For those who simply can’t wait to spend more time with their office colleagues, here are some of the very best spots in the city to grab a pint and even a bite to eat before the commute home. Whatever time that might end up being…
Cutting Room Square
The focal point of Ancoats’ inspiring regeneration, Cutting Room Square not only boasts the magnificent Hallé St Peter’s Church to look at - home of the Hallé symphony orchestra - but a wealth of places to head after work. There’s the excellent Jane Eyre, which serves up classic cocktails, while Nam has great beers, superb Vietnamese food and a blazing happy hour situation between 4pm and 7pm. Seven Brothers also has all your craft beer needs covered, and if you get pecking, there’s the original Rudy’s, tapas at Canto or some small plates and nibbles at Elnecot.
Stevenson Square
Since the pandemic, the transformation of Stevenson Square from a confusing one-way cut-through to a pedestrianised sprawl is one of the best things to happen to the Northern Quarter. It’s probably a bit much to say it’s got European piazza vibes, but it’s now a great spot to head to for drinks after work, with bierkeller style benches now taking over where cars and buses once did. And if one place is full, you can always jump on a bench next door. Grab a beer and a snack at Flok, a cocktail at Dusk Til Pawn and a slice from Ply. If the office crew are still up for it, there’s also the option of 30s-style speakeasy vibes at The Fitzgerald.
Sadler's Yard
If the Printworks is a bit too busy for your office crowd, then you’re just a hop and a skip from the tranquil - by comparison - Sadler’s Yard. The lovely square, tucked behind the Co-Op building, has one of the city’s best pubs too, in the Sadler’s Cat, which is run by the Cloudwater Brewery. The New Century Hall will also be boasting its new foodhall before the end of the year too, which will doubtless draw more to this often overlooked corner of the city. It’s also a brief stagger to Victoria for the train home.
Ramona
Booking is advised if you’re in a large group, but if you’re after a one-stop spot for post-work antics, you’d be hard pressed to find a better spot than Ramona. Suited to all weathers, with its covered area and - for the winter - fire pits, the pizza slices and margaritas flow freely. In fact, for those asking for trouble, Wednesdays it’s £5 margs from all night from 4pm, and Thursdays and Fridays, it’s happy hour with £5 margs from 4pm to 6pm.
Kampus
A great spot to head for with office pals, there’s something for everyone at this new ‘garden neighbourhood’, so even the most pernickety of colleagues will find themselves catered for. You’ve got great craft beer and pizza slices at Nell’s New York Pizza, even better craft beer at the Cloudwater bar and pies from Great North Pie. And that’s without the bungalow, which is a kind of timeshare situation for great food pop-ups from the city and beyond. You can also expect dim sum from Yum Cha, tacos and mezcal from Madre, and fantastic wines at Beeswing.
Mackie Mayor
Grab a bench at Mackie Mayor, get a drink and relax first. Otherwise, you’ll get food envy/confusion, and make a rash decision. Mackie Mayor is another great spot for groups after work, thanks to a wealth of choice. Beers from Jack In The Box, ace wines from Reserve, and then, if a few of you decide to stop out for tea, choose from pizza from Honest Crust, fried chicken from Mumma’s or some of the best tacos in the land from Pico’s.
Society
Yes, there are foodhalls popping up on every street corner these days, but Society is a bit of a hidden gem. Literally, it’s tucked away down the slightly wonky steps from Bridgewater Hall. But it’s got some great places to eat and drink inside, and some handsome outside space too by the Rochdale Canal Lake. Hebden brewery Vocation has some spectacular beers, there’s pizza with a British produce twist from Dokes and brilliant Indian street food from Chaat Cart.
Canal Street
With a huge stretch of outdoor space and a huge choice of bars to head to, Canal Street is a fine choice for the after-work crowd. From 1 Canal Street at one end to G-A-Y at the other, you can bar hop the length of it, and, should things take a bit of a turn, be out til 4am. Yes, even on a school night.
First Street
The development around First Street - centred on the relocated Home cinema and theatre - has a few decent options for an afterwork social. You can grab a drink and sit on the terrace area out the front of Home or head to the First Street Bar and Kitchen to take advantage of its terrace. If you’re sticking around for something to eat, there’s the fantastic Indian Tiffin Rooms, where you can either graze or go for something more substantial. Then, for those casual after-work get-togethers that go badly off the rails, there’s always Bunny Jacksons, which opens till 3am every night of the week.
Spinningfields
For a more upscale after-work get together - new contract win, targets smashed - then it’s Spinningfields ahoy for your post-school knees up. Head to the original cocktail spot The Alchemist for fine drinks and perhaps a few posh snacks, some honest-to-goodness pints at The Oast House or the inside-outside vibes of the Lawn Club. Depending how big the contract win is, it could be drinks and a late dinner at the Ivy.
New Islington Marina
Summer evenings were made for post-work drinks at New Islington Marina, watching the sun set over the barges. For beer folk, there’s Cask with its impressive range of craft ales, and for the wine buffs, there’s Flawd for a bewildering number of natural wines, and some of the best accompanying food in the city. Want to keep it cheap? You can always hit the offy and find a tree to recline under on Cotton Field Park.
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