Manchester’s food scene is famously diverse with plenty of cafes and restaurants — you can eat your way from Mumbai to Mexico within a few streets — but sometimes what you really want is something unmistakably English. Whether that means a perfect Sunday roast, a hearty pie, or modern British cooking done with care, Manchester’s city centre delivers. Below is a guide to some of the best English and British-inspired restaurants within easy walking distance of Manchester City Centre – St Peter’s Square, Deansgate and the Northern Quarter.
1. Hawksmoor Manchester — The King of Steaks
Address: 184–186 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WB
Opening times: Monday–Thursday 12:00–23:00; Friday–Saturday 12:00–23:30; Sunday 11:30–23:00
If you only visit one place for a taste of proper British meat cookery, make it Hawksmoor. This handsome dining room inside an old courthouse specialises in impeccably sourced steaks and Sunday roasts that are the stuff of legend. Their rib-eye or chateaubriand arrives perfectly charred, and the triple-cooked chips are dangerously addictive. The Sunday roast is slow-roasted rump with all the trimmings — Yorkshire puddings you could wear as a hat, beef dripping roast potatoes, and bone-marrow gravy you’ll want to drink.
It’s not cheap, but it’s the sort of “treat yourself” meal that reminds you why English food, when done right, is world-class.
2. The Refuge by Volta — Modern British with a Northern Twist
Address: The Principal Hotel, Oxford Street, Manchester, M60 7HA
Opening times: Monday–Thursday 12:00–23:00; Friday 12:00–00:00; Saturday 12:00–00:00; Sunday 12:00–22:00
Housed in the grand old Refuge Assurance Building, this restaurant is one of Manchester’s great dining rooms — a place that feels both glamorous and relaxed. The Refuge describes itself as “global eclectic,” but at heart it’s modern British with strong Northern roots. Expect local lamb, crispy pork belly, and seasonal vegetables that actually taste of something.
The décor alone is worth a visit: towering ceilings, tiled walls, and an atmosphere that feels like a celebration of old-school Manchester industry given a stylish 21st-century polish. Their Sunday roast is a strong rival to Hawksmoor’s, and the cocktails are excellent.
3. Sam’s Chop House — A Manchester Institution
Address: Back Pool Fold, Manchester, M2 1HN
Opening times: Monday–Saturday 12:00–22:00; Sunday 12:00–21:00
You can’t talk about English food in Manchester without mentioning Sam’s Chop House. Established in 1872, this Victorian pub-restaurant feels like a love letter to British comfort food. You’ll find potted shrimp, corned-beef hash, steak and kidney pudding, and sticky toffee pudding that could make you emotional.
It’s one of those places where time seems to slow down a bit. The staff are proper Mancunian in the best way — friendly, chatty, proud of what they serve. If you only have one lunch in Manchester and you want to eat like a local from another century, this is the spot.
4. The Albert Square Chop House — Heart-of-the-City Heritage
Address: Memorial Hall, Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5PF
Opening times: Monday–Saturday 12:00–23:00; Sunday 12:00–22:00
A sister venue to Sam’s, the Albert Square Chop House carries on the same tradition in a beautifully restored Grade II-listed building. The menu is resolutely British: Cornish crab cakes, Cheshire cheese soufflé, roast lamb rump, and of course, the famous corned-beef hash.
If you’re visiting in colder months, the comfort factor here is unbeatable — low lighting, warm service, and plates that feel like they were designed to be eaten after a long day in the rain (which, let’s be honest, suits Manchester perfectly).
5. The Mitre Restaurant & Bar — Traditional with a View
Address: 1–3 Cathedral Gates, Manchester, M3 1SW
Opening times: Monday–Sunday 08:00–23:00
The Mitre sits beside Manchester Cathedral and has been feeding locals since 1815. Inside, it’s all timber beams, old paintings, and soft lighting — the sort of pub that would feel at home in a Dickens novel. The food is simple and satisfying: battered fish and chips, steak and ale pie, sausages with onion gravy, and a full English breakfast served every morning.
