Archives for “Bars” tag

I’m a big fan of local bar chain Trof, which has grown from sites in studentville Fallowfield to glorious makeovers like the Deaf Institute and Gorilla via this Northern Quarter branch on Thomas Street.  Each has a warm, cosy appeal with a touch of rough luxe, and Trof NQ excels at making shadowy corners welcoming.  Great idea, then, to add an extra reason for punters to settle in for the night: a well-stocked bourbon bar on the first floor.

My partner’s the whisk(e)y aficionado in our house but I’ve picked up one key piece of knowledge over the last few years: I like whisky, too!  And it’s hard not to be impressed with Trof’s selection of bourbons from seven US distilleries. Prices start at £3, for a very quaffable Old Grand-Dad or inoffensive Elmer T. Lee, and range up to around £10; but for £5 or £6 you can try exemplary tipples like Evan Williams’ robust Extra Aged. Mr Knowledgeable recommends Noah’s Mill – feisty but still very drinkable at 57.15% ABV – and Rock Hill Farm’s combination of strength and sweetness.

You can also try an infusion, created by Trof as the basis for its range of whisky cocktails; the Spiced, Orange and Hickory Smoke aren’t really to our taste but if you’re cautious about bourbon’s bite they could be a good starting point.  The usual range of other drinks, including Samuel Adams beer chasers for £2, is also available of course, alongside sensibly hearty breakfasts(!), burgers and Sunday roasts.

Blink and you could miss it. There is no signage apart from a neon burger, three floors up. The nondescript building, sandwiched between the bars Liquor & Burn and Keko Muko in the Northern Quarter, is one of Manchester’s newest restaurants. Behind a boring brown door, up some very steep stairs, is a loft apartment space converted into a wonderland of burgers and booze.

The venue has a wackiness about it, which makes your senses overload. The walls are inscribed with Charlie Sheen’s infamous rant, slap bang next to huge portraits, a jukebox and skateboards. The bar is brightly lit, but the rest of the rooms are disguised in a spider’s web of low lighting. Leaving an air of mystery; photography is not allowed (it was hard to not constantly snap away).

The food will make your mouth water. Like me and my friends, you will want to devour this small, yet amazing, menu. With names like Triple Nom and Animal, they make you smile with delight. There are fries covered in chilli and cheese, and must try the Suicide wings, they will make your mouth tingle with joy. Don’t worry; they won’t blow your head off!

The cocktail menu is a must. I recommend the silly titled Bitch Juice with its delicious mix of sloe gin and fruit juices. Don’t expect beautiful glasses, they all come in jam jars.  It’s a marvellous receptacle and great recycling!

Traditionally known as All Saints, the area south of the city centre is home to a smattering of great bars and eateries and as well as Manchester’s university campuses. Top among these are Grosvenor Street’s Deaf Institute and its opposite neighbour Sandbar, which sprawls across the ground floor of two rambling Georgian houses.

Established 16 years ago this has always been a rough and ready venue, with junk shop furniture, bare floors and exposed brick walls, but fashion has caught up in the years since it opened and you’ll recognise its style from many newer bars. It certainly doesn’t put off the hoards of real ale fans who flock here to sample local brews, and the huge range of continental beers the bar imports itself.

Although packed with locals, students and academics in the evenings the place is an oasis of calm on weekdays, when European-tinged meals are available 12:00 – 19:00 and pizzas until 21:00. The WIFI’s free and, unusually for this city, there are several outside seating areas, including a secluded garden. And if the Manchester skies don’t encourage sunbathing you can always just stare at the walls, where you’re likely to see local artists’ paintings or photography.

If that’s not enough Sandbar hosts regular music, cabaret and beer- and whisky-tastings, securing its reputation as a boho haunt without any sniff of pretension. So if the city centre proper’s going alcopop crazy jump on almost any south-bound bus – you can be here in five minutes.

Beer festival: 29 May-2 June.

It may be on the edge of the city centre but since its opening Trof’s Deaf Institute has become a firm favourite among Manchester schmoozers and music lovers. As the name suggests it’s housed in the city’s former Deaf and Dumb Institute, a glorious neo-Gothic building which stood derelict for many years, but it’s perhaps less obvious that it’s now a cosy cafe, bar and venue.

The decor embraces the building’s decadence, with red, womb-like booths and a bold contemporary take on toile wallpaper. The bar plays rock and indie favourites from Radiohead and Beck to Hendrix and The Beatles, and its cheap, wholesome food and friendly table service add further to its appeal.

Upstairs, in the former lecture theatre turned music hall, the music is often a little more cutting edge: in the past year I’ve seen Veronica Falls, Savages and Unknown Mortal Orchestra under its Victorian glass roof. Something about the layout – which includes raked benches and a mezzanine overhanging the stage – size, decor and huge range of world beers makes a good gig here seem great.

It’s hard to believe there could be an even more appealing area but the diminutive basement bar comes close, taking full advantage of its darkness to ramp up the opulent feel. The Deaf Institute may not be an obvious summertime destination, having only small outside areas and limited daylight, but it’s definitely worth seeking out all year round.

Manchester is a wet city. You know that, we know that. It’s one of those things we all know. So what is the best thing to help you get warm? Yes, that’s right. Soup.

Soup Kitchen is in the heart of the northern quarter tucked on the edge of Stevenson Square. You can walk past it and miss it, but please don’t. This bar has a warm feeling. The setup of the bar is communal benches, so when there are a lot of people in there it has an amazing close feel to it.

With a great selection of beers and ciders on draught, which constantly changes, you can always try something new and local to the area.

The menu is simplistic and service is reasonably quick to serve as you wait in queue while it is prepared. The combination of soups, sandwiches and salads are to die for. I love the ham hock, cheese and onion marmalade sandwich (£ 4.50).

Check out the website for the gigs that happen in the club downstairs. Both local and touring bands appear so you should get a great selection of talent passing through. The venue itself is a 300-400 capacity venue so it is perfect for those new up and coming bands. This could possibly be one of my favourite venues in the city.