Outdoor Drinks & Beer Gardens

outdoor drinkers at university green enjoying the beer gardens on oxford road

Oxford Road Corridor is packed with a great range of bars and pubs where you can get your fill of cocktails, spirits and any other liquor you can think of. 

Manchester is arguably most famous for its inclement weather, so it is not surprising that every ray of sunshine is seized upon as an opportunity to enjoy outdoor drinks and beer gardens. In actual fact, the so-called Rainy City isn’t even in the top 10 wettest in the UK so it’s just as well that there are plenty of spaces to enjoy outdoor drinks in Manchester and many of them can be found around Oxford Road.

The Corridor is one of the greenest areas in Manchester and University Green is a perfect spot in which to enjoy some trees and grass while enjoying a drink at either the Oxford Road branch of Brewdog, Navarro Lounge or one of its several coffee shops. Similarly, Circle Square’s Symphony Park and its distinct grass pavilion is a lovely spot where a whole host of new retailers will soon be operating. Hatch offers the ultimate protection for outdoor food and drinks with a large space where you can catch the sun and the entire width of The Mancunian Way in which to take shelter should the clouds conspire against you, it’s not the only shelter offered by a viaduct either, The Thirsty Scholar has a little beer garden beneath the railway line.

There are a couple of roof terraces worthy mention too. Not just the best place to spot the best upcoming bands, YES is a four-story bar that serves great food and has an outstanding roof terrace. A stone’s throw away on New Wakefield Street is Brickhouse Social, its pool room and tap house are only bettered by its sun-drenched roof terrace. If you like things a bit more rock n’ roll, the garden roof terrace at Big Hands is for you, a lovely space with regular BBQs in the summer months.

For more traditional beer gardens you should start with Rain Bar which is a real suntrap with canal-side tables and frequent visits from its resident Geese. The Peveril of The Peak is a must-visit pub in Manchester, while there isn’t much outdoor seating, punters crowd the pavements on warm evenings until late. Another one you cannot miss is Britton’s Protection which has both the First Street is a great shout too, there’s a cracking little bar at HOME and several bars including Gasworks where you can take your drinks outside and enjoy spectacular views of the towers at Deansgate Square.

There are many more spaces to discover on Oxford Road Corridor, here’s some inspiration.

A cocktail from Brickhouse Social, one of the many spots to get a Cocktails on Oxford Road
Brickhouse Social

Brickhouse Social is an exciting place where bar meets restaurant and all are welcome.

BrewDog Manchester Outpost

Head to BrewDog Manchester Outpost at University Green for equity for punks, and quality beer for connoisseurs.

External image of Navarro Lounge at night
Navarro Lounge

Find Navarro Lounge just off Oxford Road on University Green, a modern and welcoming chain bar with excellent choices of food.

internal image of The Thirsty Scholar pub with a glowing bar
The Thirsty Scholar

The Thirsty Scholar is a free music venue, pub and nightclub on Oxford Road serving vegan pub food including all-day breakfasts.

External shot of Kro Bar with people drinknig outside
Kro Bar

Kro Bar, Manchester is an independent pub and music venue housed (somewhat ironically) in the former Temperance Society building.

Gasworks First Street Manchester Oxford Road Corridor
The Gasworks Brewbar

Gasworks is a repurposed industrial space on First Street that’s now used for quality drinking and dining.

Internal shot of the bar at The Courtyard Pubs Manchester
The Courtyard

The Courtyard is a mecca for sports-loving students with a huge amount of TV screens, a massive beer garden and bargain booze.

The Old Abbey Tap House via Facebook
The Old Abbey Taphouse

The Old Abbey Taphouse is a pub in a community hub, and one of Hulme’s true gems. Come for the beers, stay for the arts and culture activities.

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External shot of The Lass O' Gowrie one of the many pubs and bars on Oxford Road
Bars and Pubs on Oxford Road

Oxford Road is packed with a great range of bars and pubs where you can get your fill of cocktails, spirits and any other liquor you can think of. 

Food and Drink on Oxford Road

The food and drink in Manchester is some of the best in the UK with many of the finest offerings found here on the Oxford Road Corridor.

Image of sign outside of YES, one of the many student pubs and bars on oxford road
Student Pubs and Bars

With thousands of students arriving in Manchester each year, there’s no shortage of student pubs and bars around Oxford Road.

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