Forget festival season or even Oasis mania, it’s graduation time – same time every year, and we still feel a warm and fuzzy inside every time we see our round as punch smartpants in their silly hats, so we thought we’d celebrate them with a round-up of the best related deals and offers in Manchester.
You’re welcome, big brains.
Whether you studied at the University of Manchester, MMU, Salford Uni or otherwise, make no mistake: this is YOUR moment in the spotlight and you deserve to soak it all in, every last drop.
So, without further ado, here are some of the best graduation offers and deals Manchester city centre has to offer this year.
Starting off on Canal Street, MAYA is offering all graduates a complimentary drink of their choice upon arrival, plus the bonus of a complimentary bottle of fizz for food bookings of three guests or more.
It’s a similar story over the tender Restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Niall Keating, inside the Stock Exchange, who is handing out free glasses of bubbly when booking a table.
Cut and Craft are serving a special graduation set menu consisting of three courses and a glass of prosecco for £50 per person (pp), available all day from Monday to Friday throughout July.
Hello Oriental diners and Class of 2025 members can raise a toast to their own success with either a free bubble tea, dessert – ‘Taiyaki’ soft serve or indulgent ‘Crème Brulée Bingsu’ – or a glass of prosecco when showing the graduation certificate or a photo of you in your hat and gown.
Complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon champagne (yep, the real good stuff) as well as an exclusive graduation set menu: two courses for £25 pp, or three for £30.
Free welcome drink with any main, sharing platter, or set menu item. You can choose from their brand-new summer special ‘Zouk Sunrise’ cocktail, an ‘Ocean Love Colada’ mocktail, a glass of Prosecco, or a soft drink. In fact, every guest gets a soft drink when adding ‘graduation‘ to the booking notes.
Another free glass of prosecco is coming your way when booking a shuffleboard table during the 2025 graduation season.
If you’re someone staying over at The Lowry Hotel for graduation day this month, you will receive a bottle of champagne in your room completely gratis, as well as half-price bookings on a second bed and breakfast room for your loved ones/anyone with you for the big day.
There’ll also be discounted parking, not to mention 15% off all food and drinks, and gift vouchers for graduates to enjoy three small plates and a glass of prosecco.
Sexy Fish’s limited graduation menu is priced at £55pp and is available until 25 July, and comes with a congratulatory glass of bubbles. But that’s not all…
Joining forces with the stylish seafood restaurant, graduates can now enjoy an exclusive ‘dine and stay’ package starting from £195. Find out more HERE.
Speaking of staying over, anyone rooming at the Hyatt Manchester over on Booth Street West can also grab themselves a bespoke celebratory cocktail.
Careering over to Castlefield, Albert’s Shed has a three-course set menu for £45pp, which includes a sparkling elderflower fizz cocktail. You can also opt to eat and drink just a tram ride or short drive away at their Didsbury location.
Celebrating a massive milestone in Manchester, Australasia’s ’15 for 15 years’ deal isn’t technically a graduation special, however, at just £15 for a main course and a drink (or £18 with a glass of wine, prosecco or beer), you’d be a fool not to consider this spot for your post-graduation celebrations.
Not too far from here, you’ll find the beautiful Black Friar bistro and pub, which is offering a free bottle of prosecco to anyone who books a table at the venue this graduation season. Sorted.
Across the other side of Spinningfields, 20 Stories’ July graduation menu promises two courses and a glass of fizz for £29pp, or three for £34pp. Available every Monday to Friday from 12-3pm, as well as Mon-Thurs between 5:30 and 6:30pm throughout July.
Down the road at Beetham Tower, a.k.a. Hilton Manchester, graduates eat completely free when three paying adults book to dine. You can reserve a table now and also grab a free ‘Gin-ovation’ cocktail from the Cloud23 sky bar (a fair) few floors upstairs.
The Rrefuge restaurant inside the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is keeping things nice and simple: a free glass of prosecco to the star of a table when mentioning graduation during booking.
Two-course graduation lunch menu for £32.50pp, or dinner from £44.90, as well as a complimentary cocktail for the graduate, and a special scroll that may or may not contain a special golden ticket inside, which could contain one of several prizes.
At the back end of Spinningfields, Fenix is also offering a two-course graduation lunch menu for £32.50pp, which comes with a complimentary glass of prosecco; if you want to dine in the evening, it’s the same number of courses, only with proper champagne instead and for £44.90.
As part of the Permanently Unique hospitality group, they are also offering the scroll and a potential golden ticket opportunity.
The Ivy is serving up a stunning three-course graduation menu, which ends with their signature seasonal special ‘Graduation Chocolate Bombe’ dessert, for £35.95pp. You also get a memorable keepsake to take home, and that’s all we can tell you.
From Spinningfields to the edge of Salford, Manchester bottomless brunch favourite Menagerie is offering a celebratory lunch and drink for £15.95pp, between 12 and 5pm, with a complimentary drink for you and your party when adding ‘Graduation‘ in the booking notes.
Browns are also pulling out the stops with a very reasonably priced three-course graduation menu for £39.00pp, which also comes with a complimentary glass of champagne for the graduate.
This one only applies to Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) graduates, but the value couldn’t be overlooked; get 20% off the bill when you book a table for 6 or more people and pre-book using code ‘graduation‘ and bring proof of your graduation from Man Met.
Second to last is CitySuites, who also quietly boast arguably the best overall graduation celebration package of all: a bottle of prosecco, a £10 Selfridges voucher, £30 credit per night to spend in their on-site bar and restaurant, as well as full access to the spa pool, breakfast, robes, parking – the lot.
Available until 3 August, this one is perfect for those based out of town. You can book HERE.
And the last of our Manchester university graduation offers and deals is up there with the cream of the crop: The Midland. You can get 15% off their ‘Excellence’ afternoon tea package (£55.00pp).
Whatever you opt for, you deserve it – congratulations to all of you!
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Featured Images — The Manc Group