If you’re not drinking this January, or you’re looking to cut back, you’re in luck because the offerings for no and low alcohol alternatives in Manchester have, quite frankly, never been better.
Clever bartenders across the city have created new takes on classic cocktails like espresso martinis, negronis and amaretto sours, without the percentage.
The number of adults in the UK that no longer drink alcohol is at an all-time high.
Data from the Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE) show around 16.2% of people in the country now abstain completely, an increase of around 0.7%, whilst binge drinking has also reduced from 16.4% to 15.4%.
There’s a generational divide too, with the Alcohol Education Trust reporting that among 16 – 24 year-olds in 2018, an overwhelming majority of young adults (78 % of men and 85% of women) now go out to enjoy themselves and socialise, not to get drunk.
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Image: Nell’s at KAMPUS
Overall, ‘mindful’ drinking appears to be firmly on the rise, and it seems like in connection with that the traditional cold-turkey abstinence associated with Dry January could finally be on its way out.
In its place, many are opting to switch to low and no alcohol options – be that beers, cocktails, wines, or ‘spirit’ mixers – and the good news is there are so many different places you can go out in Manchester to enjoy them.
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The timing couldn’t really be better. Hospitality really needs our support this month, after most businesses saw eye-watering losses over Christmas – a period that typically brings in triple the takings of a ‘usual’ month in the trade.
Elaine Wrigley, co-owner of the popular city centre gin bar Atlas, which boasts the biggest collection of gin in Manchester, said they were “definitely seeing a lot more interest” in their low and no alcohol gin alternatives this year.
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Image: Atlas Bar
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen a year on year growth, in interest, for non-alcoholic options, that are appealing to adults, and a genuine alternative,” she told The Manc.
“The emergence of known Gin brands creating zero alcohol alternatives, really does let us push the boundaries, though, and Tanqueray can be used to create a fabulous Gin Sling alternative, or Tom Collins.”
The gin bar, which stocks so many different bottles it’s created its own digital Gin Bible, also stocks a range of low-alcohol alternatives such as Seedlip, Tanqueray Zero, Gordon’s Zero, vegan-friendly ‘spirit’ Everleaf and Tuscan Tree, which is made in the style of a classic Italian apéritif.
Using these, they can make non-alcoholic cocktails like ‘nogronis’ – as well as offer a range of different ‘gin’ and tonic serves using premium mixers.
Image: MOJO Manchester
On the other side of town Manchester party bar MOJO, a spot where you might typically find yourself dancing on tables at 4 in the morning (surely it’s not just us?), has been selling a non-alcoholic range of cocktails for over a year in its venues.
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These are not mocktails but real cocktails using a range of nonalcoholic spirits created by Lyre.
James Hudson, business development and training manager for the group, which now has six bars across the UK, told us that a growing trend, which sees drinkers increasingly opting to alternate between alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, was one of the key drivers in creating the menu.
Image: MOJO
As a result, the bar now offers the 12 most popular cocktails from its 120-strong list as alcohol-free versions – and, he adds, they even had to change the name of one, an Amaretto Sour, as customers genuinely couldn’t tell the difference.
He said: “We looked at sort of ten or twelve out of our most popular cocktails out of our list of 120, and went, we want people to have those top twelve drinks – look the same, smell the same, taste as close as we can to it – erm, you know, and I think we’ve pretty much achieved it.”
He also touches on a point that’s growing in popularity, the idea that zero-proof drinks don’t mean we can’t have fun – but rather that we can remain in control on a night out.
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“Really if you’re stood next to somebody, if you didn’t want somebody to know you weren’t drinking, or you know when you can sometimes be out with a group of friends and some people are egging you on a bit, you think ‘I wanna keep drinking, I want to enjoy the night but I don’t want to drink any more alcohol […] because I don’t want to get too drunk’ […] people would be none the wiser.”
Image: Tariff and Dale
Elsewhere, spirits distributor Mangrove is working to promote ‘mindful January’ with a great range of drinks stocked at the likes of Tariff and Dale, the Common group (The Beagle, Nell’s at KAMPUS, Common), The Washhouse, Purezza, Motley and PLY.
Over at Nell’s, you’ll find a ‘dryish January’ menu featuring the likes of the Lo-Groni (a low ABV take on everyone’s favourite gin cocktail, made with Portobello Temperance, Aperol and vermouth), alongside a Manchester Mule, Lipton-inspired Peach Tea Spritz, and a drink that needs no introduction – the Virgin Mary.
