more of a treat.
As for the smoothies, expect drinks like the Avocado Matcha Magic, a Tropical Sunshine, and a Green Glow Detox, plus a selection of flavoured matchas.
Erewhon dupe smoothies at Kore StudiosKore Studios – A new reformer pilates studio with a smoothie and acai bar has opened in ManchesterA selection of acai bowlsInside the Kore Studios smoothie and acai barThere are 12 reformer pilates bedsThe beautiful changing rooms at Kore Studios
The fitness studio itself at Kore Studios brings another reformer pilates spot to Manchester, with top-quality equipment stashed within reaching distance of every bed (no awkward queueing to grab a set of hand weights).
The team have gathered some of the city’s top instructors together for a best-in-class schedule of reformer pilates sessions, as well as mat pilates and barre classes, with something to suit all abilities.
Kore Studios is open now at 31-33 King Street West in Manchester city centre.
Memberships start at £80 per month with a special £10 introductory offer class aimed at first-timers.
Daisy Jackson -
28th February 2025 
