Society

Manchester has no shortage of places where eating and drinking blur into one big social occasion, but Society makes a particularly strong case for itself. Set inside a roomy space next to The Bridgewater Hall, with an enviable and unique position by the Rochdale Canal Lake, it boasts high ceilings and shared benches; the kind of venue built for long lunches, after-work pints and spontaneous nights out, and a boon for the indecisive diner.

The idea is pleasingly simple. Turn up, find a spot, order what you fancy and let everyone else do the same. Nobody needs to agree on one cuisine, which is half the appeal. One person can be getting stuck into a burger, another can be chasing big Korean flavours, while someone else works their way through Indian street food or pan-Asian plates.

Noi Quattro serve quality Neapolitan pizza and pasta, Yoki Social Table looks to Korea for inspiration with sensational fried chicken, Slap & Pickle handles the burger side of things and El Piloto the fresh and zingy tacos, while Manzoku rounds things out with bold, wide-ranging Asian flavours.

Drinks are given just as much attention. The cocktail bar keeps things flowing for those after something shaken, stirred or spritzed, while Vocation’s taproom makes Society an essential stop for craft beer fans, who can really put the kegs and casks through their paces. Open from 11am, the place works across the day, whether that means a relaxed bite before the city gets busy, a quick lunch with colleagues, or a more drawn-out evening session.

Later on, the atmosphere shifts up a gear. Local resident DJs bring the soundtrack, the benches fill, and the whole room takes on the buzz of a proper city-centre hangout. With it’s waterside beer garden – a rare thing in Manchester – and convenient location for loads of event venues, from the adjacent Bridgewater Hall and Manchester Central to The Ritz and Albert Hall, it simply is a bit of a no-brainer.