10 great places to BYOB in Manchester

Undisputed Neapolitan pizza champions of Chorlton, Double Zero may feel the struggle now that Rudy’s, Nell’s and Lucky Mama’s have arrived on their patch. But fear not, because this place has cultivated such a good reputation over the years that people will keep coming back for more – helped in part by their delicious Neapolitan pies and very generous BYOB policy. Corkage comes in at a respectable £1.50 per person.

Now we know what you’re thinking – Hawksmoor is a fancy restaurant, not a ‘grab a bottle of vino en route’ sort of establishment. And it is, but, on Monday’s you can bring your own bottle (or bottles) of wine for £5 corkage to enjoy with your meal. It’s pretty much a no-brainer if you happen to be sitting on a bottle of something special, and can’t quite bring yourself to drink it on the sofa.

In the big list of great places to head for a Manchester curry, Chorlton has always ranked pretty highly — a district with significant heritage in cuisine from across Asia’s iconic subcontinent. Hungamaa certainly lives up to that reputation, offering what the team describe as ‘authentic, pocket-friendly Indian street food… a delightful experience where guests will be enthralled by our delectable range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.’ Pocket-friendly not least because you can take your own drinks.

A Middle Eastern favourite in Chorlton, Jasmine has been reliably serving up some seriously good mezze and full-sized plates for years now – and is still adored by its loyal fans in the local community. Set up by Mohamed Hacene and Samira Carima Abdi back in 2013, Jasmine has only improved over the years, with their selection of hot and cold dishes, superlative dips, grilled meats and salads that keep you coming back for more. It’s also BYOB, and there’s no corkage charge, so grab a bottle from one of Chorlton’s many well-stocked offies before heading in.

One of, if not the best Indian restaurant on the Curry Mile, Mughli Charcoal Pit has been a constant presence over the years, when most other establishments have disappeared or been replaced by shisha bars. Plus, if you’re a student, you can take your own bottle (or alternatively, take 10% off your bill). It’s available Sunday to Thursday but make sure you show them your student card – otherwise they might get a bit annoyed that you’re just pulling out a bottle of plonk on the table.

Offering up outstanding traditional Lebanese cuisine in Withington since 2015, Pasha is run by Tewfik Ouanes, aka ‘Taff’, who has concocted a menu of seriously good Arabic dishes. We recommend that you try the Tabbouleh, potato kibbeh (minced lamb, wrapped in mash potato and deep fried), babaganoush, and cheese borek. The service is always impeccable, and with their BYOB policy, you’ll always be pleasantly surprised with your bill.

If you want no faff, traditional Thai food, you’ve found your place in Chinatown’s Phetpailin. Naturally, they serve all of your favourite Thai dishes: pad thai, gai yang and khoa pad siam, but they also offer dishes that are perhaps less well-known. We recommend the gaeng ped yang – a dish made from special Thai roasted duck, red curry with pineapple, tomatoes and creamy coconut milk. Just remember there’s a £1 corkage charge if you BYOB.

Prestwich Lebanese restaurant Remal has a cult following, and for good reason too. Their richly-spiced lamb chops are the stuff of legend, while veggie options like falafel and halloumi burgers are just as flavoursome and well-considered. You can stick to comforting favourites like kofta, or try something more adventurous, like their okra curry or lamb spinach tagine. Perfect for a celebration or group catch-up, you can bring your own booze too. Nice.

Another resident of Little Hanoi, Wow Banh Mi, as the name might suggest, are all about creating an impressive experience. Everything about the restaurant is designed to transport you to a food market in an old Vietnamese town, from the ‘formica everywhere’ approach to interior design to the vintage crockery used to serve authentic teas. The banh mi have traditional fillings like chargrilled beef balls, roast chicken and pork belly in soft but crispy rolls. Aside from baguette-based treats, the menu also features brimming bowls of broth, crunchy corn dogs and, somewhat bafflingly, a selection of German bratwurst. Their BYOB policy makes it a great budget option too. Wow, indeed.

This family-run Lebanese and Syrian restaurant have spots all across Greater Manchester and beyond. They serve vast plates of scorched meat and fish, as well as a plentiful selection of hot and cold mezze plates, dips and bread. A sure-fire winner for a big group gathering, made even more so by the BYOB policy. Find them in Alderley Edge, Altrincham, Cheadle, Chorlton and Stockton Heath.

At the north end of the illustrious Didsbury foodie strip Burton Road is Zena, who serve up the breadth of Levantine cuisine, which is the food of Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. Starters include flavoursome dips like babaghanoush and muhammara, while mains lean heavily towards shawarma, shish kebab and chops as well as a verdant garden of veggie and vegan options too. Their website says ‘bring your own alcohol’, which sounds to us like the recipe for a delightful evening.