Fallowfield and Withington have long been known as Manchester’s student heartland – but things are always changing in these vibrant suburbs and they make a great day out for anyone.
From community projects that have turned blank walls into artwork and empty fields into giant veg patches, to hip new bars and underground nightclubs, there’s loads going on.
You can never walk through this part of town without stumbling upon some scene of madness or some sort of creative pop-up.
In our next instalment of A Manc’s Guide to: we dig a bit deeper into these brilliant little suburbs just south of the city centre.
Food and drink
Image: Kyotoya
Kyotoya – Famed for its mixed sushi platter, which comes served inside a pretty wooden boat, Kyotoya has been feeding Withington’s students and locals for well over a decade. Reasonably priced, find a range of sushi and sashimi, starters and stir-fried dishes on offer.
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Fuzion – Another longstanding student favourite, as the name suggests the dishes here are all about fusion. This popular noodle bar sits just opposite Sainsbury’s and has been serving up a variety of Pan Asian dishes since 2003.
Tzatziki’s – This family-run business in the heart of student land is credited with getting more undergrads through their degrees than any other local eatery. The gyros are legendary, but you’ll also find a variety of dishes from Greece, with some wider Mediterranean inspiration. Prices start from £4.30.
Fuel – Something of a Withington high street institution, Fuel was cooking up vegan dishes long before anyone thought it was cool. Its quirky interiors make it worth a visit alone, and upstairs you’ll often find live music going on in the evening. Basically, it’s a whole vibe.
Aladdin’s – This Lebanese / Middle Eastern gem is one of Manchester’s oldest restaurants, dating back to 1988. It’s also bring your own booze, with a conveniently-located corner shop across the road. The chicken kebab is a popular order, but we love its fresh salads, fluffy pittas and homemade baba ganoush.
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The Victoria – On any given night, you’ll find locals and students rubbing shoulders inside this traditional boozer. A keg of Old Rosie behind the bar is deemed so strong that it’s only served it in halves, and out the back, there’s a nice little suntrap beer garden (for warmer days). The Vic’s pool table and karaoke nights also deserve an honourable mention, oh and you can generally catch live sport here too.
Southside Tequila Joint – Formerly known as Solomon’s, this little neighbourhood bar has long been the local of one of Manchester’s biggest bar operators. Then, in May 2020, he went and bought into it, turning it into a taco and tequila joint. Happy hour runs from 9-11pm, if you’re watching the pennies.
Herbivorous – A vegan diner specialising in comfort food classics, all the booze behind the bar is also vegan – something that’s harder to find than it sounds. The Big Kahuna Burger (a nod to Tarantino) is a favourite, but the menu also boasts a list of loaded fries, sandwiches and housemade sauces.
Image: Fuel Cafe Bar
Image: Herbivorous
Allen’s Fried Chicken – Every drunken night out needs a fittingly greasy takeaway at its end, and Fallowfield is well-equipped. However, not all late-night takeaways are created equally. Allen’s certainly hits the spot, with buckets, burgers and popcorn pieces galore.
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Michael’s English Cafe – No muss, no fuss, this is the place to come for a greasy fry up the morning after the night before. This family-run cafe is open throughout the day, and you’ll also find paninis, cold sandwiches and freshly-made sandwiches on the menu.
Cafe Blah – Part coffee shop, part bar, part art gallery, this cute little neighbourhood joint also hosts film screenings using a projector that beams onto its back wall and pop-up vintage clothes sales. Well worth a look-in.
The Orion Pub – A Joseph Holt boozer with a good range of ales on tap, this rough and ready pub can be found just on the edge of Withington estate, en route to Burton Road – just before you head into full-blown West Didsbury territory.
Image: Haus Fallowfield
Image: Fuel Cafe Bar
Haus – Said to serve some of the best pizza in Fallowfield, dough here is proved for over 30 hours before being fired up in the oven. Pizza is served from 4pm until late, and Haus also has a decent brunch menu that runs from 10am until 3.30pm every day.
The Friendship Inn – Another solid boozer with a huge amount of outside space, this is the place to be in the summer when you want to sit outside, day drink, and just catch some rays. The beer is pretty reasonable, and there are loads of big screens showing the football if that’s your sort of thing.
