Eats

Happy hour Manchester – The best drinks deals in the city centre

Cheers to big savings.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 15th August 2023

Hands up if you’re always on the hunt for a happy hour Manchester – from drinks deals to cheap pints.

Oh yeah, that’s literally everyone.

Manchester is happy hour mad, with everything from discounted cocktails to BOGOF deals on frozen drinks to cheap bottles of wine.

Some of the best Manchester bars offer really decent after-work deals too, and there are even some offers that run at the weekends.

So we’ve gone ahead and rounded up the best Manchester happy hour deals around the city centre.

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And if you’re after more information on where to eat and drink around the city, visit our Manchester food and drink pages.

You can also see the latest events and things to do at our what’s on Manchester page, and all the late-night events you can get up to when happy hour’s over at our nightlife Manchester pages.

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Northern Quarter happy hours

Manchester Northern Quarter happy hours - Smithfield Social
Manchester Northern Quarter happy hours – Smithfield Social
Manchester Northern Quarter happy hours - Public
Manchester Northern Quarter happy hours – Public
Happy hour Manchester - Common
Happy hour Manchester – Common

The Northern Quarter has probably the highest concentrations of bars anywhere in Manchester city centre, and loads of them do amazing deals.

Here are some of the best we’ve found on our hunt for happy hours in Manchester.

Trof, Thomas Street

Monday to Friday, 4pm til 9pm

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  • £3.50 lager
  • £4 house spirit and mixer
  • £6 disco cocktails
  • £15 house wine
  • £21 bottle of fizz

Bay Horse Tavern, Thomas Street

Monday to Friday, 4pm til 8pm

  • £3.50 pints
  • £4 Guinness
  • Two for £12 cocktails
  • £5 Aperol Spritz
  • £6 doubles

Smithfield Social, Thomas Street

Monday to Friday, 4pm til 7pm

  • Two cocktails for £12
  • £4 pints of Guinness or Social pilsner
  • £20 bottles of prosecco for 
  • £15 bottles of house wine

Common and Nell’s, Edge Street

Sunday to Thursday, 4pm til 7pm; all day Monday

  • £6.50 cocktails
  • £4.50 pints
  • £19 bottles of house wine

Friday and Saturday, 8pm til close

  • £6.50 cocktails
  • £2.50 shots

Turtle Bay, Oldham Street (and Oxford Road)

Sunday to Friday, 11am til 7pm and 9.30pm til close; Saturdays, 10am til 7pm and 9.30pm til close

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  • Two-for-one cocktails

The Lost Cat, Oldham Street

Every day, 5pm til 9pm

  • Buy one get one free on selected cocktails

Public, Stevenson Square

Whenever it rains, weekdays until 8pm

  • £6 daiquiris
  • £4 lager or wine

Flok, Stevenson Square

Monday to Thursday, all day till 7pm

  • £16 bottles of house wine
  • Two for £15 cocktails
  • Two for £9 mulled wine
  • Two for £8 house lager

The Pen & Pencil, Hilton Street

Monday to Friday, 4pm til 7pm

  • Two for £12 cocktails
  • £4.50 Amstel
  • £20 bottles of prosecco
  • £17 bottles of house wine

Ancoats happy hours

Manchester Ancoats happy hours - Nam
Manchester Ancoats happy hours – Nam
Manchester Ancoats happy hours - Jane Eyre
Manchester Ancoats happy hours – Jane Eyre

Looking for happy hour Manchester? Ancoats has more than a few tricks up its sleeve for you.

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Ever since the redevelopment of Ancoats began, turning former warehouses into fancy apartments, the neighbourhood has attracted some brilliant restaurants and bars.

Here are the best Manchester happy hour deals in this blossoming neighbourhood of Ancoats.

The Jane Eyre, Cutting Room Square

Tuesday to Thursday, 3pm til 6pm

  • £7 cocktails

Firehouse, Swan Street

Every Thursday, 4pm til 9pm

  • 50% off wine and spritz

The New Cross, Cross Keys Street

Every Wednesday and Thursday

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  • £6 Pisco Sours

Every Thursday, 4pm til 10pm

  • Beer and Bao £12

Seven Brothers, Cutting Room Square

Monday to Thursday, 4pm til 7pm

  • £4 pints
  • £20 bottles of prosecco
  • £15 bottles of house white/red
  • £4.50 selected singles
  • £6 selected doubles

Cocoa Cabana, Murray Street

Monday to Friday, 3pm til 5pm

  • Two-for-one cocktails

Central Manchester happy hours

Manchester happy hours - 10 Tib Lane
Manchester happy hours – 10 Tib Lane
Manchester happy hours - Haunt
Manchester happy hours – Haunt

