The 20 Manchester outdoor bars and beer gardens you need to visit from 12th April

Boris’ roadmap out of lockdown means on the 12^th April we can finally get our hands on a pint which isn’t out of a Foster’s can.

Whilst Squirrel’s and Friendship remain Manc student favourites, why not try somewhere new?

This is The Tab Manchester’s roundup of the best outdoor pubs, bars and restaurants you can book for all those pornstar martinis you’ve been waiting to drink post-lockdown (and you don’t even need a substantial meal to go with it!).

1. Escape to Freight Island

Built in an old depot, Escape to Freight Island is set to be one of Manchester’s biggest hotspots this summer. Designed with social distancing in mind, their outdoor area and food market is opening seven days a week for cocktails, craft beers and a whole load of street food vendors, serving everything from brunch to burgers. Tables are going quickly so book now.

Countdown to summer is ON. Our April & May lineup is now live, find out who's playing at your visit here: https://t.co/Z4fAV3D09g pic.twitter.com/CxhLgddU3z

— Escape to Freight Island (@freightisland) March 5, 2021

2. Crazy Pedro’s

This Manchester classic is opening up two outdoor terraces (one in the Northern Quarter and the other on Bridge Street) for all your Crazy Pedro’s essentials, from pizzas to frozen margheritas. Bookings are going fast, but there are still spots for bottomless pizza brunch until nine pm every day.

Tap & Follow The Link For Pizza Happiness…https://t.co/7NdkNn715B pic.twitter.com/xNMOdOKpqH

— Crazy Pedro (@CrazyPedros) March 14, 2021

3. Hatch

Everyone’s favourite pop-up is back for all our food, drink and retail needs, everyday from the 12^th. With food from all over the world and, more importantly, those dangerous two for £10 cocktails, Hatch is now open for bookings as well as walk-ins, so secure your table ASAP.

Six weeks from now… Spring is in the air. You're sitting in the courtyard with a draught pint in hand, food is ordered.

You're sitting with friends from another household that you haven't seen for ages, with no 10pm curfew to cut the catch up short. Hatch is back babyyyy. pic.twitter.com/Jdr70Q2Xz9

— Hatch (@Hatch_MCR) March 1, 2021

4. 256

Needing no introduction, 256 is a Fallowfield classic and they’re now open for bookings. Perfect for a day drink or an essential student night (looking at you £1 shots), we can’t wait to be back in that iconic beer garden – along with every other student on campus.

5. Ramona

Ramona have been giving us our click-and-collect pizza fix throughout lockdown and have just announced the opening of a beer garden at their NQ base. Complete with campfires, DJ sets and a margarita bar, Ramona is the place to be on the 14^th. Bookings are now live and if you need an indication of how good the pizza is, their site crashed on launch day!

Put your hands up for Detroit pizza 🙌 Yes Ramona pic.twitter.com/fbvTNGGMkm

— Maya Hindmarch (@mayahindz) February 10, 2021

6. Grub Food Fair

Relocated to the Green Quarter, GRUB street food fair is opening its beer garden on 12^th April for walk-ins and bookings. Tables are fully covered, meaning you’ll be sheltered from Manchester’s infamous spring showers, and they’re offering a load of deals on food and cocktails all week.

🤩WE’RE GETTING THERE🤩

We’re pretty much caught up now with table booking requests for the beer garden’s grand reopening in April.
If you’ve selected a popular date there may be a short delay while we just wait for other bookings to confirm before we can offer you a table. pic.twitter.com/4zrwZCC6y5

— GRUB (@GRUBMCR) March 4, 2021

7. The Oast House

The Oast House courtyard is one of Manchester’s most popular outdoor venues, famous for its beers and Hanging Kebabs. With an all new spring menu ready to go, booking spaces are going quickly but there’s plenty of room fo walk-ins for your cocktail fix.

Credit: Jack Jolly

8. Dukes 92

This iconic Castlefield bar and grill has been a favourite summer spot for 30 years now and Dukes 92 is opening its outdoor waterside terrace on the 12^th. Covered tables can be booked now with walk-ins also available everyday (Maanchester weather permitting…).

9. The Lawn Club

Set in the heart of Spinningfields, The Lawn Club is maximising its outside space, with bookings now available for their lawn houses, pods and terrace. With some of Manchester’s best cocktails and an atmosphere to match, you don’t want to miss it.

Reopening soon… 🥂 pic.twitter.com/9LqDGTeryq

— The Lawn Club Manchester (@LawnClubMCR) June 16, 2020

1o. Bay Horse Tavern

A Victorian pub set firmly in the 21^st century, this Northern Quarter spot is high on the post-lockdown list. With Thomas Street now closed to vehicles, the Bay Horse Tavern can open for business on the pavement, with bookings available now.

