Manchester bars, pubs and restaurants have plenty of alcohol-free
Mocktails are a good alternative to alcohol in a pub or bar setting(Image: Getty Images)
We all know – and to some point accept – that December is a month of indulgence. Whether that’s the extra mince pie when wrapping presents, or the countless chocolates consumed during the never-ending festive period known as Twixmas – and don’t even get us started on all the party food – it can all start to feel like quite a lot.
As well as food, there’s typically a lot of drinking at this time of year too including office Christmas parties and catch-ups with friends in the run up, then Christmas Day and Boxing Day with family, plus New Year’s Eve. By the start of January, you’re sick of the sight of bottles of fizz and half-drank glasses of Baileys.
But it’s also at this time of year that people’s priorities shift as they look to set new goals and resolutions. For some it’s about a new diet or health regime, while for others it’s about abstaining from something like alcohol.
If it’s the latter, then you might be considering taking part in Dry January. The annual event sees thousands stop drinking alcohol for the entirety of the first calendar month of the year.
Sparkling wine(Image: Tero Vesalainen via Getty Images)
In the short-term, quitting alcohol means improved energy levels and better sleep, as well as skin looking better and potential weight loss. Because drinking alcohol can cause long-term health problems, stopping drinking can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as liver disease and gut problems.
That said, it can be challenging to give up booze for an extended period of time, especially if socialising revolves around it. But, at least in January there’s more people taking a a break from certain food and drink, and adopting healthier lifestyle choices and habits.
Over the last decade it has become easier to cut out alcohol and still socialise too. The range of non-alcoholic drinks has grown massively, so you never have to feel like you’re missing out.
And here in Manchester there’s a number of bars and venues serving up creative mocktails, low- and no-alcohol beers and even non-alcoholic wine flights to accompany your meal out. Below, we take a look at some of the places in Manchester where you can enjoy a non-alcoholic drink this Dry January.
Hinterland
Alcohol-free bar, Hinterland in the Northern Quarter(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Hinterland is an alcohol-free bar in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Situated on Turner Street and serving up a selection of alcohol-free cocktails and beers that have been sustainably and ethically sourced, it is one of Manchester’s best spots for avoiding booze.
The concept comes from three friends who wanted to create a space where people could meet up and socialise in an alcohol-free and friendly environment. As well as alcohol-free cocktails, wines beers, speciality teas, they also offer vegan food from Wholesome Junkies, from their pop-up kitchen. Non-alcoholic beers include Brullo, Smashed pale ale and Big Drop, amongst others, whilst classic, non-alcoholic cocktails include Espresso Martini, Whiskey Sour and Rebel’s Gin and Tonic.
16-20 Turner St, Manchester M4 1DZ
Red Light
Red Light at the Kampus neighbourhood in Manchester (Image: Manchester Evening News)
A couple of years ago, the Kampus neighbourhood sprung up and Little David Street, which runs parallel to Canal Street was transformed from a neglected cobbled street to an avenue of exciting food and drink venues. One of those is Red Light, an inclusive LGBTQ+ cocktail bar with some seriously good alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
While you might think a cocktail bar isn’t the best place when avoiding alcohol, the bartenders here put just as much care into the lo-and-no options as they do the harder stuff. Red Light’s current mocktail offer includes Dark & Hoppy, a take on a rum and ginger number; Garibaldi, which features pear, orange juice and anise; and Pornstar Chic, a straight twist on a classic cocktail.
4-2 Little David St, Manchester M1 3GL
Alchemist
The Virgin Pornstar Martini at The Alchemist (Image: Supplied)
This January, The Alchemist will be taking a trip down memory lane with a return of its original 2010 menu – offering diners £6 cocktails including the White Chocolate Raspberry Martini. And for those cutting out alcohol there’s plenty of options too.
