A global pandemic might not seem like the time to launch a new business, but these Manchester entrepreneurs have done it with flair.
Overall, it’s been a tough old time for hospitality in Manchester, with tougher restrictions imposed in the region ultimately equating the past two years to one big lockdown – give or take a few months.
Still, for some, the combination of lockdown and furlough gave them a golden opportunity to break away from their day to day payroll drudgery and begin anew – making dreams of owning their own businesses into a reality.
For others, projects began simply by trying to help people less fortunate during their time of need.
Whilst, admittedly, during the first lockdown everyone and their mum seemed to be taking the time to master their own banana bread (making flour more valuable than gold, it was joked), others went a step further and tried their hand at more complex creations – with considerable success.
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Yes, many novice bakers also realised during this period why exactly it is that you pay £3.50+ for a loaf of sourdough as they attempted, often unsuccessfully, to cultivate their own starters. But others mastered that sourdough (or lasagne, or doughnuts, or vegan burgers) – proving that opportunity really can come out of adversity.
Keep reading to discover some of the most inspiring stories of success from the local Manchester hospitality scene, all born out of – or helped along by – the successive lockdowns of the past (nearly) two years.
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Le Social Wine
Credit: Le Social Wine
Conscious natural wine shop and wholesaler Le Social Wine was born during lockdown when owner Jérôme Boullier started delivering wine to his friends (by bike, wherever possible).
Charging a small fee and donating profits to charity, the business quickly grew into a specialist retailer and wholesale – working closely with the likes of General Store, Common & Co, Butcher’s Quarter and Feel Good Club to name a few.
Fast forward a few months and soon Le Social had found a base at Ancoats’ Pollard Yard – joining a community of like-minded thinkers that ultimately lead to collaborations, tasting, supperclubs and takeovers with local Manchester businesses including The Molly House, KAMPUS and Bread Flower.
Founded by chef Mary-Ellen McTague alongside friends Kathleen O’Connor and Gemma Saunders a week before the first lockdown hit, Eat Well MCR began as a drive to feed the NHS but has since grown into so much more.
At the time, panic buying had emptied supermarket shelves and many medics were coming off gruelling shifts to find they couldn’t get anything to eat. Simultaneously, restaurants were still open but had no customers – leaving chefs with empty dining areas and fully-stocked pantries, watching good food deteriorate.
Image: Eat Well MCR
Image: Eat Well MCR
McTague had a brainwave. Facing her own empty restaurant kitchen, with a load of donations of fresh food that had no other place to go, she felt that “the obvious thing to do was to cook the food and take it to those who needed it.”
A restaurant-backed charity, since March 2020 Eat Well MCR has grown into a food poverty-fighting force, creating thousands of healthy and nutritious meals for those in need – mostly families living in emergency accommodation with no cooking facilities.
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Utilising food that would otherwise have gone to waste, the team later launched an online marketplace to support their restaurant partners products and, most recently in the run-up to Christmas as restaurants were besieged with cancellations, Eat Well stepped in to take dinners that had already been paid for and deliver them to some of Manchester’s most vulnerable.
Sulin Baldwin was managing FIN at Mackie Mayor when the pandemic hit. She’d planned on visiting Thailand for a month-long cooking course, but when the borders closed she started her own brioche doughnut business instead..
Her loss was definitely our gain, and perhaps also hers, as she went on to become hugely in demand and now stocks her doughnuts at numerous spots around town including Corner Slice Pizza, Factory Coffee and Mackie Mayor, as well as delivering them herself around Manchester and Altrincham.
Just ‘one woman in her kitchen making artisan brioche doughnuts from scratch’, she recently said “I started out DGHNT in my kitchen frying in a wok (!) and never thought I would be ploughing out the amount of doughnuts weekly that I am now – I am very grateful for you guys!”
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She’ll return in the new year with three new themed boxes, inspired by Willy Wonka, Funfairs and Mexico. Follow DGHNT here.
