Food and Drink in Manchester and the North

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Last Updated 16 December 2020

It’s the December edition of the Food and Drink Guide to Manchester and the North and let’s be frank, things have been pretty thin on the ground of late, thanks to the North being firmly in Tier 3. Of course, this means restaurants and bars are closed so go straight home, do not pass Go, do not collect £200.

However, there are a few interesting food-related tit-bits out there, largely related to kit meals and delivery options. Sure, it isn’t quite the same as a restaurant experience but it can be a lot of fun, in a different way. This month we’ve sampled a new ale from the Manc Union brewery, home-made pizza from Pizza Punks, special festive gin and a few other Christmas-themed purchases you can make.

Hopefully, by the time the next edition rolls around, we’ll have a better idea of when we can start going out to eat and drink again, or maybe we’ll even have had a few late-December/early-January jaunts. At least the roll-out of the vaccine is underway, and we’re expecting things to slowly start getting better, hopefully by spring and quite likely by summer. You’ve hopefully saved some money over the past few months, from working from home and not being able to spend money on nights out, so next year could see a boom in spending for hospitality. They certainly deserve it.

Below, here are some of the best places we’ve come across over recent weeks, focusing mostly on delivery options. We’ll also include our lockdown guides that look at alcohol and food delivery services, so you can have a few treat nights before 2020 finally makes its long-overdue departure.

Here’s our guide to the very best of what Manchester and the North have to offer when it comes to food and drink, taking into account current restrictions.

Here are our picks

1. Pizza Punks

Pizza Punks

Pizza Punks, 34-40 Grey Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6AE - Visit now

Pizza Punk’s cook-at-home pizza is a smart answer to the pandemic. It’s as simple to cook as it gets and the results are delicious. That sourdough pizza crust is the stuff dreams are made of.

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2. The Spirit of Manchester Distillery

The Spirit of Manchester Distillery

The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, 15 Watson St, Manchester, M3 4LP - Visit now

Award-winning distiller, Manchester Gin, has launched a new limited-edition gin, paying tribute to one of the city’s greatest triumphs, FAC51 aka The Haçienda. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a seasoned clubber, look no further.

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3. Hatch

Bruntwood

Hatch, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7ED - Visit now

Hatch is open for business for all your independent Christmas shopping, haircuts and takeaway street food needs. This much-loved space will be open from Tuesday to Saturday from midday until 8 pm.

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4. Alcohol Delivery in Manchester

In this guide to Alcohol Delivery in Manchester, we pick out some of Manchester’s most adored drinks vendors, whether they’re intimate out-of-town wine bars, or behemoths (or indeed, Beermoths) on the independent craft ale scene.

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5. Best Takeaway Meals in Manchester

Explore the takeaway and food delivery service offerings of some of the city’s finest chefs and food vendors. Go for your favourite meals or branch out and try a dish you haven’t had before, and if you can afford to, leave a decent tip.

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6. Food Delivery and Kit Meals in the North

Top restaurants are selling takeaway versions of their popular dishes, not to mention semi-prepped kit meals, and the generosity (plus a desire to show off, let’s be honest) of chefs in providing previously secret recipes means we can eat well in the comfort of our own homes, for the time being. Food delivery services and kit meals are a perfect way to bridge the gap before normality returns.

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7. Manchester Union Brewery

Manchester Union Brewery

Manchester Union Brewery, 96D North Western Street, Manchester, M12 6JL - Visit now

The much-loved Manchester Union Brewery has launched a brand new pale ale. Why not buy a crate for a mate?

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8. Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar

Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar, 22b, The Corn Exchange, Corporation St, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 3TR - Visit now

Time to celebrate as one of our favourite Manchester delis is back open and selling a range of wonderfully-festive food-based gift ideas this Christmas. This family-run business has a well-deserved reputation as one of the go-to destinations for authentic Italian delicacies and this year they’re selling Christmas hampers stuffed to the gills with high-quality produce.

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