NQ vegan pizzeria Purezza, meanwhile, is serving up drinks like La Dolce Vida (an espresso martini twist with Sea Arch 0% ABV, solo coffee concentrate, tonka bean droplet and house vanilla syrup), alongside long, fruity options like Paradiso and Life is Beautiful.
A selection of low and no alcohol cocktails available as part of ‘Mindful January’ at Manchester’s NQ vegan pizzeria, Purezza / Image: Mangrove
The company, which looks after two low and no alcohol gin alternatives, Portobello Road’s Temperance lower-alcohol spirit (4.2%) and Sea Arch non-alcoholic spirit, is also hosting a ‘Wellbeing Weekender’ on the 15 and 16 January at GRUB.
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The entire site will be dedicated to the wellness festival, with Mangrove running no and low cocktails there on the bars, alongside a holistic market and a variety of different events including workshops, guest talks and yoga classes- ranging from sleep yoga to aerial, to a beginners class.
All the funds raised from the weekender will go towards supporting So Let’s Talk, a nonprofit mental health advocacy group that works to better improve the lives and working conditions of those within hospitality.
Founded by Patrick Howley, a former hospitality heavyweight with over a decade in the industry, So Let’s Talk is making big moves to change the narrative around low and no drinks – even going so far as to launch its own collaboration with brewer Tiny Rebel to help raise funds and awareness for its cause.
Image: So Let’s Talk
Featuring artwork by Good Good Graffiti aka Shawn Sharpe, taken from an SLT mural campaign that shines a light on the work they do on the mental, physical and financial health of hospitality professionals, all money from the beer sales go straight back into the nonprofit.
“We wanted to give the industry a product we could profit share on. A way in which we could subsidise some of the cost of our sessions at a time where hospitality businesses may want our services but can’t afford to pay for them,” said Patrick.
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“It was only natural for us to think about creating beers but we didn’t want to offer hospitality professionals something that was potentially destructive.
“So we decided on creating low and no beers that would offer hospitality professionals a mindful option after a shift/ on their days off.
“We use the money from the beer sales to invest in the work we do at SLT be it evolution of our sessions or creation of new products for the industry.”
You can find SLT’s Tiny Rebel collab at a range of different venues in Manchester, including Noho, Feel Good Club, Tariff and Dale, Common and Co,, Revs De Cuba, Vodka Revolution, Wandering Palate, Club House and more.
Image: So Let’s Talk
Image: So Let’s Talk
More venues in Manchester where you can find low and no alcoholic cocktails and beers this January
The Washhouse
Recently crowned as one of the best secret bars in Manchester, The Washhouse has a full section or low no alcohol cocktails on its menu.
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Piccadilly Tap
Piccadilly Tap has got quite a few low alcohol beers on offer including pilsner Bitburger Drive and grapefruit beer Schofferhofer on keg. As for cans and bottles, think Schneider Weisse, Beavertown Lazer Crush IPA, Adnams Ghost Ship Pale Ale.
The Gasworks
The Gasworks on First Street has a decent alcohol free range of beers and is looking to expand it even further this month.
Revolucion De Cuba
Revolucion De Cuba has a great range of alcohol-free cocktails available this month.
Junkyard Golf Club
Junkyard Golf Club has a selection of cocktails available as mocktails.
Food Sorcery
The cookery school in Didsbury has some great low and no alternatives on its bar for those who don’t want to drink alcohol.
First Street Bar and Kitchen, Vocation & Co at Society MCR and Evelyn’s / The Daisy all also get an honourable mention as places to look at when you’re after a decent alcohol free or low alcohol drink.
Featured image – Tariff and Dale / MOJO
Eats
The best afternoon teas in Manchester
Thomas Melia
Afternoon tea has been a British staple since 1840, luckily for us, Manchester has a great selection of places serving this midday tradition.
If there’s one thing Manchester does best after music, sport, style and, you know, everything else it’s definitely food and drink, especially British classics.
There’s nothing better than a good sandwich followed by a sumptuously sweet scone, and a dazzling selection of cakes.
However, if you put all of those things together and bring it out on a meticulously-organised, multi-tiered serving platter, you’ve got the key to the nation’s heart.
When it comes down to afternoon tea we certainly don’t mess around and that’s why here at The Mancwe’ve put together a list of all the best dining experiences that are worth every single penny.
