Make the most of your day in one of Manchester’s most creative neighbourhoods with our insider’s guide to the best things to eat, drink, and do in Chorlton.
With some of the city’s best bars, cafes, and independent shops, Chorlton has long held the title of Manchester’s most bohemian suburb.
The area’s often named as one of the best places to live in the UK — and with so much to offer and gorgeous green spaces nearby, it’s easy to see why.
Stuck where to begin?
The Manc’s got your back.
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Make the most of 24 hours in Chorlton with our guide to the best the neighbourhood has to offer.
Chorlton is a brunch lover’s paradise, with loads of quirky independent cafes to choose from.
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Start your day by fuelling up with a hearty full English at Mary & Archie.
With brunch served till 3pm, it’s okay if you fancy a lie-in — this much-loved local gem will have classic breakfast dishes ready to go when you arrive.
They champion locally-sourced produce and there are plenty of veggie and vegan options, too.
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If you’re feeling creative, give the breakfast burrito a go.
It’s easy to spend a whole day strolling around Chorlton Ees — it’s a great place to take the dog for a long walk or to go on a bike ride along one of the many trails that lead to the River Mersey.
The perfect Sunday afternoon? A walk with friends around the nature reserve followed by a pint at the Horse and Jockey pub, ideally located on Chorlton Green.
Continue the book theme by popping to Chorlton Library.
This Grade 2 listed building has been at the heart of the community since it opened back in 1914 and has recently undergone a major refurb.
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It’s also Manchester’s second busiest library and hosts the Chorlton Book Festival every year.
There are brilliant shops to browse all along Beech Road, like The Curious Fox pictured below.
The Curious Fox. Credit: The Manc Group
Next, tuck into a hearty late lunch on the terrace outside the legendary Barbakan Deli.
Enjoy a fresh quiche, homemade soup or hot ciabatta sizzler while sipping on a cup of award-winning Italian roasted espresso.
All the breads, cakes and pastries at Barbakan are baked throughout the night on-site, so get ready for a seriously delicious smell when you walk through the doors.
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We believe Sunday lunch is the most important meal of the week, so don’t miss out on getting your hands on a delicious roast dinner if you find yourself in Chorlton on a Sunday.
The Chorlton Green serves one of the entire region’s best roasts, and even does a version for dogs so your pet can join in on the wholesome times.
There’s a choice of chicken, beef or nut roast served alongside carrot and suede mash, perfectly crisp roast potatoes, stuffing, seasonal vegetables and a giant Yorkshire pudding.
Kick off the evening with a couple of pre-dinner drinks at The Beagle.
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A long-time Chorlton favourite, this laidback neighbourhood bar has a welcoming atmosphere and offers 15 keg lines and three cask pumps – all serving modern, seasonal beers.
They have a belting happy hour too, running 4pm til 7pm Sunday to Thursday, and all day Monday, with £4.50 pints, £6.50 cocktails and £19 bottles of wine.
Once you’ve polished off your tipple of choice, head out for dinner at one of Chorlton’s many fantastic restaurants.
Bar San Juan, a Spanish restaurant in ChorltonBar San Juan, a Spanish restaurant in Chorlton
Bar San Juan is a small authentic tapas bar that’s been providing locals with some of the best tapas outside of Spain for over a decade.
The lively interior is sure to warm you up on even the greyest Manchester day.
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It’s frequently named one of the city’s best tapas restaurants and serves traditional dishes along with some modern twists on classic Spanish cuisine.
Just a few doors down is The Jane Eyre too, a relative newcomer to the neighbourhood after building up a loyal following in Ancoats.
The Jane Eyre bar and restaurant in Chorlton. Credit; The Manc GroupThe Jane Eyre bar and restaurant in Chorlton. Credit; The Manc Group
Here you’ll find brilliant cocktails and seasonal small plates in a beautiful mid-century restaurant and bar space.
Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | April 2025
Danny Jones
Fashionably late to the party this month, but we’re sure you’ll forgive us because we’re back with yet another stellar lineup of Manchester bands and artists for you to get your teeth into – some new, others criminally unsung, and all equally brilliant.
