A roast dinner is held dear to the hearts of many Mancunians.
This quintessentially British meal marks a time to gather your nearest and dearest around the table to enjoy one of the heartiest meals you’ll probably have all week, yet with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic having once again forced all hospitality businesses to close their doors to diners since January, aside from takeout and delivery services, it’s been a while since we’ve let someone else chef the roast up for us.
In no particular order, here’s eight more places to choose from.
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Elnecot
Ancoats
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Ancoats’ industrial-themed neighbourhood bar and kitchen should always been on your list of places to hit up if you’re after a Sunday roast, as this two-course feast means you choose from a choice of starters, before tucking in to either beef, poussin, pork belly, roast of the week, or the vegetarian / vegan nut roast.
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All roasts come with a rich range of sides and accompaniments to top it all off.
You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via the Elnecot website here.
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The Refuge
Oxford Street
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“Those dreams of sharing a Roast Platter once more are just weeks away”.
The Refuge is known throughout the city for its slap-up Sunday roasts, with the highlight undoubtedly being the ‘Roast Platter’, which lets you combine a choice of meats on offer with a rich range of sides and accompaniments to top it all off.
A vegetarian / vegan roast option is also available, alongside extensive drinks and dessert menus.
You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via The Refuge website here.
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Volta
West Didsbury
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Ask Didsbury folk about the Sunday roasts served up at Volta, and you’ll only hear good things.
Catering for all tastes, you can choose from either grass-fed rump of Yorkshire roast beef, roasted poussin with lemon and thyme, or the vegetarian / vegan wild mushroom wellington, all complete with a rich range of sides and accompaniments to top it all off, as well as a selection of mouth-watering puddings.
You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via the Volta website here.
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The Jane Eyre
Ancoats
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The Sunday roasts at popular Ancoats hangout, The Jane Eyre, are no doubt some of the finest the city has to offer, with everything from roast beef, roast pork fillet, the special roast of the day and the vegan nut roast all making up the menu, served alongside a rich range of sides and accompaniments, as well as a selection of small plates on offer.
Don’t forget to try out the extensive drinks and desserts offering too to top it all off.
You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via The Jane Eyre website here.
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Hawksmoor
Deansgate
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If it’s fine dining your after for your first Sunday roast in the city once restrictions lift, then you really need look no further than Hawksmoor Manchester, where a slow-roast rump or prime rib for up to three people comes complete with beef dripping roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, carrots, greens, roasted shallots and lashings of bone marrow and onion gravy.
There’s also a range of puddings to finish off with as well.
You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via the Hawksmoor Manchester website here.
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The Bay Horse Tavern
Northern Quarter
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Offering up a modern take on the Victorian pub atmosphere, and with roasts of either chicken, beef sirloin or a mushroom wellington, accompanied by “all the trimmings”, served all day every Sunday, it’s not hard to see why The Bay Horse Tavern is a much-loved Northern Quarter hangout.
A wide range of starters, desserts and drinks are also available alongside your choice of roast.
You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via The Bay Horse Tavern website here.
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TNQ Restaurant & Bar
Northern Quarter
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Sundays are pretty special at TNQ as it prides itself on providing “top notch proper award winning roasts” and was even named runner up for the ‘Best Sunday Lunch’ in the Observer Food Monthly Awards both in 2018 and 2019.
The sought-after roasts include a rump of beef, pork belly, a leg of lamb and the vegetarian kale, chestnut and mushroom wellington, alongside a range of sides served separately.
A selection of mouthwatering starters and desserts are also on offer.
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You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via the TNQ Restaurant & Bar website here.
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Hispi
Didsbury
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Elite Bistros are renowned for their Sunday offerings, and the popular Didsbury hangout, Hispi, is certainly no exception, with a everything from roast beef, pork belly, smoked haddock, sea bream and the vegetarian miso glazed squash all making up the main menu, alongside a selection of sides, as well as a wide range of starters, desserts and drinks.
You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via Hispi website here.
Food & Drink
A huge festival dedicated to tequila and mezcal is coming to Manchester this month
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s first-ever Mezcal and Tequila Festival is taking place this month, filling Manchester Cathedral with tastings, masterclasses, cocktails and street food.
