Spring is coming, but taking its sweet time. Take our advice and shelter from the wind and Northern weather, preferably in a nice warm restaurant, pub or one of the excellent bars we’ve covered in the list below. Don’t forget, it’s Mother’s Day soon so get something nice booked in for mater.
Grab a pen and take notes, here’s this month’s food and drink guide to Manchester and the North.
Mother’s Day 2025: The Lowry Hotel in Manchester is hosting a special Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Buffet in the Grand Ballroom. The buffet will include unlimited sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, cakes, and sweet treats, along with a selection of teas and coffees. Live music entertainment will be provided throughout and it lasts for a mum-tastic two hours. Tickets are £45 per adult and £15 per child, with sittings starting from 12 pm.
Skof has been awarded a Michelin star, joining Mana in Manchester’s elite of world-class fine-dining restaurants. As luck would have it, we took a visit during the last service before the big news broke.
Taste Africana is a great addition to Leigh, treating the locals and keen-eyed visitors to a whole continent of delicious and vibrant food.
The Municipal Hotel is one of Liverpool’s grandest buildings, and what do all storied institutions need? A darn good Sunday lunch, that’s what. Happily, that’s precisely what Head Chef Andrew Green provides.
From 3rd to 8th March, Albert’s Schloss is serving up a week of sweet and savoury pancake stacks with Bavarian flair. Available all day until 9:30 PM, the menu features three exclusive specials – click through for more details.
Ramona’s Motorcity Sundays are back, turning Sundays into a full-throttle celebration with Detroit-style pizza, margaritas, and all-day DJ sets.
Sexy Fish has announced a Happy Hour menu, known as Sundown Somewhere, available mid-week across the globe, including here in rainy old Manchester. It will be available across time zones and oceans, at all Sexy Fish locations for three hours, every weekday 4 pm til 7. Expect expertly crafted cocktails, delightful dishes and an electric atmosphere.
The legendary SPREAD is making its triumphant return to Club Leno at Diecast, promising to deliver Manchester’s most spectacular Friday night party.
The Firehouse Supper Club returns, bringing a cosy candlelit atmosphere, a brand-new menu, and midweek magic every Wednesday and Thursday from 5th March 2025. Enjoy mouth-watering dishes for just £14 and sip on classic or frozen margaritas for £6 from 4 pm to 10 pm. Perfect for relaxed catch-ups or intimate date nights.
Scouse day: Global Scouse Day is back on Friday, February 28th, and Ma Boyle’s is celebrating with a whole month of Scouse. From February 14th to March 14th, enjoy classic and creative new takes on Liverpool’s iconic dish. Scouse, a hearty stew of meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions, has deep roots in Liverpool’s maritime history. Originally called “Lobscouse,” it was a staple for sailors across Northern Europe. Today, it’s a beloved part of the city’s food culture.
In olden times, the word ‘Isca’ meant ‘flowing water’. Here, it’s all about flowing wine, and exquisite meat-free dishes. (No Jesus required.)
Blanconero’s loyalty to authentic Italian food doesn’t hold it back from expanding customers’ palates. Like Picasso, they nailed the basics early on, so that they can now play with more inventive re-imaginings of the classics.
Keating’s restaurant at the Stock Exchange, tender, have launched their afternoon tea service. It’s decadent, it’s detailed, and it’s very, very British.
Speak In Code is all about the pursuit of pleasure via meticulous mixing.
If you’re looking for your next brunch spot, let Moose be your first port of call.
Coffee and Poems club is a nomadic happening open to all who have the curiosity to explore poetry with no previous experience required.
from £8.00
Munch your way through two cities for the price of one with the Taste of Two Cities tour from Flavours of Manchester.
from £49.00
Join Craft Beer Tour Manchester for a journey through some of the cities best local breweries and artisanal beer serving bars. Discover the personality of Manchester’s beer through a diverse range of pints.
from £35
Eat your way through the dairy based delights of Manchester, with the Manchester Cheese Crawl walking tour.
from £25
Step into the majestic Blackpool Tower Ballroom for an experience like no other. With stunning architecture, live music and treats galore, Afternoon Tea here is highly recommended.
from £60.00
The Wild Grill Experience at Millington Hall Farm is ideal for those who love meat, barbecue and learning something new.
from £89.50
Allow yourself to be led by an expert Ginmaster, while you sample gins from across the UK as well as distilling your own bottle of Mother’s Ruin.
from £148.00
From bespoke bouquet workshops and poetry royalty to slap-up Sunday roasts and gin tastings, check out our guide of things to do with your mum this Mother's Day.
Take me there
Food Sorcery is a popular cookery school now opening in the centre of Manchester after years of success in East Didsbury.
Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.
Award-winning restaurant housed within Liverpool’s boutique Hope Street Hotel.
Panoramic 34 boasts ceiling to floor windows with a breathtaking 360 degree aspect, but there’s plenty more to get giddy about than just the views.
Peste is a bohemian bar and bookshop with vintage reads and records.
‘Good Beer and Fine Company’ is the motto at Hobo Kiosk and that’s exactly what you’ll get.
An enormously popular restaurant and deli near Brunswick Dock and station.
Our favourite is The Scorpion, two beef-free patties with melted spicy pepper ‘cheese’, yellow mustard, jalapenos, sriracha mayo, spicy chipotle paste, red onion, ketchup, tomato and lettuce, packed in a vegan burger bun.
David Lynch, International Women's Day and Manchester Film Festival are amongst our cinematic highlights this March.
Cinematic sets, 90s nightclub photography and even new gallery - we have a great mix of exhibitions for you this month.
DaDaFest’s 40th anniversary line-up, contemporary reimaginings and outlandish fringe, check out our top theatre picks for spring onwards.
Some of our favourite leftfield live literature regulars are back with their first events of the year – we’ve picked a weird and wonderful heap we think you’ll love.
We’re championing all things underground this month, with a selection of gigs and festivals that embrace the strange.
Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.
As we edge towards spring we take a look at the best events and activities for families, from theatre to festivals, dinosaur adventures to family raves.
