The Firehouse

The Firehouse and its adjacent sibling venue Ramona are well on their way to being major hubs of the Northern Quarter. Based a few streets back from the Magaluf-style central strip, this Swan Street venue has a more forward-thinking feel, where the original progressive spirit of the NQ lives on. 

The Firehouse team has just launched a new midweek supper club menu, held on Wednesdays and with their famous £6 margaritas all night. 

As for the venue, it’s a huge space, with a semi-outdoors bit and a grand indoors bit which contains a huge coal and wood-fired kitchen, a well-stocked bar and plenty of bench, stool and booth seating. We visit on a cold Wednesday night for the newly-launched supper club, but before the food, it’s the vibe that truly impresses. 

The soundtrack is provided by the modestly-named DJ Nick, who plays a mood-perfect set of South American, African and other continent-spanning disco-funk tracks. It’s a set that complements rather than dominates – all-too-rare on the Manchester bar/dining scene. Whatever he’s being paid, double it. 

The staff, too, just get it. They want customers to have a good time, and have a good time too. And that atmosphere feeds through the venue. It’s a pleasant, relaxed place to be, no one’s showing off or acting out, it’s a place for dates, drinks with mates and casual catch-ups. And the dishes on this supper club menu are the ideal nourishment for this setting. 

First, start with a frozen margarita, but word to the wise: don’t slurp half the glass and end up with the first dose of brain freeze since you were seven years old. Seriously, don’t do that. 

The mezze plate ticks two key boxes: delicious, and affordable. It’s a fairly huge platter of colourful veggie goodness, including grilled broccoli, roasted carrots, hummus, beetroot salad, tabbouleh, muhammara (roasted red pepper dip) and a handful more Middle Eastern-style options. Plus, some piping hot pita bread to stuff full of the above and shove down your gullet. 

For £15, it’s something of a bargain, and likely enough for two by itself. However, if you’re feeling both hungry and carnivorous, the two meat options come highly recommended. 

The dry-aged picanha steak is as good as it gets. It’s a tender cut from the top of the rump, and comes packed with flavour, ably aided by the bright, fresh chimichurri. It’s also gloriously smoke-infused from the coal and wood fire fire. A snip at £14 for meat of this quality. 

Then there’s the half or whole chicken, cooked peri-style. The skin is pleasingly crisped while the meat beneath is soft and infused with lemon and various African spices. There’s even an eye-catching charred half lemon on the side, made for drizzling and mixing with the excellent peri chicken gravy. 

It’s not a huge list but it doesn’t need to be. They’re undoubtedly some of the best value options you’ll find in a bustling, buzzy venue like this in Manchester on a Wednesday evening. The atmosphere is 50% of what makes a restaurant or bar great, and Firehouse has it nailed down. 

Ok, that’s Wednesday sorted, what else is happening at The Firehouse this autumn? 

Thursdays: Spank! A Northern Quarter Cabaret

Spank! Is an evening of cabaret, burlesque, drag, comedy, boylesque, and more. This could be a singer with soul, a contortionist bending your perception, or a circus act that wows. Turn up early, grab a drink and some food (dinner served until 9pm) then settle in for the show.  

Fridays: Full Tilt

It’s the weekend, so naturally, that means live music from The Firehouse’s five-piece party band, plus charismatic singers and resident DJs. Expect late-night performances from Manchester’s best queer and underground acts, with some excellent drinks offers: go bottomless from 4pm – endless Prosecco, lager, frozen margaritas, and spritz for £30 per person.

Saturdays: House Of Fire

The Firehouse’s dedicated performance team takes over the central runway with outrageous costumes, stunning choreography, and jaw-dropping performances, taking in everything from vogue to contemporary hip-hop dance.