Places doing walk-ins without bookings in Manchester

It started back in early March didn’t it, that slight panic you have about not booking anywhere?

When places began opening up their booking systems and you forgot to sort it. Restaurants with outdoor space went first. That’s to be expected isn’t it? Not as many of them. I’m sure it’ll be fine. But then Freight Island sold out for April and you began to panic. Well don’t worry, here’s a complete guide to all the restaurants, bars and pubs with outdoor seating + taking walk-ins from next week.

Cutting Room Square

Jane Eyre, Nam, Canto, Seven Brothers, and Second City are all taking walk-ins in Cutting Room Square. Jane Eyre are mostly booked up on weekends but have more spaces midweek, Second City aren’t taking bookings so will have spaces. Elnecot have walk-in spaces at the start of the week but are very busy over weekends.

Trove

Trove in Ancoats have set up a lovely little area for walk-ins, 6 tables overall. No bookings for now.

Blossom Street Social

Open from Monday,  the Ancoats wine bar will also be housing House of Habesha, a new duo who are making Eritrean & Ethiopia Cuisine.

Counter House

As they only take bookings for 4 or more people, Counter House are trying to hold back spaces for smaller groups walk-ins every day. If it’s sunny, it’ll be busy.

Seven Bros (Ancoats + Middlewood Locks)

Seven Bros in Ancoats will be open from April 12th and Middlewood Locks will be open from April 14th, both with walk-in outdoor tables available all week.

Edinburgh Castle

The beautiful pub in Ancoats from the team behind Cottonopolis will have spaces for outdoor seating, with a new menu released just for outdoor dining and plenty of bevs on the menu to go at. They’re also doing bottomless brunch but you’ll need to book for that!

Rudy’s – Peter St and Ancoats

Rudy’s are holding back 50% off their tables for walk-ins at both sites. As you’ve probably experienced before, both restaurants can get busy at peak times so you might need to leave your name and come back in an hour or so.

Ducie Street Warehouse

Ducie Street recently announced they’ll be opening a new heated and covered terrace for up to 60 people in time for reopening next week. Bookings went live this morning – we expect there to be space most days for walk-ins.

Crown + Kettle

Crown + Kettle might not be somewhere you immediately think of for outdoor drinking but they’ve been teasing new seating out front this week on Twitter and have also said ‘wait until you see what we’ve done out back’. Walk-ins only, open from April 12th.

Ciaooo Pizzeria

Ciaooo have been operating as a takeout right through lockdown. They’ll be opening up for outdoor dining and walk-ins only BUT (and I think this is completely fair) only if the weather is nice!

Cafe North

The independent breakfast and brunch cafe will be open from Monday April 12th with no bookings, walk-ins only! Open from 8am until 4pm every single day.

Birria Brothers Tacos (at Koffee Pot)

Birria Brothers Tacos have been a huge lockdown hit and will be staying at Koffee Pot until at least May 17th. They have 10 tables on their side street which can hold up to 60 people. Owner Sam says it’ll be ‘Pints, tequila cocktails, mex bottled beers, birria tacos and some specials like taquitos’. Sounds good!

Black Milk

Black Milk have outdoor seating on their side street, they’ll be open each week from Wednesday onwards.

Common (+ Beagle in Chorlton)

Common in the NQ are taking walk-ins only, after a successful summer slinging Nell’s Pizza + pints they’re going to be doing much of the same from April 12th.

Yard and Coop

Yard and Coop is next door to Common on Edge Street. The buttermilk fried chicken restaurant will be open from April 12th for alfresco dining. They’ve kept half their space back for walk-ins.

Trof

Trof is doing strictly walk up tables, no reservations. Starting with Drinks only, but that might change in the coming weeks. Opening Times: 4pm – 11pm Friday’s // Saturday & Sunday’s 12pm – 11pm

Port Street Beer House

Port Street will be open from Monday 12th, 4pm until late. 10 tables, no bookings, walk-ins only.

The Crown & Anchor

There’s two of these, this is the one on the corner of Port St + Tib St in the NQ, they have a relatively unknown beer garden out back that they’ve told me has been refurbished for tomorrow.

Feel Good Club

Open bright and early Monday, the Feel Good Club team are putting together a terrace garden out front today in preparation for tomorrow

Siop Shop

Siop reopen Tuesday, they’ll be serving coffees, donuts, soft serve + more with first come first served tables out front 

Almost Famous – NQ

Walk-ins only! Almost Famous have a fair bit of outdoor space out towards the old Smithfield Market which gets plenty of sun (I know, I’ve seen the forecast).