Your playlists are about to get a good old refresh.
In case you’re new around here, we here at The Manc and Audio North set aside some time every month to look back on the local musicians we’ve been listening to over the last few weeks.
Whether they are Greater Mancunians born and bred or they’re adoptees who have made Manchester their musical home, anything goes and there’s always something for everyone. Let’s get stuck in.
New Manchester bands and artists we’ve been listening to lately
1. Strawberry Lemonade
First up is the delightfully dubbed Strawberry Lemonade, who sound even sweeter than their name, not in a sugary pop music way, but in the sense that sliding guitar riffs as well as plenty of fast-paced strumming and drumming feel like you’ve just necked a glass of, well…
There’s a classic rock and roll swagger to their music, and while many might argue that a lot of new Manchester bands are trying to nail this kind of sound – already a challenge in a city so oversaturated within this genre – they’ve managed to catch our eye.
Having recently headlined a sold-out show at the iconic Deaf Institute, one thing we know for sure is that they’ll be moving on to even bigger venues sooner rather than later. In terms of standout tracks, we rate ‘Nightime’ and ‘Control’; plus, you’d be a fool not to give their latest single ‘Bother At All’ a go.
Next up is the alliterative Danny Darlington, who seems to have emerged out of nowhere to pique our curiosity with some of the most sprawling and varied songs in less than 12 months. He quietly released his first song back in March 2021 but we’re definitely paying attention to his most recent work.
To call it indie would be a major oversimplification; alt-pop doesn’t quite fit either – all we can tell you is that the solo artist from Bury seems to be more than happy pushing in different directions and experimenting with different sonics, with more effects, pedals and electronics being thrown into the mix.
‘Freya’ is a fantastically chill tune, ‘How To Feel’ ends with a really pleasant and punchy surprise, and we’re big fans and one of his older tunes, ‘Parma Violets’, which has a recognisable contemporary indie vibe with some great production for someone who was still just starting out.
3. Nightbus
Fittingly for number three, we’ve got a trio and a band that feels like one of the Manchester music scene’s best-kept secrets somehow. Seriously, we’re genuinely kind of annoyed that more people don’t know about Nightbus because they’re absolutely brilliant.
The xx, New Order and Cocteau Twins are some of the names that come to mind when making our way through their still limited discography, though there is a very fun collection of remixes of their work so far, which genuinely rival some of the original versions.
Also, it might only be a little thing, but we really like the very uniform aesthetic and visual style too; the album artwork typeface almost hints at limited gig poster prints with that self-contained theme per album cycle, a la The 1975. ‘Way Past Three’, ‘Average Boy’, and the E24 mix of ‘Mirrors’ are our three.
Such a jam.
4. Conor & The GreensKeepers
The penultimate name on our list is a collective that has actually been around for a while now and is steadily starting to earn some of the profile they’ve been long overdue in our opinion, but we’ll never tooting our horns about these lot. They’re also utterly incredible live.
Fronted by lead singer and charismatic performer Conor Michael, The GreensKeepers are some of the most underappreciated artists anywhere in Greater Manchester right now, and no matter how many new bands come along, we firmly believe these 13 unbelievable musicians deserve your attention.
As for picks, recent release ‘Roundabouts’ has that UKG and rap flavour they enjoy; ‘U + I’ is now a go-to lo-fi work soundtrack, and ‘Sip from a Rose’ is their spin on jazz and neo-soul in a nutshell. Put simply, it’s music that makes you feel something from the first note and almost never fails to inject a bit of joy.
Arriving by way of Birmingham, the Manchester-based group will be returning for MJF 2025 as well as Green Island Festival.
5. Slap Rash
Last but not least, we’re finishing the loudest, most raw, raucous and in-your-face artists we’ve probably ever put on one of these lists, and it comes in the form of the ferocious duo known as Slap Rash. Great name, even better ragers.
This absolutely riotous project is the brainchild of locally-based brother-and-sister partnership, Amelia and Huw Lloyd, who might just have knocked the likes of Royal Blood off the top spot for making the most noise that is physically possible for two humans to make.
