IT'S the first of June and that means the meteorological summer is here. That crept up didn't it?
And while the words 'summer bod' may have been vaguely floating around in your head since, well, May, it's now June so you should probably pack in all that nonsense and get stuck into this lot...
Oh and if you've spotted a cracking deal around Manchester that we've missed let us know @mcrconfidential or by email.
LUNYA - 3 tapas for £14.95 at lunchtimes
Add a splash of Catalan colour to your lunchtimes with Lunya’s great new deal: three tapas and homemade sourdough bread for less than a fiver each. Choose from the likes of stuffed piquillo peppers, Catalan hotdogs or calamari cooked in beer batter with allioli...perfect for sharing (or hogging). Available Sunday to Friday, midday – 5pm.
Drop in or call 0161 413 3317 to book - Lunya, 7 Barton Square, M3 2BB
THE CHOP HOUSES - Two courses for £13.95 / Three courses for £17.95
The Victorian Chop Houses are still tempting weary office workers with their superb new express menus, focusing on traditional British fare with local ingredients. All are slightly different: Albert’s boasts spring ham hock & spinach salad, Sam’s devilled duck hearts and Thomas’s the famous corned beef hash cake. Our advice? Try all three.
More info here - Albert Square, Back Pool Fold and Cross Street, respectively.
HARVEY NICHOLS - Three courses for £25 per person on Father’s Day
For those who don’t know (or have forgotten), it’s Father’s Day on Sunday 19 and Harvey Nichols have the perfect present: a three-course meal for £25 in their modern Second Floor Brasserie. Start with smoked brisket, tender haddock goujons or a delicious Chimichurri ahead of mains like classic roast beef and spring lamb. Those with an endless appetite, meanwhile, can share a succulent Tomahawk steak with hand-cut chips and pepper sauce.
Still have room for dessert? Enjoy praline crème brûlée, frozen banana parfait and a selection of cheeses. Alternatively, opt for Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea for £22 per person including a bespoke cocktail.
Book here - 21 New Cathedral Street, M1 1AD
TNQ - Two courses £13.95 / Three courses £16.95
Available Monday to Saturday 12-6.30pm, TNQ’s Express Menu is down to earth yet full of flavour: starters include Bury black pudding fritters, mains TNQ pot pies and eco-friendly fish and chips. Other offers include three courses plus unlimited wine on Mondays and Thursdays, as well as gourmet evenings throughout the year.
Book here or call 0161 832 7115 - 108 High Street, M4 1HQ
GRAY’S LARDER – Two courses for £12.95
Once only available at lunchtimes, acclaimed neighbourhood bistro Gray’s has decided to spread the joy a little further and extend its two-course deal from midday to 5pm Tuesdays to Fridays. Starters include crispy fish with pickled cucumbers and a lemon and caper mayonnaise whilst mains comprise wild mushroom and spinach omelette with warm tomato salad. Certainly worth a leisurely tram trip to the 'burbs.
Book here - 123 Manchester Road, M21 9PG
SAKANA - 50% off sushi on Mondays
Japanese people are amongst the world’s longest living - and sushi has a lot to do with it. Tasty and healthy, you don’t see those together too often. Get your week off to a hearty start with half off Sakana’s sushi creations when you pre-book here: from Loch Duart salmon to yellowfish tuna to smoked eel and sea bass.
Book here - 23 Peter Street, M2 5QR
ROSSO – Two-course lunch for £14.95. Add wine for £9.95
Not only is the Italian institution still luring us in with its popular lunch deal, May saw the return of Rosso’s 5 At 5. That means five different cocktails - inspired by the nation’s favourite box sets - for £5, 5-7pm. Plump for Don Collins, Glamorous, Cardinal Sin, Manolo Blanique or The One With...or why not go for all five?
Book here - 43 Spring Gardens, M2 2BG
THE LAWN CLUB - 25% off for theatre goers
The grass is always greener at the Lawn Club, with a generous 25% off when you show them a valid theatre ticket for that day. Specialising in seasonal, uncomplicated British food, tuck into the likes of honey-glazed chipolatas, macaroni cheese with smoked bacon lardons and hot roast of the day.
Walk-ins welcome but advanced booking advised - The Lawn Club, Byrom Street, Spinningfields, M3 3JE
MALMAISON - Two courses for £19.95 / Three courses for £24.95
Malmaison is welcoming in spring with a bumper crop of fresh new ingredients and a superb new prix fixe menu to match. Highlights include salt and pepper squid, succulent slow-roasted West Country lamb and passion fruit and mango pavlova. Add two cocktails for £10 and enjoy an evening of malchemy.
Book here - 1 Gore St, Piccadilly, M1 3AQ
63 DEGREES - Five courses for £25 on Tuesdays
Another great value tasting menu, NQ’s family Parisian bistro offers five courses for £25, with the option of an added wine flight for £48. Sample Head Chef Eric’s precision cooking via French specialities like Foie Gras terrine with spices, followed by a Bisous Bisous gateau. Cordon bleu indeed.