The Palms Bakery
Image: The Palms Bakery
Image: Slowgoldie
The home of the shaggy cake, we suspect that Rachel Samuels at The Palms Bakery must have made more birthday cakes for Mancunians than anyone else this year. So aware was she of her USP, she even took to selling cards out of the bakery featuring the likes of Carol Baskin, Lizzo and Harry Styles.
Rachel has certainly been in high demand since leaving her job in recruitment to pursue baking full time just before the first lockdown.
Since opening her own unit in Ancoats’ Pollard yard, she’s made hundreds of cakes and even gone on to create cakes to be used as props on photo shoots. They’re so beautiful, we have to say we’re hardly surprised.
Whilst furloughed, Loaf founder Aiden started baking from home to raise money for the NHS. Within a month, he’d raised £1,000 selling just 120 sweetie and chocolate-loaded loaf cakes and carried on baking until restrictions were lifted – at which point he was ready to hang up his apron strings and return to his day job as a manager at Belstaff.
Life, however, had other plans – with Ezra and Gil getting in touch to ask if he might consider baking cakes for their cafes after seeing them on Instagram. Feeling it was ‘meant to be’, he said yes – and hasn’t looked back since.
In the past year and then some, he’s not just supplied Ezra but also Feel Good Club, Hampton and Vouis, Propeller Coffee, Makers Quarter and more. Now, he’s fundraising to open a cafe all of his own on Oxford road.
You can donate to the fundraiser and help make the dream a reality here.
A Pan Asian-inspired food concept curated by Lorcán Kan formerly of Stockport’s Where the Light Gets In, Things Palace first began life as a supper club concept in 2019 but over lockdown became a regular pop-up around town and a frequent fixture at Platt Fields Market Garden.
During lockdown, he also worked on The Sausage Factory, a project from WTLGI that made deli-style items, and The Pickle Factory that made, well, pickles. At the same time, he went on to collab individually as Things Palace with the likes of Issca Wines, Mackie Mayor, Eat Well MCR, Honest Crust and EATMCR at The Refuge.
This September, he announced plans to move back to his native Australia and has taken Things Palace with him – where he continues his good work, with a thriving new business, in his native Melbourne, having just announced his first 2022 event at Sleepy’s neighbourhood cafe and bar.
Good luck to him (and a big well done on escaping plague island). Follow Things Palace here.
Gooey
Image: Gooey
Image: Gooey
Launched just before the first lockdown began, Gooey pivoted the hell out of its business model to become one of the most in-demand at-home bakery delivery services in Manchester.
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First opening inside Wilson’s coffee in February 2020, it soon took its chocolate chip cookie slabs and bulging doughnuts on the road – reopening in May for delivery. By July, they’d opened a kiosk inside Ducie Street Warehouse and can still be found there today slinging all manner of sweet goodies, as well as at Ramona on the weekends.
Owned in part by the team behind Manchester food influencers EATMCR, the success of Gooey has since enabled them to open a second site, Arlos, which sells natural wines, deli snacks from local suppliers, and more adventurous cakes created by the Gooey baker team.
Loaded croissant bakery Saint Croissants was launched during lockdown in May 2020, after Manchester-based Mum Aimée Soudry’s marketing work dried up thanks to Covid-19.
Full of her own creativity, married to a Frenchman and frankly sick of baking banana bread, she began honing her pastry skills.
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Initially, she was just baking her jazzy loaded croissants for family, friends and neighbours to cheer them up during what was a rather bleak time, but after sharing her creations to Instagram they soon became somewhat of a viral hit – and she hasn’t looked back since.
Aimée’s business now boasts a nationwide delivery service, her own ‘Saint Swag’ merch line, offers masterclasses and hosts corporate events.
She also collaborated with Northern Monk Brewery this year, having been chosen for their Patron’s Project, which resulted in a Limited Edition Banana Cronut Flavoured Imperial Stout called Go Bananas – inspired by her cronuts of the same name.
Coming from humble beginnings cooking in a flat kitchen in 2019, to opening a new plant-based kitchen on Piccadilly Gardens, Vegan Shack has to be one of 2021’s biggest indie success stories.