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Coffee Lab – Describing itself as the ‘first and only Greek franchise 3rd Wave Coffee in Manchester”, this coffee shop can be relied on for a sugar and caffeine pick-me-up, thanks to its decent barista-made brews and array of sweet treats.
Almost Famous – This dirty burger joint started a revolution in Manchester when it first opened behind an unmarked office door in the office quarter. Ten years later, it’s still going as strong as ever – with its winning fries, house-made sauces, and flaming Molotov cocktails all proving hits with locals.
Shopping
Fallow Garms
When it comes to Manchester’s student heartland, it’s all about the cheap, cheerful, and pre-loved.
Vintage fashion is king around Fallowfield and you’ll fairly regularly stumble across pop-up sales where you can buy kilos of clothing for a few quid.
Fallow Garms is the best in the business, at one point operating out of Haus but now mostly relegated to the online resale haven that is Depop.
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There have also been vintage sales at 256 Wilmslow Road where everything costs less than £20 (so cheaper than a night out, really).
Crossing over into Withington and you’ll find independent gems like Mockingbirds, selling a gorgeous range of women’s clothing (it is print HEAVEN), homewares and gifts.
A Curious Collection is another jewel, which despite moving out of its proper retail space in Withington has continued to thrive.
Now you’ll have to aggressively stalk their Instagram to work out which markets and pop-up events you’ll find their curated collections of art, homeware, accessories and more.
Just recently, Alphaville Emporium threw open its doors above Cafe Blah.
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It’s an independent record store and book shop with seriously sleek mid-century vibes.
Eco-conscious Withington locals will love Lentils and Lather, an eco-friendly and ethical superstore where you can take your own tupperware to fill up with bulk foods and cleaning products.
There’s also fresh bread, ethically-sourced coffee, chocolate, and loads more supplies from local independent makers and manufacturers, all plastic-free and sustainable.
Then, of course, there’s the mighty Platt Fields Market Garden, a phenomenal community project which regularly hosts markets where you can buy plants, food and other handmade items.
You’ll find Manchester Urban Diggers (or MUD) based here too, facilitating all sorts of gorgeous home-grown veggies.
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Nightlife and hotels
Credit: Southside Tequila Joint
One of Greater Manchester’s most successful operators runs a bar out of Withington, so you know you’re in safe hands after dark.
Southside Tequila Joint comes from the same team behind Crazy Pedro’s, Bunny Jackson’s Juke Joint, and Lost Cat, and it’s got a real penchant for tacos and tequila (can relate).
Open until 1am and with a wall full of tequilas, it also knocks out a two-for-one happy hour between 9pm and 11pm – you’ll never want to leave.
Housed in a former church building, 256 Wilsmlow Road is a party venue with a big roster of live events, as well as themed club nights throughout the week.
You can dance into the early hours at the venue’s House Party nights, noughties nights, and at Society Wednesdays, with discount prices on pints, cider, soft drinks, cocktails, bottled beer and shots.
Still going strong is XLR in Withington, where the club nights run allllll week long and the vibes are immaculate.
This tardis of a nightlife hub is a student favourite which gives a platform to up-and-coming DJs – you can see what’s coming up and book tickets here.
Withington Public Hall Institute underwent something of a transformation in recent years, and is now a community hub with pizza, pints, and various creative spaces.
It hosts a load of public and private events, and has just recently tested the waters with some live music.
It all started with Repeater, a new music all-dayer that ran through into the early hours – but we can imagine there’s plenty more to come.
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Culture
Platt Hall. Credit: Instagram, mag_platthall
When most people think of Fallowfield culture, they might think of Owen’s Park, where the culture revolves around student parties and drinking games.
But there’s a bit more to it than the University of Manchester’s biggest student halls lets on.
As is usual with Greater Manchester’s suburbs, you can find a bit more green space and outdoor activities to enjoy around Fallowfield and Withington.
There’s Platt Fields Park, a huge expanse of green with a five-a-side football pitch, tennis courts, BMX track, a lake and boathouse and skatepark.
You can hop on your bike (or scooter, or rollerblades, or just your feet) and travel around the Fallowfield Loop cycleway, which will whisk you all the way to Chorlton along a tree-lined, traffic-free route.
Even walking around the area’s more built-up and urban spots is a feast for the eyes, thanks to the arts project Withington Walls.
