97 Chorlton

Anne-Marie Pattenden, Food & Drink Writer
97

The team behind Tariff & Dale and Lead Station opened Beech Road’s newest contender in spring 2023, to Chorlton’s delight. 97 is an upscale bar serving top-quality cocktails conceived by general manager and local Chorlton lass Ellie Craddick. The candlelit ambience and dark décor create an intimate, romantic evening vibe, with large mirrors enhancing the space.

The cocktail menu is undeniably novel. Once seated at one of the chic marble tables, you’ll be presented with a deck of top trump cards showing a list of the main ingredients and a picture of each cocktail. If you prefer surprises, shuffle the deck. Either way, it’s a great little hit of nostalgia.

A good place to start is 97’s House Spritz. Like other classics in the deck, it’s familiar but with a sophisticated twist: ditching the standard Aperol in favour of an amaro blend, it has a touch of rich sweetness from raisins and apricots, taking the edge off the bittersweet liqueur. Similarly, the Paloma gets a glow-up with berry flower soda, mezcal instead of agave syrup and a glorious green stripe of smoked rosemary salt up the side.

T-13 is served in a ceramic cup adorned with a pair of homemade gummy bears on a skewer. It includes ‘chilli maple’ as an ingredient and tastes like, well, Christmas. Marvel as Ellie and co painstakingly apply a topping of tiny green apple gel spheres to Evergreen by tweezer. This one is, of course, flavoured with all things green: Argentinian Maté gin, Jasmine Verte liqueur, and a basil and pepper tincture.

For more out-of-the-box flavours, try East Side’s cocoa butter-washed pandan rum or Night & Day’s IPA reduction. Fill up beforehand (or sober up afterwards) at next-door neighbours Lead Station on hearty classics done well, such as steak pie and mushroom tagliatelle.

Finally, if you fancy yourself as a music quiz boffin: Ellie’s menu hints at a strong musical influence by a certain solo artist. See if you can pick up the clues. Here’s one for free: Evergreen does not refer to Will Young’s 2002 Pop Idol hit. So ditch that idea, or Shake It Off, as it were.

It’s worth taking a trip over to South Manchester to appreciate 97’s fascinating menu and impressively knowledgeable staff. You’ll undoubtedly find something new and special here, all thanks to the high-end flavourings and cutting-edge techniques.

97 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-HardyManchester M21 9EQ View map
Visit Now

What's on near 97 Chorlton

Horse and Jockey Chorlton
Walking TourManchester
The Secrets of Chorlton

From a hamlet on a road to nowhere to one of Manchester’s most desirable suburbs. What’s the story behind Chorlton-cum-Hardy?

from £20.00
Southern Cemetary Chorlton by Tom Jeffs
Until
TourChorlton
Southern Cemetery Tour

Within Chorlton’s Southern Cemetery lie fascinating stories, beautiful architectural details, and the inspiration behind one of The Smith’s best songs.

from £20.00

Where to go near 97 Chorlton

Chorlton Library Exterior
Chorlton
Library
Chorlton Library

This cornerstone of Chorlton life is a Carnegie library, listed building and the second busiest library in the city.

Chorlton
Shop
Chorlton Bookshop

A family-run bookshop in Manchester’s bohemian suburb, Chorlton Bookshop is a haven of great titles and unknown gems.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.