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Dimeji and Saffron have come a long way from spending their last £30 on food for their dark kitchen concept. They opened a store in Collyhurst, which offered deliveries and collections throughout the pandemic, allowing them to go on to open a store in Piccadilly Gardens at the heart of Manchester.
Now their loaded fries, kebab creations, wraps, shakes and more can be found right in the centre of town – and they’re incredibly popular with local vegans.
BadaBing
Image: BadaBing
The home of the two-fisted hoagie, BadaBing first made headlines with its soprano-inspired sandwiches during lockdown – but has stayed the course thanks to an ability to actually deliver the goods.
One of Manchester’s biggest lockdown success stories, they began slinging sandwiches out of a hatch on Back Piccadilly – at the time, considered one of Manchester’s best-kept lockdown secrets.
They later went on to open up a unit in Salford, and can now be found Wednesday to Sunday at Ancoats General Store from 11.30am until they sell out (a regular occurrence).
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Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria
Image: Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria
Five-layer lasagnas from one of the city’s best-known bartenders? It was always going to be a winner.
After leaving his job as a manager at Brewski in Chorlton, Danny ‘Keko’ Smith launched his Lazy Tony’s concept mid lockdown from a dark kitchen on an Ancoats back street.
Promising numerous flavours of lasagne plus Italian-inspired sides and sweets – all painstakingly made from scratch – the hype was real, and he more than delivered.
This year saw him open not one but two sit-down spots, collaborating with Foundation in the northern quarter and his Radium street neighbours Witch Kings Rum on boozy brunches hosted in the terrace behind the Radium street kitchen, as well as keeping collections running from his dark kitchen.
Now he’s on the hunt for a new space as his lasagne empire continues to grow.
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Kong’s Chicken Shop / Meat and Three
Former CBRB bar manager Tom Potts introduced Manchester to his hench chicken sandwiches via pop-up Kong’s Chicken Shop this year – and we haven’t looked back since trying his extra game-changing layer of fried chicken skin, or chicken ‘crackling’.
What began as a collection-only pop-up inside the Oldham street ramen shop where he worked whilst it was closed during lockdown, soon progressed with outside tables, before moving into Salford, then into the Northern Quarter and Foundation on Portland Street before landing at Ho’s in Didsbury Village.
This year also saw the team roll out an amazing fried chicken roast dinner (also served with chicken ‘crackling’), collaborate with Spinningfields bar Clubhouse to serve a brunch menu and, later, incredible Christmas kebabs, as well as launch a second concept called Meat and Three, which is proving just as popular down at Northern Monk Refectory.
Combining homemade sourdough bagels and schmears with hand-tied bouquets of flowers, Bread Flower’s unique brunch concept was the quite hit in lockdown – perfectly hitting the stay-at-home message with ready-made brunches and table decorations delivered straight to your door.
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Established in April this year, longstanding friends Maya Black and Scarlett Jamieson decided to combine their love of sourdough bread and flower arranging after Scarlett moved back from London and Maya found herself with time on her hands to master her sourdough technique and turned to bagels during the first lockdown.
“From making a dozen bagels at home for friends and family to hand rolling hundreds of them ready for deliveries, it’s been quite the journey,” said Maya.
The pair have since moved into KAMPUS, tying flowers and baking from the Aytoun street spot daily before going on to open their own pop-up cafe in the bungalow. Along the way, they’ve hosted supper clubs, yoga events, workshops, and markets, growing from a bagel and flower delivery service to a fully-fledged operation.
How could we forget Birria Brothers Tacos? It’s no secret Manchester has an obsession with anything to do with gravy, so when The Koffee Pot team launched this concept during lockdown it was inevitably going to go mad.
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Creating queues that saw people waiting for two hours or more to get their gravy taco fix (ok, technically it was consomme, but we all called it gravy), Mancunians jostled in line to get their hands on one of the most in-demand lockdown creations of the year.
A roaring success, this concept by The Koffee Pot managed to outlast their other lockdown idea, DD’s burgers, the Instagram page for which still reads ‘laying dormant while we smash Birria Bros Tacos’.
