Manchester businesses have been opening their doors and welcoming back customers for long-awaited lattes and fantastic filter brews; which is welcome news after 14 weeks of sipping instant coffee.
Costa Coffee recently made headlines for giving all their coffee club members 300 points – the equivalent of £3 – as a “welcome back” token for customers. But the luxury of being able to provide free drinks simply isn’t possible for smaller businesses who have been struggling to keep their heads above water during lockdown.
We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to local coffee shops in Manchester – and you can show your support by heading down to visit some this weekend.
Northern Quarter is renowned for its alternative and independent stores. But their cafes are second to none.
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One perfect case in point is Soul Coffee.
Situated on Great Ancoats Street, Soul Coffee is a unique coffee and gelato bar serving speciality blend drinks, handmade Italian Gelato and some disco dancer brunch & dessert items.
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The headliners of the menu are the decadent desserts all whimsically named after popular soul songs, from ‘Just to keep you satisfied’ french toast stack to their ‘I heard it through the grapevine’ Lotus Biscoff Milky Shake.
Soul Coffee is the only place in Manchester which offers true Italian Gelato in multiple forms from a sweet Affogato to a classic scoop on cone. With more hot weather on the way, it could be worth ducking in.
Idle Hands
Idle Hands is the place to go for a piece of pie and a cuppa.
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The venue excels in pastry-making; baking all kinds of exciting flavours and creations from coffee, cookies and cream to sticky toffee pudding!
Aside from pie, you can also enjoy a lovely lunch menu and treat yourself to a cheeky glass of vino whilst you’re at it.
You can order and collect online or go in as normal – but it’s worth noting that opening times are subject to change as they adjust to the new climate.
Vienna Coffee serve everything from breakfast (named after areas in Manchester like ‘Deansgate’ and Castlefield’) to Sunday roasts or quaint afternoon tea.
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This family-run business is located nearby to St Peter’s Square, serving up a wide variety of delicious dishes.
But as good as the food might be, the clue’s in the name. Customers just can’t get enough of that coffee.
Vienna have their own amazing blend; Guatemalan, Indonesian and Rwandan beans, freshly roasted which they create into a classic Viennese coffee.
ManCoCo is a hidden roastery and café tucked beneath the arches of Hewitt Street in the ever-evolving neighbourhood of Castlefield.
Selling, ethically-sourced coffee from single origin farms and estates, ManCoCo hand-roast the beans right here in Manchester – serving them in fresh cups of coffee or grounded powder to go.
They’ve also got a wide range of organic, artisan teas available, along with own range of cool branded cups.
If you’ve had a bit of a heavy night and need a little pick-me-up for the morning, ManCoCo is the perfect place to visit and get your hands on a strong Mancunian coffee.
Federal has proven so popular they’ve had to branch out.
Now, the popular cafe has two spots in town – one in Deansgate and another in Northern Quarter.
Federal prides itself on “Antipodean happiness” in Manchester, serving food and drink that has seen customers coming back in through their doors since 2014.
Both cafes are open for walk-ins only; serving breakfast, all day brunch, lunch options, coffee and cocktails!
They regularly run enticing deals on their socials – including a bagel and coffee for £5.
Another caffeine pit stop in the Northern Quarter is Ezra & Gil; Ezra meaning ‘Helper’ and Gil meaning ‘Happiness’.
E&G was wildly popular before lockdown and nothing has changed in that respect – although the look is a little different with perspex screens and a new ordering system in place.
Known for eclectic coffees from white chocolate matcha lattes to a range of fun iced drinks, Ezra & Gil even has its own an app where customers can click and collect if you prefer.
They’re also open for visitors to sit in or take away.
An ultra cool cafe tucked away down Tib Street is Siop Shop.
This lovely little venue specialises in amazing baked goods – especially their beautiful and indulgent doughnuts!
As well as doughnuts, you can take your pick from a number of exciting savoury options which are updated regularly, including sausage rolls, snickerdoodle cookies, and salted caramel brownies.
You can follow your nose or find them on Tib Street NQ.
Home Sweet Home have won the outdoor seating game in Manchester – creating a European-style continental alfresco section that spreads right through Edge Street.
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While dining outdoors you can scoff down some decadent cakes, sip shakes and tuck into a range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
A crowd favourite is the pancakes. Order them and you’ll quickly find out why.
Ultimately, Home Sweet Home is the place to be if you want to soak up some Manchester atmosphere (and hopefully sunshine) whilst chomping on a large wedge of cake!
Chapter One Books is a quirky cafe and bookstore where you can read to your heart’s content in the centre of the city whilst sipping on fresh coffee and munching a slice of homemade cake.
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The Lemon Drizzle and Earl Grey comes highly recommended, and the coffee is cracking, too – making Chapter One an ideal spot to curl up with good book.
Top tip: Make sure you arrive early.
It can be tough to get a seat, sometimes; such is the popularity of the place.
Head over to their website to read more on this NQ hotspot.
Outside of the city centre is a beautiful tearoom in Chorlton.
Tea Hive takes inspiration from our Mancunian worker bee and serves hearty brunch and lunch dishes alongside mouthwatering cakes! They use loose leaf tea and artisan coffee so it’s a real treat to go in and enjoy not only the atmosphere but the amazing quality of food and drink.
The most popular choice amongst locals is their Sautéed Mushroom on toast (vegetarian & vegan) – washed down with one of their 10 different types of hot chocolate.
That will definitely hit the spot.
The Manc is supporting Manchester’s independent businesses with the hashtag #buzzingtobeback so if you fancy exploring more of what the city has to offer. Let’s continue supporting local independents to get the region buzzing once more!
Read more about what we’re doing for the industry here.
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.
Jess Walmsley -
14th July 2020 