Boring old shutters, plain walls, and even electricity boxes have been painted by local artists and turned the streets in Withington into one giant, free, outdoor art gallery.
Locals rave about Withington Baths, and for good reason – this charming Edwardian swimming pool with a full gym and loads of fitness classes is a gem.
Platt Hall has stood on a corner of Platt Fields Park for more than 250 years, and until recent years was Manchester’s costume museum.
Now, it’s going through a transitional phase and goes by Platt Hall Inbetween – while it’s closed to the public most of the time, there are open days where you can come and explore its historic interior.
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Transport
The trams haven’t made it out this way yet, but why would you need them when Fallowfield sits at one end of the bus-laden artery that is Oxford Road.
It’s also one of the more cycle-friendly neighbourhoods around Greater Manchester, perfect for reliable, environmentally friendly and cheap travel around town.
For Withington, it’s just a short walk from Burton Road Tram Stop.
Property
Most of the housing market around Fallowfield is terraced housing, and it’s not all stuffed with student pads.
The average price of a terrace house around here over the last year was £217,857, while semi-detached homes tend to sell for around £306,801.
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In Withington, the average property price is a little more expensive – you’re looking at an average price of £327,805 over the last year.
Here, it’s mostly flats that are sold, for around £230,928, while semi-detached properties bump the average up with a usual price around £384,626.
Featured image: Akse P19 / Track Brewing Co
Feature
The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | October 2023
Daisy Jackson
October will be a big month for new restaurant openings in Manchester, with some of the most high-anticipated launches of the year taking place.
There is, of course, Sexy Fish, that hugely glitzy London establishment that’s moving into Spinningfields at long last.
Also branching across into Manchester in October will be Louisiana fried chicken legends Popeyes, Leeds’ favourite ramen house House of Fu, and Broadway Diner, where wait staff sing musical numbers at you while you eat.
You’ll also find new restaurants to check out right across Greater Manchester, from an Italian restaurant in Stockport’s Underbanks to a couple of new spots at Kampus in the city centre.
Keep reading for all the new restaurant and bar openings in Manchester this October.
Bondi Bowls, Kampus
Bondi Bowls will open its first permanent base at Kampus this September, offering healthy choices to residents and visitors alike.
Bondi Bowls first began life as a delivery-only service during the pandemic before taking on residencies at street food markets Hatch and Freight Island.
Set up by founder Jamie Tones, a chef who has worked in kitchens around the world, the menu takes inspiration from his time in Sydney with a selection of different açaí and poké bowls.
Diners will find an all-day brunch offering from morning to night with global flavour inspirations from the likes of India, Mexico, and Australasia.
Finally, Manchester Victoria is going to have a decent beer bar – and we honestly cannot wait.
The team behind Piccadilly Tap and Euston Tap are at last gearing up to open their new taproom at the city’s original train station, and are promising commuters their arrival will mark a new chapter with ‘no more £7 pints’.
Progress on the site seems to be ticking along nicely with an opening date due in the coming week.
Opening date TBC
Love From, Kampus
Karl Constadine at Love From, a new alcohol-free bar pop-up at Kampus. Credit: SuppliedKarl Constadine at Love From, a new alcohol-free bar pop-up at Kampus. Credit: Supplied
A new alcohol-free pop up bar experience is taking over the bungalow-on-stilts at Kampus next month, promising a series of events that don’t rely on booze.
The pop-up, open between 12 and 22 October, is founded by Karl Considine, who hosts the What Next podcast and shares stories of sobriety.
Love From will help to pave the way for the rapidly-growing alcohol-free market as more and more people turn their backs on booze.
New restaurant Ikaro has opened in the old Panacea site in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupNew restaurant Ikaro has opened in the old Panacea site in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester’s iconic nightclub Panacea – a celeb favourite – has reopened its doors as Ikaro, a new grill and champagne bar.
This lavish newcomer has announced its arrival with huge LED screens that light up John Dalton Street with stunning graphics.
At the restaurant, diners will find two menus focusing on two different elements, fire and ice. On the first, you’ll find Grilled Lobster Tails, Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye, and Australian Wagyu Tomahawk.
On the second an array of Sushi and Sashimi such as Torched Hand Dived Scallops and Bluefin Tuna Otoro.