We’ve got ourselves a little outdoor area for you all to enjoy a few drinks in the Thomas Street ‘sun’…

🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 pic.twitter.com/jmVEGEiKdh

— The Bay Horse Tavern (@BayHorseTavern) July 8, 2020

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11. 20 Stories

20 Stories rooftop terrace is famous across the city for its stunning 360 ° views of Manchester’s skyline. The perfect spot for a girls night out, the terrace restaurant is open for bookings for food from 12^th April, with walk-ins if you just fancy a drink.

https://twitter.com/20StoriesMCR/status/1373927783559225344

12. The Wharf

Overlooking the canal in Castlefield, The Wharf is your classic British pub with amazing food and a huge open terrace right on the bank. When the sun comes out, this secret spot is the place to be for a pint. Book here.

First come first serve for tables in the sunshiiiiinne at the @wharfpub – proper good spot for today's nice(ish) weather 😎🍷 pic.twitter.com/Pam6l7Ql9H

— Proper Manchester (@ProperMCR) August 7, 2020

13. Brickhouse Social

A firm student favourite, Brickhouse Social are opening onto New Wakefield Street for beers and burgers from the 12th. And they’re currently doing a giveaway on their Instagram to win a £100 bar tab – what have you got to lose?

14. Dive Bar & Grill

A Northern Quarter fav, Dive is famous for its affordable drinks and DJ sets long into the night. Its terrace is fully covered and heated, which we all know is important for Manchester in April, and with a full spring/ summer cocktail menu in the works – we’ll be first in line.

https://twitter.com/divebargrill/status/1322177171704762369

15. Rudy’s

Having basically survived lockdown on their takeaway pizzas, we’re so happy Rudy’s are reopening their pizzerias at Ancoats and Peter Street. Their authentic Italian pizzas, straight from Naples, are heavenly and definitely beat a guilty hungover Domino’s.

Massive thank you to everyone who has been down to check out our new gaff on Peter Street. 🙌 If you didn’t already know…we’re officially open for wood fired Neapolitan Pizza! #pizzaeveryday #pizzastreet #rudyspizza pic.twitter.com/kd8r1YCX0l

— Rudy's Neapolitan Pizza (@wearerudyspizza) April 3, 2018

16. The Botanist MediaCityUK

A ‘secret garden of food and drink’ set in the centre of MediaCityUK, The Botanist is opening its terrace for bookings and walk-ins from 15th April. From kebabs to bottomless brunches, along with gorgeous views of the Salford Quays, The Botanist has it all.

Credit: Jack Jolly

17. Impossible

Right in the centre of Peter Street, the Impossible bar boasts one of the most impressive beer terraces in Manchester. With bottomless brunches and cocktails all round, Impossible is taking booking enquiries now!

No more words needed. #Manchester #manchesterlockdown pic.twitter.com/totkh8tIRH

— Impossible Manchester (@impossible_mcr) October 20, 2020

18. Nam

Opening its covered terrace on Cutting Room Square, Nam will be serving us amazing cocktails and traditional Vietnamese food with a twist – they’ve even got a Vietnamese roast dinner! This place makes a much needed change from the Chesters you get every Saturday after a night out, so go book now…

19. The Refuge by Volta

The Refuge is bringing its Dining Room outside and opening a secret Edwardian courtyard next month for bookings. The cocktails are incredible and their Sunday roasts are to die for, so if you can make your student loan stretch, it is definitely worth the visit.

Spring is in the air and today’s beautiful blue sky is making us even more excited to bring our Dining Room outdoors on 12th April.

If you haven’t booked a table yet, there is still availability to find a table to dine – just head here: https://t.co/AgQzc4RPNp pic.twitter.com/cuVPh6ZvqK

— The Refuge (@TheRefugeMcr) March 16, 2021

20. Lock 91

Lock 91’s opening its Tavern in the Tunnel for drinks from Friday 16^th We’ve been stalking their Instagram and have major cocktail envy, so will be heading to Deansgate for our fix ASAP.

STAY TUNED 👀

Announcement coming v soon.

We don’t know about you, but we’re in the mood for drinks al fresco.. #taverninthetunnel #roadmaptodrunkdom #manchester #spring pic.twitter.com/08TOrkKAQV

— Lock91Mcr (@Lock91Mcr) February 22, 2021

A load of student staples like Courtyard and Friendship Inn are also opening just for walk-ins, as are plenty of other bars and restaurants especially in the Northern Quarter and the Gay Village. So don’t panic if you can’t get booked in anywhere for 12th – there’s plenty of Manchester to go around.

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