The Deaf Institute
Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor
Situated just off the student hotspot of Oxford Road, this historic building dates from 1878 and was derelict when the owners refurbished it back to life six years ago. Today The Deaf Institute is a vibrant nightclub for which it is well worth taking a much-needed jaunt out of the hyper-hipster confines of Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
Covering no less than three floors head in on the ground floor and pick up a drink before choosing between the sweaty upstairs dancefloor and the cosy basement. The cocktail list reads like an old-school sweet shop and there’s plenty of craft beers if you’ve more of a taste for grapefruit than bubblegum.
The first floor does play host to club and comedy nights however the usual playlist is heavy on the guitar side of things so put this to the top of your list if your thing is indie. Dancehall décor: a massive mirror ball, velvet curtains, a domed ceiling, tiered seating and wall parrots.
Girls on Film is a mainstay of the Deaf Institute’s club offerings, drawing indie kids and popsters alike to dance the deadlines away to the sounds of classic 80s party tracks from legends Prince and Bowie through The Cure, Kate Bush, Wham and the Stone Roses. Revolver is another regular club night, featuring indie albums and alternative classics.
As well as being a hub for live music and all things danceable, this three-storey student favourite also serves up some of the city’s best food.
One of its more celebrated offerings is the Sunday lunch. This isn’t the bog standard English breakfast or Sunday roast, this is the Vegan Hangover, which unsurprisingly features an all-vegan menu. Meat-lovers needn’t be apprehensive, this is some of the most inspiring food in Manchester, vegan or not.
The menu is lovingly-prepared by head chef Charlie, and varies from week to week. You’ll find quesadillas, nut roasts, mac and cheese and curries, all brimming with flavour and texture. Here’s our review of the food on the menu the last time we popped in:
The massaman curry is a piping hot bowl of morning-after-the-night-before cure-all. It’s packed with crunchy vegetables, peanuts and fiery red chilis, while the sauce is a moreish blend of coconut milk and Thai curry sauce. A hefty serving of brown rice comes on the side, topped with half a lime.
For those more persistent hangovers that only a big bowl of carbs can fix, we prescribe the pimped fries. Enough to settle any rumbling belly, and a steal at just £4, this is a huge bowl of fries smothered with cashew cheese, Tijuana BBQ sauce, coriander, red peppers, japalpenos and guacamole.
The cheese and jalapeno quesadillas are the standout dish. The flavours are rich and satisfying, making that perfect midpoint between lazy junk food and veg-packed goodness. These quesadillas come packed with three bean chilli, jalapenos, coriander, guacamole and a generous squirt of cashew sour cream across the lot.
Whether you’re looking for top scran or top tunes, the Deaf Institute has it covered.