10 Tib Lane, Tib Lane

Tuesday to Sunday, 4pm til 6pm

  • £7 cocktails

Bunny Jackson’s, First Street

Every day, 10pm til 11pm

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  • £3 house pilsner
  • £5 slushies
  • £17 bottles of prosecco

Corbieres, Half Moon Street

Tuesday to Friday, 4pm till 8pm

  • Free pizza when you spend £5

Haunt, Peter Street

Sunday to Friday, 4pm til 8pm

  • £5 spritzes
  • £4 lager
  • £16 bottles of wine
  • £20 bottles of prosecco

YES, Charles Street

Every day, 12pm til 6pm; Sundays and Mondays, all day

  • Two for £10 on cocktails

53Two, Watson Street

Deals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

  • Monday – 10% off all drinks and food between 5pm and 9pm
  • Wednesday – buy two large glasses of wine and get the rest of the bottle free
  • Friday – £19 bottles of prosecco all day

Spinningfields and Deansgate happy hours

Manchester happy hours - Manahatta
Manchester happy hours – Manahatta
Manchester happy hours - Albert's Schloss
Manchester happy hours – Albert’s Schloss
Manchester happy hours - Blue's Kitchen
Manchester happy hours – Blues Kitchen

The corner of the city centre that incorporates Spinningfields and Deansgate is among the busiest in town, with cocktails bars all over the place.

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And while they may be fancy, here are the places that do the best happy hour Manchester.

Banyan, Vantage Point

Sunday to Friday, all day; Saturdays from 5pm

  • Two-for-one cocktails

Crazy Pedro’s, Bridge Street (also Northern Quarter)

Sunday to Friday, 5pm til 9pm

  • Two for £12 cocktails
  • ‘Cheap plonk’
  • £2.50 slices and £12 pizzas

Blues Kitchen, Quay Street

  • Margarita Mondays: £6 Margaritas from 4pm – close on a Monday
  • £6 Cocktails on Wednesday from 5pm
  • Friday Happy Hour: From 5pm to 7pm, with selected beers and wines for £5 and bottles of prosecco for £25

Albert’s Schloss, Peter Street

Monday to Friday, 4pm til 7pm

  • £25 bottles of prosecco
  • £5 pints of Pilsner
  • £7 selected cocktails including spritzes

Manahatta, Deansgate

Sunday to Friday, all day

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  • Two-for-one cocktails

BOX, Deansgate

Sunday to Wednesday, all day

  • Two-for-one cocktails

Pong & Puck, Great Northern

Sunday to Thursday, 5pm til 7pm

  • £4 pints of beer
  • Two for £12 on cocktails
  • £20 bottles of prosecco

Dirty Martini, Peter Street

Monday to Wednesday 4pm til 8 pm; Thursday to Friday 2pm til 8pm, Sunday 2pm til 1:30am

  • £7 Cocktails
  • £20 bottles of prosecco
  • £15.50 bottles of wine
  • £4.50 bottled beers
  • £4.50 pints of Madri

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Where to find the best sandwiches in Manchester city centre and beyond

Danny Jones Danny Jones best sandwiches in manchester city centre

There’s nothing better than a good filling between two fluffy slices of bread, and we’re here to tell you the best places to find them in Manchester – that’s right, it’s the sandwich list.

From hot roast sarnies and hefty subs as long as your arm, to solid breakfast butties, giant Sardinian schiacciata and saucy Napoli-inspired cuzzetiello, if you’re a sandwich lover in Manchester then you’re well catered for.

We’re not happy to settle for a simple Subway or premium meal deal, we want big, honking artisan sarnies that’ll leave Tony Soprano talking with his most expressive hand gestures. Keep reading to find some of the best places to get a butty in Manchester and beyond.

Open your belt loop a notch, folks.

10 of the very best sandwiches in Greater Manchester

1. Ad Maiora – Northern Quarter

Credit: The Manc Eats
Look at the size of it this bad boy.

If you’re a fan of things in bread (and honestly, who isn’t) then Northern Quarter Italian sandwich dealer Ad Maiora is one that you absolutely need to get down your neck. They also have a great story.

Collected from a door on a Norther Quarter back street or for delivery, we’re talking giant handmade spongy schiacciata generously stuffed with the likes of ‘nduja, spicy Tuscan sausage, smoked scamorza, mortadella, burrata and red pesto.

With a total of nine different options to choose from, expect a huge array of different cheesy and meaty delights including parma ham, gorgonzola DOP, truffled brie, Milano salami and crumbled pistachios, plus a gorgeous vegan option with Italian hummus, roasted aubergine, olives, sundried tomatoes and rocket.

2. The Bread Club – Monton

Credit: The Manc Group

Run by in-laws Louise and Jack, The Bread Club sells some of Eccles’ fattest sandwiches (as well as the chunkiest hand-cut chips we’ve had in a while).