The top 10 afternoon teas in Manchester
1. Kimpton Clocktower, The Refuge
Credit: Supplied
This historic building is serving up elevated classics that you would expect on your typical afternoon tea platter including sandwiches with fillings like truffled egg mayonnaise as well as smoked salmon and pickled cucumber.
Pair these nibbles with all your go-to cuppa choices such as an earl grey and peppermint black, or sample ‘The Refuge blend’ – a fruity and herbal infusion with rosehip, hibiscus, peppermint, blackcurrant, and strawberry leaves.
Once your sweet tooth kicks in, there’s a variety of sweet delicacies with their glazed lemon meringue pie and obvious breadwinner, the treasured scones.
Nothing says grandeur like dining in The Midland and their afternoon tea options are certainly not subtle in any way, shape or form either.
Sandwich fillings are not limited, there’s avocado and chive, chicken, tomato and basil, with many vegan alternatives like the coronation tofu and watercress.
All their scones are served plain however they do offer you Devon cream and a helping of Mrs Darlington’s jam, yum.
Where to find: 16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Price: £45 – £55 per person
3. Grandpa Greene’s, Diggle
Credit: The Manc Group
Ever fancied eating an afternoon tea in an igloo without the below-minus temperature? Well after this you definitely will.
Known and loved for their unreal ice creams, Grandpa Greene‘s are also all-around food caterers and their Afternoon Tea isn’t one you should be missing out on.
Enjoy treats, canapés, and of course, milkshakes made with that ridiculously moreish GG’s ice cream.
Where to find: Ward Ln, Diggle, Oldham OL3 5JT
Price: £24.95 – £29.95 per person
4. King Street Townhouse
Credit: The Manc Group
Quoted on their website as a ‘memorable Manchester experience’, there are two afternoon tea options to choose from.
Indulge in all the sweet treats you can possibly imagine with the ‘Traditional’ serving or if you’re someone who prefers savoury, delight in the ‘High Afternoon Tea’.
The first brings generously sized portions centred around the flavours of the season but always features a scone or two, while the latter sees orzo fritters and cheddar croquettes with cheese and chutney replacing the beloved scone.
This is another city centre hotel that’s putting on a dazzling display of tiered food and definitely not skimping on jam and cream with two pots placed perfectly next to those delicious scones.
There are finger-shaped sandwiches as well as a handful of mini cakes, and the multi-tiered platter exudes the Gotham style with its rose gold-tinged plates and matching teapot.
So why not take your pick at some bite-sized delights while perched high among the Manchester city centre skyline?
Where to find:100 King St, Manchester M2 4WU
Price: From £35 per person
6. The Martlet
Where better to enjoy an afternoon tea than in a historic Greater Manchester building that radiates notoriety and doubles as Rochdale’s newest fine-dining location?
The Martlet is preserving this British cuisine while bringing a modern touch with sandwich fillings like vegetable samosa and raspberry macarons to follow.
Of course, scones paired with the usual egg and cress sandwiches will still be present, but it’s always lovely to see some innovation where possible.
We’re pretty stunned by the whole thing, to be honest.
Where to find: Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
Price: £21 per person
7. 20 Stories
Credit: Supplied
This Afternoon Tea reaches new heights, literally. 19 floors above the city centre is 20 Stories, which are branding itself as ‘The highest Afternoon Tea in Manchester’
20 Stories also has an exclusive mini cocktail pairing option where the drinks are hand-selected to go with your Afternoon Tea, because what fun day ever started with water?
Now all that’s left to do is choose between the Traditional, Piper-Heidsieck or Miniature cocktail Afternoon Tea, we’re really spoilt for choice!
Where to find:No. 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman St, Manchester M3 3EB
Price: £37.50 – £62.50 per person
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8. The Lowry Hotel, The River Restaurant
Credit: Supplied
Enjoy an Afternoon Tea before heading off to your next theatre show – how could your day get any better?
Sample a turkey and lettuce wrap, smoked salmon, crème cheese and white balsamic ‘on a slider’ and a cheese and ham tart.
Vegans are well catered for too with hummus, red roasted pepper and rocket wrap with vegan cream and jam for the scones!
Price: £30 – £40 per person
9. The East Lancashire Railway
Finger sandwiches, homemade scones and patisserie all onboard a vintage steam train, yes please!
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And to top things off, you’ll have a personal waiter on hand for your whole journey ready to attend to however much unlimited tea and coffee you can manage in 90 minutes.