Wolf at the Door

Wolf at the Door have just announced they’ll be open from Monday 12th April. No bookings, walk-ins only from 12pm until late everyday. Plus ÂŁ1 baos, tacos and tasty bevs.

4 more days, 4 more days, 4 more days… – Photo from WATD social

Bay Horse Tavern

Bay Horse Tavern is one of the bars in the NQ that really benefitted from the pedestrianised roads, they’ll have spaces held back each day for walk-ins, again on a first come, first served basis.

Cane and Grain

The same as Bay Horse Tavern, open for walk-ins on a first come, first served basis.

Night and Day Cafe

Night and Day open from Friday 16th onwards. Tables and benches on Oldham Street and serving drinks and handmade pizza Neapolitan style

The Shack Grill and Bar

The Shack have a new extended outdoor area outside, they’re taking reservations Monday – Thursday but weekends will be left as walk-ins only!

Alvarium

Another spot doing walk-ins only (which means more chance of tables free!). Alvarium is a vegan friendly kitchen + bar that’s also just a very nice spot to sit and have pints in the NQ.

Flok + Eastern Bloc + For the NQ in General

If it’s busy, sunny and close to the weekend (a recipe for extremely busy) we’d just recommend starting at one side of the NQ and walking up via Thomas St into Stevenson Square and down to Dale Street for places to go. One of the above places mentioned should have spaces, or there’ll be outdoor seating in Stevenson Square from the likes of Flok, Easter Bloc, Lost in Tokyo or Ply2.

Most of them will be serving food as well.

Shambles Square (The Old Wellington + Sinclair’s Oyster Bar)

Both pubs in Shambles Square hold a special place in our hearts. From memory, The Old Wellington has the better cover from the rain with it’s outdoor seating but expect both open for walk-ins from April 12th.

Corn Exchange

Banyan, The Cosy Club, Delhi House Cafe, Salvi’s, Vapiano and Zizzi’s will all be open from April 12th with outdoor seating. They are asking for bookings at the moment but are withholding limited spaces aside for walk-ins each day.

Bunny Jacksons

Bunny Jacksons have just announced that they will be open 7 days a week from Monday April 12th, opening hours will be noon til 3am. No bookings, walk-ins only.

The Oast House

The Oast House sold out on all bookings quickly as one of town’s biggest sun traps / beer gardens. However they’ve announced that they’ve reserved space every day for walk-ins. On a first come, first served basis.

Tampopo

Tampopo has reopened its restaurants in Corn Exchange and Albert Square, both with plenty of outdoor seating. Tables are available to book but they’ll also be accepting walk ins across both sites.

20 Stories

Whilst reservations for food bookings at 20 Stories are completely booked up. The cocktail bar terrace will have spaces for those just wanting drinks. Available every day. First come, first served.

The Alchemist

The Alchemist has took the decision to go walk-ins only which means no reservations for its outdoor terrace at any point, expect it to get busy on the weekends.

Lawn Club

Lawn Club in Spinningfields will have walk-in spaces everyday, decking to expand their outdoor terrace is being built this week too.

Impossible MCR – (Walk-ins available Tuesday/Wednesday and some on Sunday)

Similar to Oast House, this is the type of space that people sought out for Summer drinking. They are booked up for weekends but have walk-ins available midweek, and potentially on Sunday.

YES MCR

It looks like YES are holding back all tables in their opening week for walk-ins only, which includes the beer garden + terrace.

Hatch

Hatch are sold out for bookings BUT they’ve held back 50% off their tables for walk-ins on the day. We have seen queues on sunny weekends but it should be easy enough to get a table.

Photo by Adam Pester

White Lion

One of our favourite pub beer gardens in the city centre. No word from White Lion on their socials of whether they’ll be open but they don’t seem like the type to be arsed using social media anyway.

Dukes 92

Dukes are only taking reservations for the areas covered by their canopies. Which means if the weather is good, there’ll be plenty of space (if you get there quick enough) for walk-ins.

The Wharf

Castlefield pub The Wharf have teased a huge new covering being installed in their courtyard this week. We expect them to be open for walk-ins from Monday April 12th, we’ll update here when we know more.

Let us know if you find this guide useful and tag us on your stories. Enjoy!