Book here or call 0161 823 5438 - 104 High St, Manchester M4 1HQ
ABEL HEYWOOD - Two courses for £12.95
NQ’s Abel Heywood is ‘not your ordinary pub’ and this isn’t your ordinary deal, with two courses under £13 weekdays 12-7pm. Start off with the likes of buttermilk chicken wings in a lemon and ginger sticky sauce, before a main event including steak frites with Béarnaise sauce. Got a sweet tooth? Puds include warm chocolate fudge brownie and Bakewell sponge. If you’re there a little earlier, they’re also offering a free tea of coffee with every breakfast dish weekdays from 7am to noon.
Call 0161 819 1441 to book - Abel Heywood, 38 Turner Street, M4 1DZ
GUSTO - Two courses + aperitivo cocktail for £19.95 for theatre goers
The show must go on...after dinner preferably if Gusto’s new pre-theatre menu is anything to go by. From 5-7pm daily, tuck into two courses plus an aperitivo cocktail before your show and enjoy traditional Italian cuisine for less. Gusto is also offering a quarter off your next visit on joining the mailing list.
Book here - 4 Lloyd Street, M2 5AB
PER TUTTI - Two courses for £10
A stalwart deal from Liverpool Road’s stalwart Mediterranean bar and grill: any two courses from the set menu for a tenner. Expect mains like cod fillet and a selection of delicious desserts (the sticky toffee pudding is a Confidential winner). Available from midday until 7pm Monday to Friday and midday until 5pm Saturday.
Book here - 3-11 Liverpool Road, M3 4NW
THE FRENCH - Simon Rogan’s Chef Week, £100 menus with £20 to Hospitality Action
Not so much a deal as a special one-off. From 7-11 June, the French’s Simon Rogan will be joined by four more acclaimed chefs for a week - well, five days - of inimitable dining: Tuesday 7 sees L’Eclume’s Tom Barnes, Wednesday 8 Rogan himself, Thursday 9 Adam Reid (also from The French), Friday 10 Dan Cox from Fera at Claridge’s, and Saturday 11 Group Exec Chef Marcus Noack. Menus span raw scallop, smoked cod roe and caviar with summer herb broth to macerated strawberry with meadowsweet and almond: all cost £100, with £20 going to charity Hospitality Action.
Call 0161 932 4198 to book - The French, The Midland Hotel, Peter Street, M60 2DS
NO 1 WATSON STREET - 2-4-1 pizza
Why have one pizza when you can have two? Particularly when they’ve craft pizzas like Porky’s Hog Roast. From 5-9pm Tuesday to Friday, No 1 Watson Street are offering two of their craft pizzas for the price of one, capped off with a host of Happy Hour drink offers. Sounds like our kind of evening...
Drop in or call 0161 819 5167 - No. 1 Watson Street, Great Northern Square, M3 4EE
THE PEN & PENCIL - 50% off food on Mondays
Gordo raved about the brunch so chances are Pen and Pencil’s new evening menu won’t disappoint. May 16 saw the Mad Men-inspired bar and eatery launch a revamped selection full of new temptations: from small plates like BBQ pork ribs to large plates such as seared sea bream with samphire and new potatoes.
All tables need to be pre-booked by emailing: info@thepenandpencilnq.co.uk
More info here - Fourways House, 57 Hilton Street, M1 2EJ
BOURBON AND BLACK - 40% off food Sun-Thur, 25% off food Fri-Sat for Confidential readers
This offer was supposed to end in April but it’s proving so darn popular, they keep extending it. Luckily for you lot. Feast on American classics with a B&B edge, from succulent steaks to fresh seafood and vegetarian roasts - perhaps topped off with a chocolate pave pud. Max 6 people, city centre only.
Book here - City Centre, 2 Mount Street, M2 5WQ
FILTHY COW - Brunch muffin + unlimited tea and coffee at weekends
What better way to kick off weekends than unlimited caffeine and an indulgent muffin? We don’t know either. Filthy Cow are also hitting the spot with the Filthy Fiver and 2-4-1 burger deals during select concerts and events - keep your eyes peeled.
No need to book, just trot in - 10 Tib Lane, M2 4JB
1847 - 50% off a la carte on Mondays
‘Plant-based foods’ may not be the most alluring description but 1847’s meat-free menu has won awards for its innovative dishes; including celeriac and potato gratin, goats’ cheese bon bons and ‘allotment’ salad. It’s a lot healthier than most of this list too... Half off when booking online and quoting ‘MeatFreeMonday’.
Book here - 58 Mosley Street, M2 3LQ
BUSABA - Lunch thali for £9.95
Busaba are spicing up midday munchies with this handy set meal for one: one small plate sampler and one main taster, plus a lemongrass and honey tea. Full menu here, available 12-4pm weekdays. The Thai restaurant also has a clutch of great offers throughout the week, including 50% off Mondays and Fizz for 4 on Fridays.
Book here - 1, The Printworks, 27 Withy Grove, M4 2BS
COMMON - 2-4-1 Burgers
Sign up to become a 'Super Special Member' of Common and receive exclusive deals including 2-4-1 burgers every Tuesday and free fries every Wednesday when you spend £10 on drinks. You can also score 10% off beer and cider all day all week. Meaning, should you order say, 200 pints this year, you could be in line to save £80, which you could then put towards a new liver on the black market.