This experience will be nothing but exceptional and all catering is to very high standards, so sit back, relax and watch the views of Manchester go by.
Their afternoon tea is just one of many luxury packages you can enjoy – here’s another one:
Where to find: Bolton Street Station, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0EY
Price: £55 per person
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10. Malmaison Manchester, Deansgate
This hotel really takes the concept of afternoon tea and combines it with a polar opposite: street food.
B&G slider, beef brisket bite, tuna taco and buttermilk fried chicken all for savouries with an unreal lineup of sweet tarts.
‘Fab Lollies’, carrot opera cake, choc chip cookie dough sundae, vanilla crème brûlée and to dust it off, a sticky toffee scone.
Top-rated Manchester chippy Hip Hop Chip Shop confirms it will soon be closing
Danny Jones
Not the news we wanted to go into the weekend writing but, sadly, we have word of yet another loss to Manchester hospitality as The Hip Hop Chip Shop have announced they will soon be closing.
Rated not just one of the top-rated chippies in Greater Manchester but having been named the second beast in the UK back in 2023, Hip Hop Chip Shop‘s success story is one we’ve loved watching.
First opened back in 2014 (how time flies), the chippy started out as nothing more than another street food stall serving out of a converted trailer designed to look like a boombox; it was cool, great value for money and absolutely delicious.
However, now over a decade later and having opened their brick-and-mortar site in Ancoats, the present financial pressures of the sector have taken their toll just like they have so many others and Hip Hop Chip Shop confirmed they will be early closing next month.
Bidding an emotional goodbye on social media, they wrote: “After 11 years, we’re unfortunately joining the chorus of independent businesses in Manchester and beyond, calling it a day.
Although Ancoats was an amazing area for us to embark on our bricks-and-mortar dream, the cost increases from Brexit, Covid, energy, VAT (halving it would save a lot in the industry), BB Loans etc. has meant it’s unviable in its current form – we would’ve had to increase prices much more than we’d be comfortable with to get the margins we need to keep going.
“It’s an extremely tough decision given it’s 15 years since the idea was born in my early 20s – then three mates whilst working other jobs began building it from scratch every weekend, to then quitting our jobs and taking a leap of full-time faith. Ultimately, we need to listen to the head, not the heart.”
Founder Jonathan ‘Ozzie’ Oswald goes on to add, “We wanted to give enough notice to support our amazing team in finding new jobs, making sure all our suppliers are paid up and provide our supportive customers with the last chance to eat/drink/party with us.”
Although they started they are exploring the possibility of keeping their trailer (which made its Christmas Markets debut just this past year) going at regular locations like the Etihad Stadium, the rest of the business as we know will be shutting down in a matter of weeks.
How it all started.The food’s been unbelievable since the start.Credit: The Manc Eats
Sharing a lengthy farewell message in honour of their fellow contemporaries and competitors, equally lauded Chips @ No.8 in Prestwich said: “We honour those who dared to do it differently. The Hip Hop Chip Shop in Manchester city centre were inspirational to us when we were setting out.
“They turned fish and chips on its head and did it how no one else thought possible. Centred on community with a high-quality product that championed sustainability and the alternative, we deemed them Gods of the fish and chip world and untouchable…
“Yet another independent food-based business to succumb to the economic crisis that has enveloped us and to date, the one that has hit us hardest. This latest closure most certainly won’t be the last. The government need to wake up fast and support small independent businesses before there are no more…
“If you haven’t been before then you really should, before it’s too late.”
You can find their remaining opening hours in the full Instagram post and the staff have assured all they’ll be open as normal in Manchester and at the Carlton Club in Whalley Range until their closing party on Saturday, 2 March, where guests can come along and have one last bite – and more than a few beers.
Responding underneath the post, one person commented: “The doors might be closing, but what you’ve done for us will never ever be forgotten. It’s impossible to talk about Manchester Hip Hop without talking about the Chippy.
“From Manchester to Vegas, tales of a Chippy that supported a culture, community and served dam good food will be told with smiles on our faces and heavy hearts.”
As for the Hip Hop gang, they signed off simply by saying: “It’s been a privilege to be able to feed you all whether it’s been at a music festival, kitchen takeover, wedding, corporate party and also put on some top events in a chippy! HUGE thanks for your support!
RIP to HOP, you were the modern Manchester chippy OGs and we sincerely hope it’s not forever.
Nothing short of a perfect plate – you will be missed x