The weather is heating up a bit in Manchester, and what better way to spend a sunny afternoon than in one of the city's sun-soaked outdoor terraces? From sprawling beer gardens to rooftop sun traps, here are 10 spots where Manchester actually behaves like somewhere warm...
BAR POSIE
Tucked just off the city’s polished end, this one feels like you’ve blagged access to a very stylish mate’s courtyard. Natural wine, killer cocktails and sharp little plates.
Spring Gardens
FLOK
You'll no doubt be sharing benches with strangers in this Northern Quarter gem, but this wouldn't be an outdoor terrace round-up without this Stevenson Square addition. Expect standing room, sunglasses and swathes of punters refusing to go home even after the sun sets.
Stevenson Square, Manchester
FLAWD
Wine and small plates haunt Flawd is right on the marina, which already does half the work. Chic, seasonal food, smart drinks, and water bouncing light back at you like you’re somewhere coastal. It’s like being away on holiday - but in Ancoats.
Ancoats Marina
ATLAS BAR
A Deansgate fixture with a terrace that hoards sunlight. Hundreds of gins behind the bar, no pressure to try them all but you’ll give it a go. This one's easy, reliable and always busy when the sky turns blue.
Deansgate
THE BEESWING
The Beeswing is a bit of an unknown gem, especially when the mercury rises. Up above Kampus, it's slightly removed from the scramble below. Think spritzes, wine, tapas plates and what feels like a Mediterranean getaway when you’ve nabbed a table in the sun.
Kampus
THE NEW OXFORD
A proper pub that doesn’t try too hard. Pints, pavement space, and that Salford rhythm of people settling in for longer than planned. No faff here, just hours of sipping in the sun.
Bexley Square
YES
Four floors, but the rooftop is where you want to be in the sunshine. Beers, pizza, loud playlists, and a terrace that fills up the second the sun shows up. It’s messy, but in the best way.
Charles Street
THE WHARF
Canal-side, sprawling and built for long afternoons. At The Wharf, boats drift past, drinks keep coming, and nobody’s in a rush. One of the city’s safest bets when you want sun without thinking too hard.
Castlefield
RAIN BAR
Old umbrella factory turned pub, Rain Bar offers a big outdoor space by the canal, plenty of room to spread out, and a solid post-work energy when the weather holds.
Great Bridgewater Street
SINCLAIRS OYSTER BAR
Old-school, no-frills, and permanently rammed when it’s sunny. Huge beer garden in Shambles Square, cheap pints, and a crowd that’s been doing this for decades.
Cathedral Gates