Open now
House of Fu, Portland Street
House of Fu is opening a new restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Hoot LeedsHouse of Fu is opening a new restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
An all-time favourite of our pals across the Pennines in Leeds, House of Fu will be making its first foray into Manchester in October.
The ramen restaurant will bring their modern ramen, rice bowls and small plates to Manchester from 11:30am every day.
The venue also boasts a late-night party spot, state-of-the-art karaoke rooms, and a private dining room, offering a brand-new feasting menu for parties of up to 30, alongside their everyday menu.
Opening Friday 20 October
Birria Brothers Tacos, Northern Quarter
Birria Brothers Tacos has opened a new Manchester restaurant space beside Koffee Pot. Credit: The Manc GroupBirria Brothers Tacos has got a permanent restaurant space in Manchester. Credit: Instagram
You probably already know Birria Brothers Tacos – they had a queue going right down Oldham Street during one of the many lockdowns when they popped up at Koffee Pot.
And now it’s official, with the team taking over a chunk of Koffee Pot’s cafe and tiling above the door shouting ‘TACOS’ to passers-by.
The order of the day here is almost always traditional birria tacos, a Mexican dish where slow-cooked bef is stuffed into corn tortillas, ready to be dipped in the rich cooking stock.
Open now
Sexy Fish, Spinningfields
Sexy Fish is coming to Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSexy Fish is coming to Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
One of the most luxurious and highly-anticipated openings of the year is due to open this month, with Sexy Fish taking shape in the former Armani site in Spinningfields.
The Manchester restaurant will be the third global outpost for the restaurant concept, which has already seen electrifying openings in London’s Mayfair in 2015 and Miami’s Brickell district in 2022.
On the menu will be high-end sushi, a large Champagne collection with a selection of the world’s top vintages from leading estates, and an excellent sake wine selection.
OpeningThursday 12 October
New Wave Ramen, Tib Lane
New Wave Ramen has opened a new restaurant space in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupNew Wave Ramen has opened a new restaurant space in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
New Wave Ramen has built a reputation for having the best bowls in the city, despite not having a restaurant space of its own – until now.
The Mackie Mayor legends have taken up a two-storey space in a historic building on Tib Lane, serving signature ramen bowls and small plates from the binchotan-fired grill, alongside sustainable seafood.
These giant bowls of broth and noodle are so moreish you could drink gallons of the stuff.
All of us Mancs over a certain age will remember Cord, the legendary Northern Quarter boozer that opened at the turn of the millennium.
Now the founding team behind that institution are heading to Stockport to open Alfredo’s Social, an Italian social, in the Winter’s Building.
They’ll be serving authentic Neapolitan pizza, small plates, salads and charcuterie, with ingredients sourced locally or even grown in their own allotment.
Opens Saturday 14 October
Popeyes, Piccadilly Gardens
FINALLY – Louisiana’s famous chicken chain Popeyes is opening its brand new Manchester restaurant this month.
Known for serving fried chicken dishes with sides like red beans and rice, Cajun fries, mashed potatoes with Cajun-style gravy, Cajun rice, macaroni & cheese, southern-style biscuits, and coleslaw, it’s opening a new location on Piccadilly Gardens.
And then there’s the breakfast menu, with dishes including the Big Breakfast Roll (a sausage patty, egg, streaky bacon, and American cheese in a soft bun), a variety of sausage, bacon, egg and cheese muffins, cajun hash browns, and its famous Louisiana buttermilk biscuits served with cinnamon sugar or Nutella.
Opening Thursday 26 October.
Broadway Diner
A Broadway-themed diner where the wait staff serenades you with hits from your favourite musicals is set to bring a little razzle-dazzle to Manchester.
Staff at Broadway Diner, which comes from the team behind Karen’s Diner, will sing hits from iconic Broadway musicals, like Oliver!, Rent, Lion King, Hamilton, Cats, and more.
The new musical diner, which is set to open in the Trafford Centre later this year, will also host performances from local artists in a bid to give back to the local community and offer a platform for up-and-coming homegrown talent.
Opens Sunday 22 October
Things to do and events in Manchester in October 2023
Zouk in Manchester
Oast House Teepee – The Oast House has confirmed that its legendary Christmas tipi draped in twinkling lights is set to return for the festive season. The Teepee will be made up of three tents joined together with a huge open hub. It opens on Wednesday 11 October.
