Soup

The Soup Kitchen in Manchester’s Northern Quarter does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a kitchen serving soup (as well as sandwiches, homemade burgers, pastries and pasties, seasonal hot mains and daily specials) in a canteen-style open space in a converted old brick warehouse where you sit on long benches, crammed in with friends and strangers alike when it gets really busy. The Northern Quarter can err on the side of pretension and get expensive, but the Soup Kitchen is neither; during the day a soup and sandwich here will set you back around £6 - great for a mid-shop or pre-gig refuel.

The award-winning wine list has a good selection from both new and old world, and cask ales come courtesy of local breweries such as Dunham Massey and Hornbeam. There are real ciders and premium bottled beers and a wide range speciality tea & coffee. During the day it’s a popular hangout for freelancers and relaxed business lunches (there is free WiFi throughout), but their late-night weekend live music events are legendary, featuring everything from local indie bands to national dance acts, via folk, electronica and anything else that they fancy. Club nights take place in the underground space downstairs, which also plays host to film nights, comedy events and art exhibitions.