A brand new alcohol-free bar, just the second anywhere in central Manchester, has opened up in an unlikely spot over in the Northern Quarter.
Rather fittingly named Hinterland, NQ’s new zero-alcohol bar – the first of its kind to open in the bustling food and drink district – has found its home in the back or rather the basement of the Manchester Buddhist Centre on Turner Street.
Delivering an innovative space that provides a sophisticated and serene environment where the focus shifts from alcohol to authentic, meaningful social interactions, they’re stripping back the pretence of drinking to remind people that you don’t need a pint to feel comfortable engaging with one another.
Created by Stephen Jeffreys, who struggled with alcohol addiction for some time, he says that “Hinterland is about creating a space where people can develop meaningful friendships and have deep conversations without the need for booze”.
Taking cues from his own relationship with getting sober, the aim is to create a welcoming, inclusive environment that supports not only those in recovery but also anyone who just fancies a good time without getting intoxicated.
ADVERTISEMENT
Reflecting on his personal journey to recovery, he was quick to note the scarcity of social options for those seeking to socialise without being surrounded by alcohol in the modern world.
“When I later on started struggling with depression and anxiety, I would resort to alcohol as an escape from these difficult emotions”, says Jeffreys. “Because alcohol was so socially accepted and ubiquitous, I didn’t realise how problematic my behaviour would end up being.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’ve noticed that it’s not just people with a problematic relationship with alcohol who want to skip the booze. There are lots of people who wish they could have a space to hang out with friends on a Friday night without having to get wasted. Hinterland is there for all of those people.”
Tucked away in a NQ back-alley, you’ll find a whole new approach to the bar experience. (Credit: Tom van Berkel)
Although you can still enjoy wines, beers and cocktails only in an alcohol-free form, the new Northern Quarter bar is also serving up teas, coffees, cakes and various social events to come in the near future.
Hinterland is also a community interest company (CIC), meaning all of their profits are donated directly to charities and causes they care about, meaning that are not only offering an outlet to those looking for something beyond drink but are helping support the sober movement and local community even further.
ADVERTISEMENT
They’re even hosting a launch party this Saturday (22 June) with “a night of conversation, drinks, and good vibes” to welcome in the new crowd, along with anyone hoping to cut out alcohol or that might be at the very least ‘sober-concious’. You can grab your tickets HERE.
Hinterland, Manchester’s newest alcohol-free bar, is open from 11am-11pm, Tuesday-Saturday and 11-5pm on Sundays – give a try.
Other alcohol-free bars like Kampus’ LoveFrom are pioneering the sober drinking scene in Manchester.
Featured Images — Hinterland/Tom van Berkel (supplied)
Eats
Popular Manchester restaurant bar to give out FREE sausage rolls to people called ‘Greg’
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s much-loved restaurant bars is doing a free sausage roll giveaway next week… but there’s a catch.
The catch being you have to have a certain name in particular.
It was only last week that popular high street chain Pret A Manger announced it would be slinging out free sandwiches to any Mancs with ‘Nic’ in their name over the late May bank holiday weekend, and now Tariff & Dale is getting it on the giveaway action, and it’s all to celebrate the iconic event that is National Sausage Roll Day.
In case you didn’t know – which is very likely, let’s be real – next Thursday (5 June) is the day dedicated to all things sausage roll.
So what better way to mark the occasion than with free portions of Tariff & Dale‘s legendary meaty treat?
The popular Northern Quarter restaurant bar is known for its creative comfort food, craft beers and cocktails, and laid-back industrial vibe, with one of the cult-classic dishes on its menu having always been the honey pork sausage roll – which just so happens to be a whopping 15-inches long, by the way.
Resembling something more of a pork wellington than a sausage roll, if you will, the dish is crispy, golden, and glazed with honey on top.
But to celebrate National Sausage Roll day, instead of parting with £9.50 for a portion or £48 for the full 15-inch thing, people with one specific name can actually get a slice for completely free of charge.
Tariff & Dale is giving away FREE sausage rolls to people with this name next week / Credit: Supplied
And that name is ‘Greg’, because if we’re honest, when it comes to sausage rolls, we all tend to think of Greggs.
So whether your surname is Gregory or Gregson, or you’re simply just called Greg, then all you need to do to claim your complimentary slice of sausage roll heaven is head on down to Tariff & Dale next Thursday 5 June from 12pm up until 9pm.
Make sure you show your valid ID proving your name when you order at the bar, and get ready to stuff your face.
Failing that, anyone not called Greg will just have to pop into actual Greggs instead.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
Eats
Plans to open a brand-new pub on the site of the Rovers Return
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new pub is set to open in Manchester city centre net month, with treats in store like complimentary bowls of crisps, an outdoor terrace, and a games parlour.
The Stables Tavern is taking shape in the St John’s district, poetically on the same site that was once home to Coronation Street’s iconic Rovers Return pub.
They’re promising this will be a ‘historic tavern reimagined for today’s lover of a proper pint’.
The pub will come from Shiko Group, which is also behind Courts Club, where you can play tennis or basketball followed by court-side pints, and Side Street, a bar-restaurant-events space with a mid-Century interior.
Neighbouring the Bonded Warehouse, The Stables Tavern will join this rapidly blossoming new creative district, just across the yard from Caravan, The Trading Route and Aviva Studios.
Inside, punters will find multiple beer taps with local beers, served with complimentary bowls of crisps as well as a menu of pub snacks like handmade sausage rolls and local pies.
The pub will be split into three sections – an outside terrace, a main bar, and a parlour area at the back of the pub for live entertainment, old school games, and rounds of whiskey.
This might be a new district but it’s a historic area for the city – the same building was a busy watering hole back in the early 19th century for workers, merchants and visitors who made use of the nearby canals and cobbled streets.
It was then the home of the Rovers Return, back when this area was the home of Granada Studios.
Hayley Sammé, Marketing Director, said: “We’re so excited to bring The Stables Tavern back to St John’s. The area’s extensive historical backdrop and burgeoning hospitality scene provides the perfect landscape for a traditional British pub.
“It’s the perfect addition to the existing scene, and we hope it’s going to become a popular spot in our new creative district.”
The Stables Tavern will open at St John’s on Friday 6 June.
Danny Jones -
19th June 2024 
