St. Patrick’s Day in Manchester is biblical, no doubt about it, but getting in amongst the mile-long queue is another question entirely – so it’s a good job Albert’s Schloss is offering a grand auld alternative.
Arguably one of the best, biggest and admittedly busiest bars in all of Manchester city centre (for good reason), Albert’s Schloss on Paddy’s Day is becoming an increasingly popular annual event, with not just hundreds but literal thousands filing in and out of the beloved Germanic beer hall over the 24 hours.
Having spent St. Patrick’s evening here on more than one occasion, we can certainly vouch for the vibes as the night rolls into the early hours, but they’re offering food, booze, entertainment and more all day long on what many refer to as the holy day.
And by many we mean us. It’s our holy day.
St. Patrick’s Day Manchester is always a belter, but this has to be one of our favourite venues for it (Credit: Supplied via Albert’s Schloss)
For starters, what do Bavarians and Irish have in common? A love of great beer, good craic and party vibes. With that in mind, this St. Patrick’s Day, Albert’s Schloss is painting the town green with a two-week celebration of all things Irish.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kicking things off from this week – Wednesday, 5-Monday, 17 March – expect rivers of Guinness, plenty of Jameson whiskey, even more epic feasting, live music and even the chance to test your luck with some Paddy’s Day surprises, Albert’s Schloss is about to party hard enough to make St. Patrick proud.
During this special two weeks and this period alone, Schloss will be pouring pint after pint as well as Guinness-inspired specials and food flavoured with black gold, plus promising plenty more.
ADVERTISEMENT
From pints of the ‘Baby Guinness‘ shots to rich and hearty dishes like beef and Guinness pie, or indulgent sweet treats such as the Guinny and ginger sticky toffee pudding, they’re going to be ramming everyone’s favourite drink down people’s throats and we’ll be there with mouths wide open.
Better yet, on the Sunday and Monday of St. Patrick’s Day weekend (16-17 March), guests can roll the dice to win an array of exclusive prizes, from free drinks and desserts to Jameson merch or even a fully comped bill worth up to £100. Yes, you heard that right.
ADVERTISEMENT
On the Sunday, the Schloss team will be handing out 150 Jameson and limes drinks on trays across the venue early in the evening, “to get the party shamrockin’.”
And of course, no Schloss party is complete without top-tier entertainment. Get ready for live bands, folky Irish tunes, a ‘Sunday Service’ with a St. Paddy’s twist; walkabout performers, Vegas-green showgirls for a sprinkling of burlesque, as well an interactive game show host to keep the energy high.
Put it this way, we always have an absolute riot in here…
Take it from the beloved Manc bar themselves: “With fire-lit revelry, Bavarian feasting, and plenty of Irish spirit, Albert’s Schloss is the place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.”
Walk-ins will of course be welcome as they always are but if you want to try and beat the crowd and secure a table to dance on – well, you can dance on the benches but you catch our drift – you can book your place HERE.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s fair to say that the Irish boom across Greater Manchester is well and truly in full swing, with more and more venues popping up all over the place, and long may it continue.
Featured Images — Albert’s Schloss (supplied)/The Manc Group
Eats
The Greater Manchester book café serving literary afternoon teas and build-your-own bouquets
Daisy Jackson
If you like your afternoon tea with a side of good books, there’s a Greater Manchester café where you can quite literally have your cake and read it too.
Tucked inside this charming bookish spot, afternoon tea arrives with an unexpected twist. Rather than being presented with the usual three-tiered stand, you’re handed a stack of heavy hardback books.
But don’t start worrying that you’ve accidentally wandered into a very niche library club. The books are hiding something.
Lift the covers in Peony & Parchment – or, more accurately, open the book-shaped boxes – and you’ll discover a full afternoon tea concealed inside.
There are dainty sandwiches to get stuck into, including tiny egg mayo, herby chicken salad, ham and mustard, and cheese and tomato focaccia, alongside a little quiche.
Then comes the scone – classic, fluffy and ready for the obligatory dollop of clotted cream and jam. And, because no afternoon tea should leave you feeling like you’ve been short-changed in the cake department, there are five miniature slices to work through.
Afternoon tea concealed in a stack of booksSome of the other bakes on display
There’s a Victoria sponge with a dreamy vanilla cream, lemon drizzle, rich chocolate cake, a Bakewell slice and a pecan pie, all sourced from a local bakery just across the alleyway.
It’s all served with a pot of tea or coffee, with the option to add a glass of prosecco.
And the bookish theme doesn’t stop at the afternoon tea.
Downstairs you’ll find shelves packed with books, including the intriguing ‘blind books’. Instead of judging a book by its cover, you’ll be given clues and a short summary of what lies inside before taking a gamble on your mystery read.
Downstairs in Peony & Parchment‘Blind books’A role playing village for kids
There’s also plenty here to keep younger visitors entertained, thanks to a children’s area complete with a mini role-playing village.
And if books and cake weren’t enough, there’s another string to this café’s bow.
The Bloom Bar lets you build your own bouquet. Choose the size you want, then wander around selecting your own stems and foliage to create something that’s uniquely yours.
You can build your own bouquetThe Bloom Bar at Peony & Parchment
Of course, you don’t have to be visiting specifically for the afternoon tea. The wider menu includes tapas, full breakfasts and sandwiches, making it just as suitable for a leisurely brunch, lunch or coffee-and-cake stop.
So whether you’re there to discover your next favourite novel, assemble a bouquet, entertain the kids or simply eat your way through five different miniature cakes, this is one café where there are plenty of chapters to explore.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Danny Jones -
5th March 2025 
