Summer has finally arrived and with temperatures set to soar in Manchester, people will be flocking outside to beer gardens.
With a heatwave on the horizon, the city’s streets will likely be packed with revellers sipping on cocktails and drinking pints out in the fresh air.
We all know the pain of walking pub-to-pub trying to find a seat on a sunny and/or warm Manchester day, so we’re rounding up the best beer gardens in the city to get a seat.
Some of them are massive, some of them are overlooked, but either way, you might actually stand a chance at getting a seat in one of these – if you’re quick enough, that is.
Thomas Street, Edge Street and Stevenson Square
Thomas Street. Credit: David Dixon via Geograph
This was one of the few positives to come out of the pandemic – removing vehicles from a back-to-back stretch of the Northern Quarter.
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It means that the bars along Thomas Street, Stevenson Square and Edge Street can now fill the roads with tables and chairs in one giant beer garden.
You’ll find the likes of Common, Flok, Terrace, Smithfield Social, the Bay Horse Tavern and Wolf At The Door all being given the al fresco treatment.
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The Mews
Image: The Mews
Wine and charcuterie bar The Mews sites on the often-forgot Deansgate Mews walkway, wedged between the tail end of Deansgate and the Great Northern Warehouse.
Its large, secluded outdoor area is the perfect place to try when everywhere seems full – as this hidden gem delivers in spades on food, drink, and sunshine too.
Up here you’ll also find the likes of Siam Smiles cafe, Whistlepunks, Another Hand and Lion’s Den.
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Crazy Pedros, Bridge Street
Image: Crazy Pedro’s
Drenched in sun for the best part of the day, the beer garden at Crazy Pedro’s also happens to be huge – having benefited from a pavement extension thanks to Covid.
You can drink margaritas and enjoy slices of pizza all day here whilst soaking up the rays, but we do recommend trying for a table early – it does tend to get pretty packed come the late afternoon / evening.
Castlefield
Two beer garden institutions both stand in the canal-side setting of Castlefield.
Both The Wharf and Dukes 92 are stuffed to the brim with pub-goers in spring and summer, thanks to their massive terraces – with the terrace at Atlas Bar also a good consideration, being somewhat hidden at the back of the bar, it’s often overlooked by sun seekers.
It always helps that Castlefield is one of the prettiest spots in the city centre, too.
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Escape to Freight Island
This hospitality giant was initially purpose-built with social distancing in mind (wasn’t 2020 a wild ride?!), leading to a seriously roomy outdoor space.
While the bulk of the action has now shifted indoors to the Ticket Hall, Freight Island’s colourful outdoor space is back in its element – now open seven days a week.
You’ll find street food traders like One Star Doner Bar, Madre tacos, Batard, Voodoo Ray’s pizza, Burgerism and Mi & Pho all trading here, on this formerly-forgotten patch near Manchester Piccadilly.
The Oast House
Beer gardens seem to be everywhere in Manchester these days, which is of course a good thing, but we still have a soft spot for the original outdoor watering hole.
Cast your mind back a few years and The Oast House (and its grassy Spinningfields counterpart The Lawn Club) was one of the few venues that really focused on an open-air offering.
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It’s still the same today – masses of tables in the heart of Spinningfields, with live entertainment and a belting Aperol Spritz too.
Hatch
Hatch. Credit: Jody Hartley
Hatch’s little village of shipping containers, each one home to an independent business (from food and drink to retail), is a true all-weather venue.
Part of it is sheltered by the Mancunian Way that soars overhead, other parts are heated by patio heaters, and parts are left in optimum position for soaking up some sunshine.
The rooftop terrace that overlooks the whole space is our personal favourite.
This ‘secret garden’ bar opened right in the heart of the Northern Quarter last year.
Tucked behind those big mint-green wooden boards on Dale Street is a cluster of picnic tables and wooden huts festooned with fairy lights and plants.
It might not be the tropics, but they’ve got the cocktails to trick your tastebuds into thinking it is – we’re talking frozen strawberry daiquiris and frozen pina coladas. Oh, and there’s beer too.
The Corn Exchange
Another corner of the city where bars and restaurants spill outside alongside one another is the Corn Exchange.
Its residents – including Salvi’s, Banyan and Cosy Club – almost all have their own terraces, but it’s the ones on the Exchange Square side who get the most sunshine.
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You might have to queue a little while, but with so much seating, you’ll be sipping a drink in the sun before you know it.
Featured image: Escape to Freight Island
Eats
Bolton butchers wins ‘best burger in Britain’ at national craft butchery awards
Danny Jones
A butchers in Bolton can now lay claim to the title of ‘best burger in Britain’, at least according to an annual nationwide craft butchery awards ceremony.
Pies, comedy, arguably the best ‘kebabs’ in the world and now burgers – Bolton really is a Northerner’s dream, isn’t it?