The Birria craze proved that Mancs really will do anything for a good pot of gravy – continuing life as a pop-up every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4-9pm to this day.
The best Mother’s Day deals in and around Manchester this year
Danny Jones
Mother’s Day is one of the most important days on the calendar at any point, not just in 2026, as it’s a reminder to thank our wonderful mums for everything they do for us all throughout the year.
Of course, you should be grateful for them every day, especially since they had the good sense to give birth to bring you to this part of the world, but we know life can get busy.
However, that’s exactly what Mothering Sunday is for: reminding them that you’d roll out the red carpet and shower them with praise and eternal gratitude 24/7, 365 if you could.
So, without further ado, please rifle through some of the best Mother’s Day freebies, deals and offers your mum can enjoy in and around Manchester this year.
The best Mother’s Day deals and offers in Manchester city centre and beyond | 2026
What is it:A stunning boutique hotel in the heart of Manchester city centre, which is home to a rooftop terrace, a hidden cinema, and a lovely British restaurant.
For their Mother’s Day Deal:They’ve launched a new Manchester-inspired afternoon tea (complete with Vimto macaron and a tribute to the chippy tea), and if you book in between 13 and 16 March, you’ll get an exclusive ESPA Beauty & Wellness Gift Bag to celebrate Mother’s Day. Find out more HERE.
NQ64 – Northern Quarter and Peter Street
What is it:Manchester’s much-loved subterranean gaming bar, where the consoles and cocktails are as retro as each other.
Mother’s Day deal:They’re bringing back ‘Shorty Sundays’, which allows under-18s to visit for a whole family afternoon out gaming. It’s running from 11am until 3pm.
The Refuge – Oxford Road Corridor
What is it:A beautiful, grand restaurant space located within the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on Oxford Road, serving everything from eclectic small plates to one of the best Sunday roasts in Manchester.
For Mother’s Day:There’s a complimentary glass of fizz for mums dining on Sunday 15 March, alongside its Sunday roast menu.
You can always grab her some flowers on the way out, too. (Credit: The Manc Group)
The Head of Steam – Northern Quarter, Didsbury and more
What is it:Beloved group of largely Northern boozers, often found at train stations or in key central locations, including a relatively new NQ branch.
For Mother’s Day:A free glass of fizz for mums when you book in advance, available 9-15 March.
Pip at Treehouse Hotel – Central
What is it:A creative new British restaurant from award-winning chef Mary-Ellen McTague, where the cooking is always comforting and seasonal.
The deal:Signature Sunday roasts will be served with a complimentary glass of fizz for mums. Bookings are live now.
Malmaison Manchester Deansgate
What is it: A four-star hotel located just beyond the main Deansgate strip, featuring the downstairs Chez Mal Brasserie, as well as the rooftop Sora ‘sky’ bar and restaurant.
The deal: Two Mother’s Day Weekend packages from £34.95 per person; choose between afternoon tea or Sunday lunch – both of which include a glass of Lombard and champagne truffles for mum.
Albert’s Schloss – Peter St
What is it: Peter Street’s popular day-to-night bars in town, regularly packed most evenings and all weekend, specialising in Bavarian food and drink, live music, and lots of dancing on benches (not the tables, remember). We always recommend booking where you can.
We don’t really need to tell you what goes on in here, do we? (Credit: The Manc)
The deal: A full day of food, drink and entertainment, starting with a ‘Rise and Shine DJ’ set with breakfast offerings from 9am, lots of spritzes in official partnership with Aperol, their usual Sunday roasts, as well as two Mother’s Day special dishes: curry roasted cod with cauliflower, buttered spinach and fennel sauce, and a decadent sticky toffee pudding with Jameson toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream.
The Ivy – Spinningfields
What is it: Surely needs no introduction, this one – the huge three-storey restaurant and brasserie on the edge of Spinningfields that’s a firm favourite with the city’s more glamorous residents.
The deal:There’s a special Mother’s Day Breakfast on Sunday (complete with Champagne, truffled eggs and mini pastries), with a free bunch of tulips and a box of The Ivy Chocolate Truffles to take home for mums. Reserve your table HERE.