No need to book but you do need to sign-up - 39-41 Edge Street, M4 1HW
EL CAPO - Deals all week inc. 50p wings
Not content with one deal, or two, or three for that matter, this Northern Quarter tequila bar and Mexican cantina are offering great deals throughout the week: from steak, sides and wine for two for £25; £1 tacos on Tuesdays; 50p wings on Wednesdays; two cocktails for £10 on Thursday; and nachos, wings, tapadas, burrito/quesadilla and two sides for £14pp on Sundays. You get all that? Good.
Call 0161 237 3154 or email to book - 12 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
JAMES MARTIN – Five courses + cocktail for £35 / Five courses + matching wines for £50
James Martin’s Spring Pickings tasting menu has seen phenomenal demand and it’s not hard to see why: courses include the likes of sirloin steak aged in a Himalayan salt chamber and served with kimchi, beef jerky and enoki mushrooms. With that attention to detail, five courses and a choice cocktail for £35 isn’t bad going at all. We recommend going for the £50 option, which includes matched wines with each course - even better value. Available Monday to Thursday.
Book here - Manchester235, Great Northern, 2 Watson Street, M3 4LP
CANE & GRAIN - £5 lunch
Not only have Cane & Grain shaken up their £5 lunch offer - now including the Mexican bean burger and boneless roll - they’re also getting us salivating with a new food menu featuring pimped up fries, pork and beef ribs and signature dessert shakes. Don’t miss their new monthly Hip Hop Swap Shop either, where - along with a quirky fashion swap and independent traders - there’ll be a special menu with ribs and burgers for as little as £5.
No need to book - 49 -51 Thomas Street, M4 1NA
DOG BOWL - Three courses + drink + bowling for £25
Not content with one deal, Dog Bowl is going for a hat-trick with a triple-strike deal that promises the full Dog Bowl experience. For just £25, enjoy a game of bowling, alcoholic or soft drink and an indulgent three-course Tex Mex feast; with options like vegetable quesadillas, baby back ribs and pancake stack.
Book here - Whitworth Street West, M1 5WW
CRAZY PEDRO’S - £5 lunch
From 12-3pm Monday to Friday, bonkers ‘part time pizza parlour’ Pedro’s offers two pizza slices, large nachos or a hoagie with any soft drink for a fiver. Want a beer? Give them an extra squid. For later in the day, the neighbouring Liar’s Club has a very happy Happy Hour (it lasts four hours).
BLACK DOG BALLROOM - 50% off food on Mondays / 2-4-1 Pizza on Tuesdays
Black Dog Ballroom is following their sister venue Dog Bowl's lead (geddit?) with more purse-pleasing deals. Tuck into 2-4-1 Pizza Twosdays at Black Dog NWS (excludes Calzone and Brucie Bonus), a £5 lunch Tues-Fri noon-3pm at Black Dog NQ, and 50% off food on Mondays at both venues.
More info here - 11-13 New Wakefield Street, M1 5NP / Basement Affleck’s Palace, Church Street, M4 1PW
PLY - 50% off pizzas in June for members
Sign up to be a Ply member and the artsy NQ joint will give you half off their 12”pizzas, all day every day. Not a bad exchange... Plus membership earns you offers at Kosmonaut and other partner venues year-round.
Sign up here - 26 Lever Street, M1 1DW
DIVE BAR - 55% off food for Dive Card Holders
Time is of the essence with this one, as we have word it won’t be on for much longer. Get the (free) Dive card and receive over half off food from midday until 10pm. Even better, the Dive card entitles you to a range of exclusive offers; from generous discounts to free weekend entry and even birthday treats.
More info here - Dive Bar, Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1SH
TARIFF & DALE - Pizza + soft drink for £7 / Pizza + house beer or wine for £9 on Fridays
This isn’t just a normal pizza either, it’s an all-you-can-eat sourdough pizza. Friday #Giro options include air-dried ham and Ogden cheddar, nduja and piquillo pepper plus classic staples like margherita. You can still nab 25% off when signing up to the mailing list too.
Call 0161 710 2233 to book - 2 Tariff Street, M1 2FN
TUSK - Two beers + two pizzas for £10.10
Every day at Tusk, you can grab two 10 inch pizzas and two accompanying pints for just over a tenner. Otherwise, opt for a homemade Tusk or falafel burger with fries, washed down with beer or wine, for £10 Monday to Friday. Fellow MAD venues Rosylee and Walrus have some great weekly offers too.
Just drop in - 77 High Street, M4 1FS
BANDIT, MUGGER & THIEF - Free cheese board with any bottle of wine on Wednesdays
For criminally low offers throughout the week, you’d do well to beat Bandit. Not only do they boast the Great Cheese Heist on Wednesdays, they’re also offering a stonking 25% off food on Mondays and Tuesdays plus Fizzin Eck on Fridays, with 20% off bubbles all day and discounted house champagne.
Book here - Canal Street, M1 3HE
Remember, if we've missed a deal around Manchester let us know @mcrconfidential or by email.
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