They are are turning a notch up on Dry January with a range of new no-alcohol drinks from soft drinks botanical brand TRIP. At all of their venues through January, diners can enjoy mindful sparkling blends with premium non-alcoholic spirits from Sipsmith, Cleanco, Pentire and Botivo. Options include the Virgin Pornstar (£6): A non-alcoholic cocktail featuring pineapple, lemon, vanilla and passionfruit caviar paired with REAL Alc Free Royal Flush sparkling white.
3 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3HF / 1 New York Street, Manchester, M1 4HD / The Bund, The Quays, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 3AB.
Dishoom
Dishoom in Manchester (Image: Manchester Evening News)
Walking into Dishoom off Bridge Street is a treat for the senses. You’re instantly hit by the thick smell of incense before being whisked to a dark-panelled dining room styled on the old Iranian cafes of Bombay, where you can sip on piping hot mugs of house chai – warming, comforting, and with a and satisfying hit of spice.
It’s a beautiful spot and while it does offer a range of ‘sours and fancies’, ‘slings, coolers and fizzes’, it also excels with its array of non-alcoholic beverages. There’s a couple of non-alcoholic beers, sparkling wines and six ‘Teetotal Tipples’ including No-Permit Collins (£9.70) – comprised of Sparkling Darjeeling green tea, smoky Lapsang, and Kingfisher 0% lager, with lemon and a dash of maple syrup. They also serve a range of lassis, coolers and refreshing sodas.
32 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT
Speak in Code
Found between Jackson Row and Lloyd Street, Speak in Code launched onto the Manchester bar scene in 2018(Image: Speak In Code)
Situated between Jackson Row and Lloyd Street, Speak in Code launched onto the Manchester bar scene in 2018 and has been impressing visitors ever since. The award-winning drinking spot does the classics extremely well but the real talking point is that everything is plant-based.
Its experiential drinks list features aromatic cordials made from everything from spent lime husks to banana skin bacon. The cocktail list is broken down into ‘tracks’ and ‘demos’ and points out the flavours and style of drink, and they also have a curated list of alcohol-free cocktails including Junebug with banana, melon and pineapple all fermented into soda, plus Raspberries & Cream – ice-cream washed Almave agave with carbonic raspberry soda.
7 Jackson’s Row, Manchester M2 5ND
Lina Stores and Bar Lina
Drinks at Lina Stores in Manchester (Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
Few places do good alternatives to a classic Italian spritz, but Lina Stores – a beautiful new restaurant, deli and bar which opened opposite the Manchester Opera House in early 2025 has made sure they’re non-alcoholic options are accounted for. In the main restaurant and deli space you can enjoy Lina Aperitivo Spritz with grapefruit, rhubarb, and wormwood; the Lina Stores Nogroni with light bitter, wormwood, and orange; and the Amaro Spritz, with Amaro 0%, strawberry, and ginger kombucha.
Tucked away at the back of the Manchester site is Bar Lina, which has taken on a design reminiscent of Italy in the late 1960s and 1970s with a blend of dark red tones, velvet banquettes and mirrored walls. Here, as well as their Italian classics and new creations, wines, beer, signature cocktails, tonic and mules, and mezcal, you can enjoy a vibrant range of non-alcoholic cocktails including Conformista with Adriatico Amaretto 0%, grapefruit, and roobois.
St Johns Court, 17 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN
Blinker Bar
Blinker cocktail (Image: Manchester Evening News)
The bar’s name comes from a forgotten classic cocktail blending rye, grapefruit and raspberry, and every cocktail they serve at Blinker Bar on Spring Gardens is influenced by seasonality. One of the top 50 cocktails bars in the world, simplicity and precision here are key.
Heading into a bar that prides itself on its cocktail making might seem counterintuitive if you’re doing Dry January, but these top mixologists are adaptable and creative so can conjure up many types of non-alcoholic options. Its signature cocktail, The Blinker can be made non-alcoholic, while it has a whole section on its menu dedicated to non-alcoholic serves including the delicious Maple Highball made with Three Spirit Nightcap, almond, lime and and maple soda.