The massive event will see the Grade I-listed building transformed into an agave spirits tasting floor, featuring more than 100 varieties of premium tequilas and mezcals from some of Mexico’s best producers including El Jimador, Ojo de Tigre, El Sueno, Los Arcos, Del Maguey, Cazcabel, Komos, Nixta, Tapatio, El Tequileno, Tiempo and many more.
Festival-goers will be able to gain exclusive insights into the craftsmanship behind these spirits, sampling (responsibly, of course) from dozens of stands.
All samples, plus a limited-edition clay tasting copita, will be included in the ticket price – there’s no token system here and no extra charges for samples.
The new Mexican-inspired drinks festival only debuted in Glasgow back in Spring 2023 but it unsurprisingly went down an absolute storm – after all, what’s not to like a big festival full of booze?
Bartenders will stir up cocktails at the bespoke cocktail bar while the crowds are kept fed by delicious street food, including Mexican-inspired Taco Or Don’t, previously featured at the British Streetfood Awards.
And it’d be remiss of you to leave the festival empty-handed when you can take a taste of Mexico home from the exclusive bottle shop provided by Drinkmonger on site (with discount tokens included in the ticket price).
A tequila and mezcal festival is heading on Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Colin Campbell, one of Copita’s co-founders said: “We’re really excited to be bringing Copita to Manchester. It’s gone down brilliantly in Glasgow the last two years so we felt now was the right time to take it on the road and we couldn’t think of a better place than Manchester to head to next!
“It’s a really easy-going event with a great atmosphere, lots of local street food, shopping and music, so whether you’re an aficionado or a casual sipper we’re confident you’ll have a great time.”
The Copita Mezcal and Tequila Festival will be at Manchester Cathedral on Saturday 14 September.
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Lina Stores is set to open its very first restaurant in Manchester early next year, taking its beloved mix of handmade pasta and deli food outside of London for the first time.
80 years after opening for the first time in Soho, Lina Stores is heading north to open a 150-cover restaurant.
Blending coffee shop, delicatessen, restaurant, and bar, the new space will be styled in traditional Lina Stores shades of pastel green hues, warm timber woods, and terrazzo and timber flooring.
You’ll find bespoke marble tables, original vintage Bentwood chairs, dark green booth seating and opaline globe lighting inspired by the original Brewer Street delicatessen.
Diners will be spoilt with an Italian-inspired breakfast menu, featuring dishes like truffle scrambled eggs with toasted sourdough, Greek yoghurt with Italian Macedonia fruit salad, and a selection of breakfast panini.
At lunchtimes and dinner there’ll be antipasti such as ricotta and herb gnudi fritti with Calabrian chilli marmellata, and tuna crudo with capers, pink peppercorn and salsa verde.
Lina Stores Manchester will have the brand’s beloved pasta dishes, such as the 30-egg yolk taglioni with black truffle, and lamb sausage ragu pappardelle, plus new options like lemon sole and potato raviolo.
For secondi (because this is Italy darling, you can have two mains!) there are dishes like chicken Milanese and Luganega fennel sausage.
And for dessert, it’s set to be a feast of Sicilian cannolo (filled with ricotta, pistachio and chocolate) and tiramisu.
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester. Credit: Rebecca Hope
In the open-plan delicatessen, you’ll be able to grab filling salads, freshly-made panini, and delicate cakes and pastries.
Shelves will be stocked with Lina Stores Collection pantry essentials, from olive oil to traditional biscotti.
And just next to that will be Bar Lina, serving classic and modern Italian cocktails for aperitivo hour until late at night.
Expect favourites like the bloody martini, Rinomata americano, and the basilico with gin, vermouth, basil and lemon.
The bar will have a versatile wine list from all corners of Italy, including the brand’s own signature collection.
Lina Stores Manchester will be located on Quay Street in the recently-refurbished Quoin building, right opposite the Opera House theatre.
Masha Rener, Head Chef of Lina Stores, said: “We’re extremely excited to be opening in Manchester this spring.
“The city feels like a natural home for us considering the area’s rich history, vibrant culinary scene and lively nightlife, and look forward to sharing our passion of great Italian food and produce with the Manchester community.
“Quay Street is the perfect location for us to do so, sitting right in the trifecta of Spinningfields, St John Street and St Peter’s Square.”
Emily Sergeant -
17th March 2021 