We honestly love this pair. It’s the epitome of thrashy hardcore with an unhealthy dose of distortion, boasting hints of Drenge, early IDLES, Demob Happy and more. We genuinely don’t know where to best to start, but ‘Holy Smoke’ puts hairs on your chest, ‘Griefcase’ is class, and so is ‘Histrionic’.
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Swordplay and rock ‘n’ roll: A Knight’s Tale comes to Manchester Opera House
Danny Jones
From the moment the curtain rises at Manchester Opera House, A Knight’s Tale bursts into life with exhilarating energy. This stage adaptation of the beloved 2001 film expertly blends medieval spectacle with a bold, modern twist.
Full of jousting tournaments, noble quests, and underdog triumphs, the production delivers both heart and high drama – all with a heady dose of rock ‘n’ roll.
At the centre of it all is William Thatcher, a young squire who dares to defy his lowly birth and enter the world of high-born knights. Played with charm and confidence by Andrew Coshan, William’s journey from peasant to jousting champion is rousing, if occasionally veering into heroic cliché.
Still, Coshan’s likability and natural charisma keep the audience cheering for him through every lance charge and dramatic monologue. The supporting cast also shines.
A standout is Eva Scott, whose comic timing and delivery consistently land laughs, often stealing scenes with her sharp one-liners.
Meanwhile, Meesha Turner brings elegance and spark to the role of Princess Jocelyn. Her powerful vocals during the show’s pop-classic ballads transform the character into a fiery, modern princess you can’t help but root for.
The production’s standout sequences are undoubtedly the jousts, theatrical set pieces that are an absolute masterclass in stagecraft. Using a clever combination of rigging, physical choreography, and dynamic sound design, the creative team conjures a truly immersive atmosphere.
Dramatic lighting and resonant sound effects make you feel the thud of hooves and the crash of lances. The cleverly designed set, featuring an arena-style jousting field, draws the audience into the action in a way that feels fresh and cinematic.
However, the show stumbles slightly in its quieter, more emotional scenes. The dialogue, while laced with humour, sometimes dips into melodrama. The villain, Count Adhemar, feels a touch underwritten, with motivations that don’t quite match the emotional weight the story strives for, but is still well-acted.
Don’t just take it from us: the A Knight’s Tale reviews from Manchester crowds are already very strong.
The stakes between him and William never fully build to the payoff they could – leaving certain dramatic beats a little flat. Musically, the show makes a bold departure from traditional scores. Instead, it leans into a soundtrack of classic rock anthems; think Queen, AC/DC, The Who and more.
At first, it seems like an odd match for a medieval tale, just as it did with the movie, but it works brilliantly. The music injects the show with rebellious energy and gives it a timeless quality. It’s loud, bold, and exactly what this high-octane tale of ambition and identity calls for.
A special mention must go to the ensemble and choreography. The jousting scenes are beautifully choreographed, blending acrobatics, dance, and swordplay with seamless precision. Even in quieter moments, the movement on stage supports the storytelling with subtle grace.
But the unexpected stars of the show? The horses. Designed with clever costume and movement illusions, they create the convincing effect of riders in full gallop – and at times, they very nearly steal the spotlight altogether.
Credit: Supplied
Though clearly aimed at adult audiences, with its cheeky humour and classic rock soundtrack, the show flirts with the spirit of panto, oversized characters, regional accents, and exaggerated physical comedy. And it works.
The regional dialects add warmth and levity, grounding the fantasy in a cheeky, very British sensibility. In the end, A Knight’s Tale is a triumphant and entertaining spectacle, an electrifying mix of medieval mythology and modern musical theatre.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the original film or seeing the story for the first time, this production offers a fun, fast-paced, and surprisingly heartfelt night out. It’s not perfect, but it’s hard not to be swept up in the clashing swords, galloping hooves, and power chords.
Put simply, this is a knight to remember – with a soundtrack that slays.
Rachel Kevern -
24th January 2024 