Equipped with a huge glass counter brimming with sandwich fillings, as the name suggests there is a good selection of bread to choose from with hoagies, bloomers, rye and more on offer.

On the menu, you’ll find eight different sarnies including the signature taco chicken, a hoagie stuffed with a mix of chicken breast, peppers, and onions, all enveloped in a secret sauce, then topped with Swiss cheese and jalapenos.

Other highlights include the Cubano – a much-loved mixture of roasted ham, pulled pork, melted Swiss cheese, sliced pickles and house mustard – and the Rueben on rye.

3. Katsouris Deli – Deansgate

Definitley one of the best sandwich places in Manchester.
Big portions and good value. (Credit: The Manc Group)

First established in the historic Bury market 50 years ago, this cross-cultural deli and cafe celebrates the mixed roots of its family with produce from Cyprus, Poland and Italy, plus more from across Europe.

Specialising in sandwiches as well as boasting an impressive salad bar and carvery, its second site on Deansgate is just as well established after 30 years in town. An iconic sandwich spot, the lunchtime queues speak for themselves.

Made with bread from Chorlton’s award-winning bakery, Barbakan, the ciabatta is a favourite here but you do have other options. If you’re in a rush, or just in need of something comforting, the hot roast pork with crackling, apple sauce and stuffing hits the spot every time.

Other highlights include the veggie-friendly ‘Zorba The Greek’, and the hangover-curing breakfast sandwiches filled with your choice of bacon, sausage and fried egg.

4. Fat Pat’s – Chinatown

Credit: The Manc Eats
The sauciest little boys on the market.

This hefty hole-in-the-wall sub sandwich spot drew fans from near and far when it opened in 2022 and it hasn’t stopped since.

The allure of a hidden alley walk-up, combined with mouth-watering Philly Cheesesteaks, Hot Honey Fried Chicken and Meatball Parm baguettes has earned it a place in our hearts and bellies forever.

Located just off Portland Street in the backstreets of Chinatown, ordering is done online in advance and they tend to sell out quickly so you need to be fast if you want to secure one of these beauties.

5. Ancoats Deli – Ancoats

The Ancoats Deli meal deal. Credit: The Manc Group
The Ancoats Deli meal deal. Credit: The Manc Group
Ancoats Deli opens today serving sandwiches, wine and charcuterie boards. Credit: The Manc Group
Ancoats Deli opens today serving sandwiches, wine and charcuterie boards. Credit: The Manc Group

Ancoats Deli is a gorgeous little sage green deli just off a sunny courtyard, with shelves stuffed with wine, mini canned cocktails, antipasti, meats and cheeses, plus sunny seats outside for sipping on a wine or a spritz.

It’s also got the best meal deal we’ve seen – for a tenner you can get a HUGE sandwich stuffed crust to crust with delicious fillings, plus either a packet of crisps or olives, and either a coffee or soft drink.

You’ll often find a special or two but you can’t go wrong with the classics – jamon beurre, egg mayo and a tuna melt are all banging.

6. Pho Cue – Chinatown

Image: The Manc Group
Giggs reacted however everyone does.

This family-run Vietnamese restaurant in Manchester’s Chinatown opened in lockdown and has become popular for its bahn mi, which are available from midday and often sell out within the hour.

Only made ‘for the tradition’ in limited quantities for the lunch service, this fresh pickle and herb-topped Vietnamese sandwich can be ordered with either sweet soy, sriracha or spicy mayo.

Typically made by scooping out the inside of the baguette-style roll, here the chefs like to press the bread down instead to make more space for their fillings. Popular choices include chicken and king prawn, with beef, pork, tofu and avocado also available.

7. Rack – Stockport, Manchester Arndale and YES

@the.manc @Rack has opened in the Arndale Market today serving up their famous sandwiches as well as salt and pepper hash browns 🤤 #manchester #arndale #arndalemanchester #nq #sandwich #foodtiktok ♬ Instrumental – Home – pedrin cria

This tiny Stockport sandwich joint might have started out as a small but mighty little corner in the town centre, but with sandwich fans travelling across Greater Manchester to sample its wares, they’ve managed to expand their reach to three different sites now.

There’s not much room to sit down in the original shop, but there is a very cute outdoor terrace that catches the sun perfectly at lunchtime and you’ll find plenty of people queuing up to grab a quick bit of dinner from here.

At each venue you’ll find a big chalkboard menu that lists its various options, with everything from egg mayo and Italian meats to a funky vegan option with handmade onion bhaji, chutney and pickles – they even do big fish finger butties now.

Toasted sandwiches are a big speciality here, with highlights including a peppery reuben, a three-cheese classic served with red onion dipping gravy on the side, as well as their hugely popular birria toastie.

8. Egg & Co – Various

Egg & Co serves one of the best breakfast sandwiches in Manchester
Egg & Co serves one of the best breakfast sandwiches in Manchester
Egg & Co serves one of the best breakfast sandwiches in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

Consider your hangover cured. You’re welcome.