Dirty O’Sullivans – Albert Square
What is it:One of the city’s newer Irish bars, doing Sunday roast ‘cauldron’ feasts, pies, and (naturally) lots of Guinness. Perfect if your mum isn’t exactly a dainty afternoon tea type.
The deal:Mums eat free when dining with a group of four or more on Mother’s Day, plus she’ll get a free glass of prosecco.
Mum will be buzzing if you treat her to a proper posh one like this.
Fenix – St John’s
What is it:A stunning and VERY glitzy Greek-Mediterranean restaurant in St John’s, with a bright Mykonos-inspired restaurant upstairs and smart cocktail bar downstairs.
The deal:All mums will receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine or ‘Lady Athena’ cocktail. Book your meal right HERE.
MAYA – Canal Street
What is it: A stylish Canal Street bar with a renovated basement restaurant, serving elegant food and drinks across a total of three floors – a growing Gay Village favourite.
The deal: A special Mothering Sunday ‘Evening With…’ event for one night only featuring Pianist Eden Binks and RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Viola. There’s also a Sunday Roast available to book from 12-5:30pm, as well as all mums and mother figures being entitled to a complimentary glass of Tattinger with food.
Federico – King Street
What is it: One of Manchester city centre’s most gorgeous new wine bars, serving signature cocktails, spritzes, house DJs and even live jazz in a low-lit setting over at Pall Mall.
The deal: Mother’s Day wine flight of three glasses of wine for £15 available on the Sunday only; the team will create a bespoke lineup based on each person’s tastes.
The Cut & Craft – Central
One of the prettiest rooms you’ll ever eat in. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
What is it: Increasingly one of the best-known steak and seafood restaurants in the North, now serving up gourmet plates, champagne bottomless brunches and more from a beautiful old bank on Mosley St.
The deal: ‘Brunch in Bloom’ event, hosted in partnership with local florists, where guests will be welcomed with a bellini board on arrival and guided through creating their own personalised bouquet to take home, along with a brunch dish and goodie bag from Molton Brown. £60 per person, 10am–12pm.
Electric Shuffle – Deansgate
What is it: One of many places to play shuffleboard in the heart of Manchester, but also happens to be one of the coolest spots to do so, with party-friendly food and sharing platters, as well as a healthy supply of drinks.
The deal: Mothers are entitled to a free glass of Prosecco, and the first 100 mums to join the fun will receive a miniature bottle of Mermaid Pink Gin as a gift to take home. You can book now.
Carden Park – Chester
What is it: One of the most luxurious and relaxing leisure destinations in the North West, offering fine food and drink, spa and wellness services, as well as stunning views of the Cheshire countryside.
The deal: They’re doing an afternoon tea offer for £35pp, which can be upgraded to the sparkling version (Prosecco included) for £44, swapped for gin at £42.50, or an even more glam option of Bollinger champagne for £48.50. You can always book these as part of a full hotel stay.
Piccolino – Central, West Didsbury, Wilmslow, Hale, Knutsford and more
What is it: A tried and tested Italian restaurant that never disappoints; great for a laid-back bite on your dinner break, with their popular lunchtime offer, and is even busier come the evenings. They also do great e-card options if you’re in a pinch.
The deal: A special ‘scented’ Sunday lunch, centred around a roast leg of lamb with all the trimmings (two courses for £40/three for £45); plus, mums get a glass of fizz included and are also invited to stay and design their own Jo Malone fragrance, as well as take home a personalised candle and engraving.
Stock Exchange Hotel – Central
What is it: Well-known Mancunian hotel co-owned by former Man United legend turned businessman Gary Neville, which also boasts the Tender restaurant by Niall Keating in-house.
The deal: They’re offering a special afternoon tea for Mother’s Day 2026, with live performances by the one and only Hallé Orchestra. Prices starting from £40pp.