64-72 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ
Nell’s
Nell’s sells a range of non-alcoholic beers and cocktails (Image: Supplied)
Nell’s Pizza, inspired by the thin, crisp crusts and high-quality toppings of New York’s iconic pizza culture, launched in lockdown at Common in the Northern Quarter and Chorlton family favourite, The Beagle. The brand’s flagship site at the Kampus neighbourhood near Manchester Piccadilly opened in 2022 and they’ve since opened sites in Altrincham, Freight Island and MediaCity.
As well as fantastic pizzas, sides and ice-cream sandwiches, they have a knockout drinks menu, which includes a number of non-alcoholic options. Their signature margaritas, featuring Almave, a blue Agave Spirit from the highlands of Jalisco, is expressed without alcohol, while their classics such as Pornstar and Amaretto Sour are made with Lyre’s premium, non-alcoholic spirits. On the fizz and beer front there’s Sea Change 0% Sparkling Wine, Lucky Saint Unfiltered Lager 0.5% and Lucky Saint Hazy IPA 0.5% 330ml can, as well as Guinness 0% and a range of soft drinks.
Hawksmoor
Hawksmoor on Deansgate, Manchester(Image: Manchester Evening News)
If you’re treating yourself to a juicy steak this January, but sad to be missing out on the glass of red, then don’t worry because there’s still some great non-alcoholic options at Hawksmoor on Deansgate.
There’s seven lo-and-no cocktails to choose from including the Steady Pete’s Ginger Brew with Ceder’s Crisp Non-alc, Lemon, Ginger, and Lucky Saint; the Sour Cherry No-Groni, with Lyre’s Amaretti and Italian Spritz, and Sour Cherry; and Mango Soda, with mango, and grapefruit. They also have a range and non-alcoholic beers too.
184-186 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WB
Schofield’s
Schofield’s Bar in Manchester (Image: Manchester Evening News)
Established by brothers Joe and Daniel Schofield, this award-winning drinking spot stands out for its precision, quality and creative cocktails. There’s also all the little touches too, like the warm welcome at the door, personalised table service, and regularly topped up water, which means you’re well looked after even before the drinks are shaken, stirred, blended and strained to perfection.
It shouldn’t surprise you then, that every element is carefully considered – this includes the non-alcoholic options too. Their ‘Temperance’ section is a well-crafted selection of tipples prepared with the same love and affection as their other cocktails and includes Helter Skelter with pineapple, coconut, lime, ginger, rose and soda, and a fantastic Virgin Mary.
3 Little Quay Street, Sunlight House, Manchester, M3 3JZ
Cafe Beermoth
Cafe Beermoth
A cafe dedicated to all things beer, this Manchester city centre venue boasts rotating cask and keg craft beer and an extensive bottle menu. Beers hail from the UK, Belgium, Germany, the rest of Europe and North America.
Their house beer is in collaboration with Stockport’s Runaway Brewery ‘Stone’s Throw’ a hoppy pale ale, and their only regular cask release. In the fridges you’ll find Implosion Lager, one of the few non-alcoholic lagers in the market made with the fermentation method that tastes like a lager, as well as Sonoma AF Pale Ale, and New Horizons Pale Ale with with Azacca, Citra, Ekuanot and Mosaic hops.
Café Beermoth, Brown St, Manchester M2 1DA
Zouk
Zouk Tea Bar & Grill(Image: Zouk)
As well as its tasty array of Indian and Pakistani dishes, Zouk has a wide range of non-alcoholic drink options for diners to enjoy during their meal. Bosses believe non-alcoholic drinks deserve the same creativity and theatrical presentation as the cocktails so they’ve gone the extra mile with their ‘Mocktails in the Clouds’ selection, which includes Fantasia made with fresh lychee, lemon, and cranberry.
They also serve non-alcoholic takes on classics like the Mojito, alongside Pina Colada, Summer Dream, Strawberry Daiquiri, Coffee Colada and Fresh Lemon & Mint Juice. If you want something a bit more like dessert you can try a lassi, a traditional yoghurt-based drink in favours including mango, strawberry, plain, sweet and Nimkeen.
5, The Quadrangle, Chester St, Manchester M1 5QS