Egg & Co specialises in gooey scrambled egg butties, with loads of different options to try including sausage patty, turkey bacon, avocado or caramelised onions.

Do your stomach a favour, have this in the morning with a side of crunchy truffle hash browns and start your day the right way.

⁠You’ll find them at General Stores at Deansgate Square, and at Kargo Mkt in Salford.

9. Northern Soul Grilled Cheese – NQ

First established in 2015, the grilled cheese OG’s have been serving Mancs their naughty, cheesy sandwiches for nearly a decade.

Widely considered one of the best places to grab a toastie in the city, its classic house staple features a blend of three different molten cheeses – all sandwiched in between golden sourdough bread – and is entirely customisable with extra free fillings.

For the adventurous, wilder options include the ‘Bacon Frazzler’ with Frazzles crisps, streaky bacon, blue cheese, onion and sriracha, and the Mexican Junkie with chipotle mac n’ cheese, jalapenos and Chilli Heatwave Doritos.

It would also be rude of us not to shout out their annual Crimbo Dinner toastie – complete with gooey brie cheese, cranberry, stuffing and even a pig in blanket – which we still believe is one of the best sandwiches in Manchester full stop every time it returns. We loved this place since forever, basically.

10. Bada Bing – NQ

In at number 10, we’ve got arguably the goat of all Manchester sandwiches, the return of the king if you will: Bada Bing is bada back with a bada bang. The Sopranos-themed deli and sandwich shop first opened a few years ago to queues out the door but sadly disappeared much to everyone’s horror.

But fear not, the hiatus is over and the comeback was biblical.

Serving giant hoagies, heroes, subs—whatever you want to call them, they’re well worth the £10-13 price stage and you likely won’t need to eat again that day if you grab one.

From the self-titled ‘Bing’ packed with cured Italian meats, salami and yes, gabagool done just like Tony Soprano himself likes, to a stacked turkey offering, a veggie pistachio one that genuinely surprised us as a Chicago beef inspired by another US TV favourite, The Bear, we’ve happily devoured all of these.

@the.manc Opening tomorrow on Oldham Street, welcome back legends! #thesapranos #manchester #manc #mancfood #foodsinpo #foryou #fyp #badabing #sandwichtiktok ♬ Italian Food – Kley Kley

Honourable mentions

Go Falafel – City Centre

Our go-to in the city centre for fresh falafel, technically this is a wrap but we’re going to allow it. It’s not just the herby chickpea goodness that does it for us here – it’s all the salads, pickles and other saucy accoutrements that go in alongside it too.

Wraps are stuffed with your choice of pickled cabbage, potato, salad, tahini, chilli sauce and lashings of fresh hummus, with grilled aubergine and optional extra. Go Falafel also makes its own fresh juices to order, which are well worth a try.

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And that should be your fill. To be honest, if you’re still hungry and looking for more after that then we’d be seriously worried about your health and/or addiction to butties, though we do sympathise.

Bread is, after all, one of the single greatest inventions in human history.

Last but not least, we hope it goes without saying that this is by no means a totally exhaustive list of the best sandwiches in Greater Manchester and we’re sure you can find the perfect place for you elsewhere in the 10 boroughs if you don’t find it here – and please let us know where it is if you do!

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Every week is National Sandwich Day if you ask, so you might as well celebrate properly.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – The Manc Group

Eats

Oslo-born Doug’s Hamburgers is opening in Manchester, serving adult ‘Happier Meals’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Oslo-born Doug's Hamburgers is opening in Manchester, serving adult 'Happier Meals'

Critically acclaimed burger joint Doug’s is heading to Manchester for the first time, serving up grown-up ‘Happier Meals’.

The burger brand started life in Norway but is led by a very northern team – they’re also behind Madre, Medlock Canteen and London’s Breddos tacos.

Doug’s is an Oklahoma-style burger restaurant with a menu of classic burgers made with hand-pressed patties from premium dry-aged beef (it’s the thinly-sliced onions inside each patty that makes it Oklahama style).

A classic cheeseburger is the brand’s signature dish, featuring a smashed patty, onions, cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickles and Doug’s special sauce.

There’ll also be fried chicken sandwiches, hot tenders and fries, plus breakfast buns served all day.

The ‘Happier Meal’ is an adult twist on a fast food favourite – you get a burger, fries, and a martini.

Doug’s spot in Manchester will be its fourth restaurant.

It’s set to open on Oxford Road above the recently-announced Amber’s nightclub, open seven days a week from 11am until midnight.

The flagship restaurant on Oxford Road is designed by R2A studio and will be opening this December in Circle Square for eat in and take-out.

To claim a free burger when Doug’s opens, you can sign up HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied

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