Zouk Bar and Grill – Oxford Rd Corridor
What is it: Some of the best Indian and Pakistani food not just in the city but maybe even Greater Manchester full stop, offering various deals year-round, from bottomless packages, breakfast and brunches, Sunday roast sharing platters and much more.
The deal: All mums get a free glass of fizz and a red velvet rose dessert for Mother’s Day bookings – worth it for that Sunday roast sharer platter we mentioned alone…
Chotto Matte – Central
What is it: One of Manchester’s newest and swankiest hospitality venues, located inside Gary Neville’s St Michael’s tower, blending the flavours of Peru and Japan, a.k.a. ‘Nikkei’ cuisine.
The deal: They’re serving Peruvian Sunday roast for their Mother’s Day in the city this year, which includes a complimentary glass of prosecco and a special lip gloss for mum to take home (on a first-come, first-served basis).
King Street Townhouse – Central
What is it: One of Manchester’s best and most boutique hotels, with stylish, spa and all-round hospitality services across the board – perfect for any special occasion.
The deal: Traditional Afternoon of ‘High’ Tea for £35pp, or you book them an hour-long ‘ESPA’ treatment (Inner Beauty Facial, Inner Calm Massage or an ESPA Wellness Hour). Find out more.
The Lowry – Salford
What is it: Needs no introduction, really. One of the most famous hotels in the region, if not the entire country, and for good reason – it’s brilliant.
The deal: They’re doing an exclusive Mother’s Day brunch for £25, or £30 with sparkling wine; afternoon tea for £39 (or another tenner with booze once again), OR treat your queen to a full-on RE:TREAT spa day experience, priced at £145 during weekdays and £160 at weekends.
What is it: Similar to The Lowry, the Beetham Tower (and former Hilton) is one of the most famous hotels and parts of the Manchester skyline, and it has luxury food and drink offerings both way up high and in its AA-Rosette ground-floor restaurant.
The deal: They’re doing a bottomless lunch (two courses for £35 or three for £40) over the course of 90 mins, or you can make it a boozy one with rivers of Prosecco at £59.
Browns – King/Brown Street
What is it: A long-standing fine dining restaurant group, with Manc site on the corner of Brown Street and the top of King St, specialising in a wide range of brasserie dishes and British classics.
The deal: Mums get a complimentary glass of fizz for Mothering Sunday when purchasing any main from the à la carte menu; there’s also a special set Sunday roast menu (must put down a deposit to secure your booking).
James Martin Manchester – Great Northern
What is it: Gourmet restaurant by the popular Northern TV chef, located just above Manchester235 Casino, well-known for serving elevated but unmistakably British classics.
The deal: Special set menu – two courses for £48 or three for £52, complete with welcoming nibbles on arrival; available until 15 March 2026.
Seven Brothers – Ancoats
What is it: Local brewery and beerhouse founded in Salford that remains one of the best bars not just on Cutting Room Square but all of Ancoats, if you ask.
The deal: Free glass of Prosecco for mum when you put ‘Mother’s Day’ in the booking notes – you can do so right HERE.
Sexy Fish – Spinningfields
Credit: The Manc
What is it: A swanky seafood restaurant on ‘The Avenue’ just up from Hardman’s Square, specialising in fine dining, sushi, as well as small plates, dim sums, grilled meats and cocktails.
The deal: Exclusive multi-course set menu for Mother’s Day, priced at £48pp, including dessert, a complimentary glass of fizz, and Applied Nutrition X Coleen Rooney Collagen box.
Now, this is by no means an exhaustive list, but this is just a taster of what the city and some surrounding areas are offering for mums this year.
If you do know of any particularly good ones we’ve missed, please feel free to drop them in the comments, and we’ll make sure to update this round-up with as many as we can.
Some of the best St. Patrick’s Day deals, offers and specials in Manchester city centre this year
Danny Jones
St Patrick’s Day 2026 is nearly upon us, and we can’t wait to drink a river of Guinness, sing old Irish classics, dance a jig and be generally merry.
It’s a good job we know exactly where to make the most of the festivities then, isn’t it?