It’s especially pleasant for a late breakfast before a wander through the shops or a walk along the Irwell. Nothing fancy — just proper, old-fashioned British cooking.
6. The Old Wellington — Classic Pub Grub in a Tudor Gem
Address: 4 Cathedral Gates, Manchester, M3 1SW
Opening times: Monday–Sunday 10:00–23:00
Right next to The Mitre sits The Old Wellington, arguably the most photographed pub in the city. It’s Manchester’s oldest building, dating back to 1552, and stepping inside feels like travelling through time. Expect traditional pub favourites: steak pie, fish and chips, bangers and mash, and Sunday roasts that bring in both locals and tourists.
If you want a pint of cask ale and a comforting plate of something unmistakably English, this is where you’ll find it.
7. Evelyn’s Café Bar — Modern British Brunch & Comfort Plates
Address: 52 Tib Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1NB
Opening times: Monday–Thursday 10:00–22:00; Friday 10:00–23:00; Saturday 09:00–23:00; Sunday 09:00–21:00
Evelyn’s is the sort of place that defines modern Manchester dining: local ingredients, bright interiors, and menus that change with the seasons. While it’s more contemporary than traditional, the soul of the cooking is English — you’ll find roast cauliflower with cheddar, grilled trout, slow-braised beef, and a cracking full English at brunch.
It’s casual but thoughtful, and great for people who like their food locally sourced and beautifully presented without fuss.
8. The Bay Horse Tavern — Elevated Pub Food in the Northern Quarter
Address: 35–37 Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1NA
Opening times: Monday–Sunday 12:00–00:00
The Bay Horse Tavern does that rare thing: serves pub food that actually surprises you. The menu is filled with British comfort classics — pies, burgers, roasts, and sausages — but everything is made with a bit more care than you expect from a pub.
Their Sunday roast, complete with horseradish, cauliflower cheese, and lashings of gravy, is a local favourite. The setting manages to balance Northern Quarter cool with old-school comfort, which is a neat trick.
9. 20 Stories — Modern British Fine Dining with a View
Address: No. 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman Square, Manchester, M3 3EB
Opening times: Monday–Thursday 12:00–00:00; Friday–Saturday 12:00–01:00; Sunday 12:00–23:00
For a more upscale British experience, 20 Stories is hard to top. Perched on the 19th floor above Spinningfields, it’s as much about the view as the food — but the food holds its own. Expect refined versions of British classics: Cumbrian beef fillet, poached cod with English peas, and desserts that play with nostalgia like treacle tart and apple crumble soufflé.
It’s expensive, yes, but if you want a true “Manchester moment” — sipping a cocktail while the skyline glows at sunset — this is the spot.
10. Albert’s Schloss — Alpine with a British Heart
Address: 27 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5QR
Opening times: Monday–Friday 09:00–02:00; Saturday 09:00–03:00; Sunday 09:00–00:00
While Albert’s Schloss leans Bavarian in theme, it’s proudly Mancunian in spirit and features plenty of hearty, English-friendly fare. The Sunday roasts are particularly good, served with local ales and live music. Think roast beef with giant Yorkshires and crisp roast potatoes, followed by sticky toffee pudding and a pint of pale ale.
It’s noisy, lively, and a little theatrical — but in a way that captures Manchester’s sense of fun.
Eating English in the Heart of Manchester
What’s striking about Manchester’s English restaurants is how well they balance tradition and reinvention. You can go full historical at The Old Wellington or Sam’s Chop House, or enjoy a polished modern take at The Refuge or 20 Stories.
A few tips before you go:
- Book ahead on weekends. Sunday roasts are serious business here.
- Try local ales and ciders. Many of these places feature brews from Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
- Don’t skip pudding. Whether it’s sticky toffee, treacle tart, or Eton mess, British desserts are part of the experience.
- Ask about seasonal specials. The best kitchens change their menus with local produce — it’s worth asking what’s new.
Manchester is a city that knows how to feed people — honestly, heartily, and with pride. From grand hotel dining rooms to historic pubs that have survived centuries of change, English cooking here isn’t stuck in the past. It’s evolving, confident, and just as full of character as the city itself.
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