House of Books & Friends

Sadie Pearson
House of Books & Friends

“A bookshop with purpose” and playing a powerful role in the community, House of Books & Friends is also a café and a place to meet and chat with likeminded individuals. There’s also an atmospheric wood-panelled events space at the back, where regular readings and creative activities take place – you can sign up to their newsletter to keep up to date with all the goings-on and check out our Literature Guide for previews.

With all the latest titles for sale, there are also specialist sections, including a good amount of shelf space dedicated to books and authors from or related to Manchester, a UNESCO City of Literature.

Born during the pandemic, as reports began to show how 45 per cent of people in the UK experienced loneliness, the House of Books & Friends made it their mission to help reduce this issue. In their own words, they’re “tackling loneliness, one book at a time”.

81 King StreetManchesterM2 4AH View map
Telephone: 07597 365380 Visit Now

What's on near House of Books & Friends

Yellow poster with Weird as Folk written on it
Until
LiteratureManchester
Weird As Folk exhibition at The Portico

The Portico Library’s latest exhibition, Weird As Folk, runs through to November and invites you to explore and reimagine folklore via texts selected from the collection, which includes 100 books of English folklore.

free entry
Until
ComedyManchester
Comedy Balloon

Every Wednesday at Ape & Apple, Manchester’s official underground comedy club, Comedy Balloon’s friendly and warm comedy night takes place.

free entry
Two women chatting at a table
Until
ActivityManchester
Conversation Club

Improve your English conversation skills with likeminded adults in Central Library’s Conversation Club.

free entry

Where to go near House of Books & Friends

Manchester
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Habas Bar & Restaurant

Habas is a modern Middle Eastern-influenced restaurant in the very centre of Manchester and the latest venture from El Gato Negro’s Simon Shaw.

City Centre
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Jamie’s Italian Manchester

Jamie’s Italian is located in Edwin Lutyens’ soaringly elegant Midland Bank, one of the city’s treasures. The menu’s full of crowd-pleasing choices, with a huge selection of pastas, mains and bruschettas, and an appealing kids menu.The drinks range is broad and deep, with wine, beer and cocktails for all tastes and budgets.

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Lucky Cat

Gordon Ramsey brings his fine-dining Asian-style restaurant Lucky Cat to Manchester in April 2023.

Deansgate
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Burger & Lobster Manchester

Burger & Lobster is a King Street restaurant in the old Ship Canal offices. With an enormous bar and food that’s high on quality but low on choice, it’s a popular choice with Manchester’s young and stylish.

Home-X
Manchester
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Home-X

Home-X is the online spin-off of renowned Scottish-Italian chef Nico Simeone’s Six By Nico restaurant. This is geared around kit meals to cook at home.

Manchester
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Six By Nico Manchester

Six By Nico is the brainchild of renowned Scottish-Italian chef Nico Simeone. This Manchester arm of his acclaimed restaurant offers a completely new six course menu every six weeks.

Kala Bistro
Manchester
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Kala Bistro

Kala is the latest restaurant from acclaimed chef-restaurateur Gary Usher, who also owns Sticky Walnut and Hispi. It’s a welcome addition to the ever-growing and improving King Street food scene.

Manchester
Mash Tun

Mash Tun is a craft beer and live music venue at the former Grafene site on Manchester’s King Street.

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