The best Paddy’s Day deals and offers around Manchester | 2026
1. Cheap Guinness and brilliant, beefy pies at The Black Friar – Salford
First up on our list this year, the beautiful Black Friar pub and bistro over on the edge of Salford is doing £4.50 Guinness for St. Patrick’s Day 2026 – one of the best prices you’ll find in town these days.
But that’s not all: they’re also doing a special Guinness and Beef Pie special, which you can grab with a pint of the good stuff for £17, plus £15 bottles of wine, as well as beers and cocktails for just a fiver. You can book a table HERE.
2. St Patrick’s Day specials at Hello Oriental – Oxford Road
More of a fun little one-off rather than a deal or discount, per se, but when we saw that even pan-Asian food hall Hello Oriental was getting involved with Paddy’s Day, we couldn’t ignore it.
As well as they’re already viral spice bags, they’re also doing a Black Bean Guinness Noodles dish – available with chicken or completely vegan – and we’ll admit we’re very keen to try it for ourselves.
3. Lots of the black stuff at Black Cat Club – Central
No-nonsense here: £5 pints of black gold, £2.50 shots of Baby Guinness, and a special ‘Frozen Fat Frog’ cocktail, which is basically an alcoholic slushie with Blue WKD, Smirnoff Ice and Orange Bacardi Breezer.
They’ve also got a special Irish-themed food menu for the weekend, too, including Guinness-glazed wings, spice bags, which can be enjoyed with crispy chicken and chip shop curry sauce.
Plus, there are always games to be played. (Credit: The Manc)
4. A big St. Patrick’s Day party on Peter Street – Deansgate
Albert’s Schloss remains one of the best nights in town for all seasons, so it’s no surprise that they’re throwing a smashing St. Patrick’s Day bash every year.
This time around, there’ll be ‘Kunst Kabarat’, Celtic comfort foods like pie, Irish boxty and sticky toffee pudding serving out of the Cook Haus, as well as prizes to be won like free merch, drinks tokens and even £100 off your bill. Tickets are available now.
5. Free entry and MUCH more at O’Malleys – Portland Street
At the other end of the spectrum, you could argue that free entry isn’t anything too spectacular, but it’s becoming increasingly common on Paddy’s Day, and luckily, O’Malleys has lots of other stuff going on too – all the way until 4am.
How about merch, ‘Seflie Guinness’ (with you face on) from their ‘Stoutie’ machine, a happy hour running from 3-6pm on 16, 18 and 20 March, with £6 cocktails, £4 selected beers/ciders, £18 house wine and £5 Guinness available? Oh, and they also do bottomless Guinness brunches, too, so yeah – there’s plenty.
6. Guinness pastries, pies and plenty of pints at O’Connell’s – Oxford Road
It may not be the Thirsty Scholar anymore, but what that does mean is they go extra ham over at O’Connell’s at this time of year nowadays – and they’re bringing back an exclusive fan favourite special as well.
As well as the recent and extremely popular beef and Guinness collab with V. Goode Pies returning for the day, they’ve also teamed up with Half Dozen Other to create a Guinness Pain Suisse – yes, really – which will serve as arguably the best pub snacks in the entire city come 17 March 2026.
7. 50% off special Paddy’s Day cocktails at Slug & Lettuce – Piccadilly (only)
Everyone knows the Slug, it doesn’t need any introduction – BUT, they’ll likely be busy all week around Paddy’s Day and do have a banging offer this year.
They’re doing a Paddy’s Apple and Lemonade made with the brand’s fruity Irish whisky, topped with apple juice and lemonade for half price between 16 March and 12 April, when you download the MiXR app ahead of time. Simple as that.
Now, this is by no means a comprehensive list; we just thought we’d put you on to a few good ones we’ve seen in and around the city.
And, of course, if you spot any good St. Patrick’s Day deals in Manchester, do let us know and drop them in the comments for everyone to make the most of.
We hope you enjoy the celebrations, and please drink responsibly.
Before you leave us, you might as well check out some of our favourite Irish pubs and bars in the area for Paddy’s Day 2026…
Georgina Pellant -
30th December 2021 