Taking home not just one but two Diamond awards in two different categories at the 2025 Smithfield Awards where the best of British butchery is put on show each year, Fraser’s Butchers in the suburb of Great Lever got the top nod from the top dogs in the world of meat and more.
Already beloved by locals and multi-award-winning by various regional and national bodies, it doesn’t come as that much of a surprise but Boltonians are nonetheless buzzing for their go-to butchers.
Proud as pork—I mean, punch* (Credit: Supplied)
As mentioned, it wasn’t actually just one particular type of patty that Fraser’s were praised for: the butchers, which has been open since 2003 and is famed for its fresh farm produce, won two prestigious national awards for its ‘Mega Burger’ as well as their Minted Lamb and Halloumi Kebab.
The highly-celebrated Bolton brand’s Diamond double was announced at the Butchers’ Hall in London back at the end of February, beating out nine other artisan butchers from across the UK to be crowned top of their class.
Organised by the Q Guild of Butchers, the awards which have run for more than three decades judge the UK’s finest craft butchery products including sausages, bacon, burgers, steak, game products, BBQ products and more.
Winning in both the Burger and BBQ categories, respectively – in what is widely recognised as the meat trade’s most high-profile and challenging product evaluation – it’s a big accolade in the butchery world.
Fraser’s is the most highly-rated butchers in Bolton.You’re looking at the best burger in Britain.Credit: Fraser’s Butchers (via Facebook)
Products are awarded a Bronze, Silver or Gold award by a panel of independent judges, with all Gold products in each category then pitched against each for the category champion Diamond Award.
Scoring full marks from the Q Guild representatives, Fraser’s popular Minted Lamb and Halloumi Kebab was described by judges as a simply “excellent product.”
As for the ‘Mega Burger’ itself, it scored an impressive 67 points out of a possible 70, with judges noting that it “looks and feels premium and has a lovely blend of flavour.” But the props don’t stop there either.
The butcher also made the final shortlist in the Hot Eating Pie category with its Roast Chicken and Gravy Pie and its Meat and Potato Pie, the Bacon category with its Home-Cured Streaky Bacon; the Al Fresco Dining category with its Pork Pie and the Best Butchers Steak category for its Black Garlic Ribeye – with all five receiving Gold award status.
Fraser’s was also awarded silver status for its Traditional Pork Sausage. Basically, they’re bloody good.
Andy Hull from Fraser’s said: “The ethos of our shop is quality. We start with good quality meat and our butchers work together to make a fantastic quality product whatever it is we do. The Mega Burger is definitely our bestselling burger and we’re very proud of it.
Our Minted Lamb and Halloumi Kebab is another product where we start with good quality ingredients. It’s testament to the BBQ products that we make as we sell them all year round including Christmas week and we never take them out of the counter!
People travel from all over the NW and Greater Manchester to shop with us because they know they’ll get excellent quality meat.”
Gordon Wallace from Q Guild added: “The standard of entries this year was as high as ever, making Fraser’s achievement even more impressive. Being crowned best in class in two categories, along with securing five additional Gold awards, is a fantastic accomplishment.”
Be right back, we’re just making a quick trip to 272 Rishton Lane…
Over the last decade-plus, Grind has expanded right across London with 14 cafes, coffee shops and coffee trucks, as well as its own coffee roastery, but hasn’t yet ventured up north.
It’s also known for its at-home sustainable coffee products, including pods, is a growing presence in retail spaces, and is served on board British Airway flights, stocking Soho House, and collaborating with the likes of Baileys and BrewDog.
They’ll bring their extensive menu of speciality-grade coffee, seasonal food and cocktails to town, for everything from takeaway coffees to bottomless brunches.
Grind was founded back in 2011 when David Abrahamovitch turned his father’s old mobile phone store in Shoreditch into the first Grind cafe.
David says he has family connections to Manchester and has long been looking for the right site for Grind to expand here – then along came St Michael’s.
David Abrahamovitch, Grind founder and CEO said: “We’ve always said that if we were to do a big site outside of London, the first place we would go would be Manchester.
“My wife is Mancunian and her whole family live in Manchester, so I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years and I’ve always thought that a Grind would work well.
Grind is heading to Manchester for the first time. Credit: SuppliedGrind is heading to Manchester for the first time. Credit: Supplied
“We’ve looked at various locations over the years, but thanks to Gary (Neville) and the team at Relentless we think we’ve finally found the perfect home for Grind in St Michaels, in the heart of Manchester. We cannot wait to get open in the summer!”
Gary Neville, Director at Relentless Developments said: “The ambition for St Michael’s was to create a landmark that will become an economic driver for Manchester and bring together major names in a world-class, sustainable development.
“Attracting brands like Grind who have yet to set foot outside the capital is a massive achievement and testament to how hard we’ve been working to deliver our vision for the scheme and city as a whole.”
Grind will open this summer at St Michael’s in Manchester.
Daisy Jackson -
15th July 2022 