Madre Sunday roast – Kampus’s excellent Mexican restaurant Madre is launching a Sunday feast menu, where you can order a choice of meat cooked Mexican-style, accompanied by traditional sides including salsa, papas con crema (roast potatoes but better), Refried beans, Elote and grilled cabbage.
Evelyn’s new menu – This Northern Quarter institution has a shiny new menu from October, with seasonal dishes focusing on Levantine and Pan-Asian flavours. New additions include whol Cornish sole, Za’atar lamb chops, picanha steak, and chocolate soufra.
Indy Man Beer Con (IMBC) – Manchester’s enormous celebration of independent breweries is heading back to Victoria Baths between 5 and 8 October. There’ll be talks, tastings, street food, merch, and everything else a beer-lover could possibly want.
Strike Steak at Hawksmoor – Hawksmoor decided in summer to start selling absolute bargain steaks whenever the trains were on strike (so, always), and are now switching the deal up. For £15, you can get a Hawksmoor burger with beef dripping chips, between 12pm and 3pm, on strike days (30 September, 4 October, and 6 October).
Bundo does Oktoberfest – To celebrate Oktoberfest, Bundobust have shaken a spice rack over some iconic German dishes for hungry punters to enjoy alongside a cold German beer. A proper match made in heaven if you ask us. The limited-edition specials will be available until Sunday 15 October,
Bottomless curry at Zouk – For National Curry Week, Zouk’s famous bottomless curry offer is back, with all-you-can-eat curry for £20 per person. The deal is available from Monday 2 October to Friday 6 October, with 120 bottles of Cobra given away each day to the first people through the door.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Feature
The Japanese takeaway with a Michelin-trained chef serving a secret omakase menu out back
Georgina Pellant
Good sushi is a hard thing to find in Manchester nowadays. To be honest, ever since the demise of Umezushi, it has felt out of reach.
Average sushi, however, is suddenly available in abundance thanks to an explosive proliferation of trendy, if soulless, Pan Asian restaurants.
You know the sort. The spots with the claggy, dried-out rice on ostentatious platters, whose chefs stuff cream cheese into the middle of their maki, or disguise its lack of freshness with cascading waterfalls of dry ice.
These spots, with their fake flower walls and neon signs that scream “Pick me!” seem, depressingly, to be taking over. So it’s with relish I can reassure you at least one place in Manchester city centre is doing its bit to remind us what real sushi should actually taste like.
Image: The Manc Group
Image: The Manc Group
Even better, it’s entirely missing the gaudy flamboyance of Manchester’s glitzy Pan Asian sushi scene – so if, like me, you’re not into superficial sushi, you should feel right at home here.
I’m talking about One Sushi, formerly known as Ikkan – a tiny Japanese takeaway shop on Oxford Road filled with little more than a few wooden counters and a cash desk topped with metallic maneki-neko, or beckoning cat.
Opened last year by the team behind China Buffet, a popular Chinese restaurant in the heart of Chinatown, its takeaway cabinets are stuffed with California and red dragon rolls, deep-fried ebi, and various tempting combo platters.
These lovingly packaged takeaway morsels are already considered by sushi fiends in the know to be amongst best in the city, but – whilst they are really good – they are nothing compared to what is coming off the kitchen’s near-invisible pass.
Hidden at the back by a blue flag featuring the One Sushi logo and rolling waves that resemble Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai’s famous Great Wave off Kanagawa print, it’s here that you will reconsider whether you’ve ever really had a good piece of sushi before in your life.
Prepare to be blown away.
The no-frills setup for the omakase, which literally translates as ‘I leave it up to you’. / Image: The Manc Eats
A piece of Otoro tuna nigiri. / Image: The Manc Eats
We’re talking otoro belly tuna, A5 seared wagyu steak (that’s the highest grade you can get), sweet Japanese scallops and prawns, all prepared right in front of you by master sushi chef Eddie who trained at two Michelin star Hong Kong restaurant Zuicho.
All the fish here is super fresh, and the entire style of the menu is down to chef Eddie – meaning he chooses for you, preparing the best of the best from that day.
Priced at £58 per person, Eddie can accommodate up to four people at once for this incredible omakase sushi experience. There’s really nowhere like it in Manchester for this price, in fact the only other place where you can go to experience something like this will set you back at least £200.