Manchester’s Hospitality Evolution

Is Manchester Different Now?

With Almost Famous closing its doors for good, plenty of people in hospitality are sounding the alarm about the state of the industry. Is this the end of hospitality in Manchester? Or is it just another shift in what people want from the city’s food and drink scene?

Americana, Evolved

It’s been 13 years since Almost Famous first opened above Keko Moku in the Northern Quarter. At first glance, not much has changed—Americana is still alive and well, just with a different focus. The tiki bar is now Dogtown (still tiki, now with added surfboards), next door’s Luck Lust Liquor & Burn has made way for Bunny Jackson’s Country Club, and the original Almost Famous site? That’s now a karaoke bar under the Bunny Jackson’s banner—arguably their best version yet. The city’s still got a love for indulgent, messy food, but these days, it’s more about chicken wings than burgers.

A Changing Manchester

But in other ways, Manchester has moved on. Back in 2012, Barack Obama was in the White House, Manchester City had just won their first Premier League title, Crazy Pedro’s was just an idea, and down in London, Satan’s Whiskers hadn’t even opened yet. The UK Top 50 Cocktail Bars list? That was still six years away from existing.

The Rise of Cocktail Culture

Fast forward to today, and Manchester’s bar scene has seriously upped its game. The city is now home to some of the UK’s top cocktail spots—Schofield’s, Blinker, Speak In Code, Stray, Project Halcyon, Sterling, and Redlight are all proudly claiming their bragging rights on the national stage. A decade ago, this would’ve been hard to imagine, but now? It’s only just getting started.

Shifting Tastes

There’ll always be a place for dive bars and dirty burgers, but Manchester’s tastes are shifting. People want premium, but without the pretentiousness. The city has proven that great drinks and top-tier service don’t have to come with an attitude, and with more bars chasing national recognition, expect even more world-class spots to pop up in the North West.

It’s not just London anymore, there’s a new kid on the block. 

Written by Jordan Todd- Sales Manager (North)