Amazing place that accepts you for being you. *Warning* @ Social Refuge where they treat you differently if your not like them. I visited this coffee shop recently and left feeling pretty uncomfortable with how I was treated. From the moment I ordered, the staff came across as dismissive and noticeably colder toward me compared to other customers around me. There were a few interactions that felt unnecessarily sharp, and it gave the impression that I wasn't particularly welcome there. I want to be fair, but as a straight customer, the difference in tone and attitude didn't go unnoticed. Whether intentional or not, it made the experience feel exclusionary rather than inclusive. It's a shame because the space itself has a lot of personality, but the service made it hard to enjoy. I'd hope they work on creating a more welcoming environment for everyone. read more

I get the irony by starting with the quote "don't judge a book by its cover" but tbh this is exactly what I've been doing every time I've walked past this place in the past few months... Whether it was because the area of town is a bit random, the building a bit unattractive and me thinking it was more of a bookshop - something just seemed to be putting me off. But today in my meeting with Matt F we decided to give it a go and what a great decision it was! First off this place is huge and a labyrinth once inside - one half hipster bookshop, the other half cool cafe with a real nod to health (check out the menu on my pics). A really lovely environment with working fountain and a variety of places to sit. The food was excellent too - my breakfast pancakes were probably the best I've had in Manchester so far which is saying something. Quick note that they don't do sides - at one stage I thought I was going to turn into Jack Nicholson in '5 Easy Pieces' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wtfNE4z6a8 but thankfully the guy sorted us out with a side of toast after I asked nicely...repeatedly... Very friendly staff, great venue. I'll be back soon to work/eat/drink coffee/read a book - or all at the same time! read more

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I'd never even heard of this place until last Friday. I'm not sure how long it has been there, but considering I often cut down Lever Street to get home from Piccadilly Gardens, it's a bit worrying that I'd never seen it. It was only about a week prior to this discovery that I walked past it....ooops! It was good old Twitter that brought it to my attention. A professional connection tweeted about having a coffee there and I was intrigued. After not too much searching on t'internet, I found the address and thought it seemed interesting. At the precise same time, a friend of mine text asking if I wanted to meet up on Saturday afternoon. I suggested Chapter One and my friend said yes why not. I think he was a bit surprised that I didn't want to go to the place owned by the attractive rugby player, as per usual. So, 2.30pm on Saturday came and there ended up being four of us meeting at this new place. Everyone found it really easily, which was a relief. It was really busy when we first got there, so we just lounged on the sofas until a table came free. At first, one of the little tables which had three chairs round it, came free. The guy who worked there was really helpful and offered to find us a fourth chair. In the end we didn't need it as a four person table next to us became free, but it was still really nice of the guy to help us out. Some places get really cross at people putting too many chairs round a small table. We then went to order in pairs. I ordered the blossom and berry tea with berry cheesecake and got my friend an americano. My other friends had a cappuncino and a diet coke. So a good range of drinks. My tea was really good and I'd definitely go for that choice again. The cheesecake was delicious and worked well with the tea. My friend liked his americano but wanted more. That's the reason for awarding 4* rather than 5*. If they only have one size, then make it larger. Or give the option of a bigger one. We then went for a second round. Another americano, another coke, a mint tea (very minty, apparently) and I went for a hot chocolate as I didn't quite get enough sugar from the cheesecake. It was a good combination of milk/chocolate and very nice. Just the right size for me for a hot chocolate. I liked the concept of it being a bookshop and liked the layout, though one of my friends commented that he thought that the bookshop may get more business if you had to walk through it to get to the cafe. For me though, the charm of it was that it was all in one. I also really like the fountain and found the sound of water in the background very relaxing. Overall, we enjoyed our visit. I'll definitely be back, more likely when in a smaller group. I think any more than 4 would struggle to get seated at a weekend. Definitely a good addition to the indie coffee shop scene. read more

Chapter One Books - Blossom and berry tea, berry cheesecake - Cafes Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Chapter One Books is a small family and independently run book shop and cafe on Lever St in Manchester's Northern Quarter. This place is full of variety, as I found myself just whiling away the time I spent in there sipping outrageously great coffee and immersed in a good read. There's a great range of books to purchase here and it seems to be a great spot for those working out of home or out of the office. A few coffee meets seemed be going on too! Towards the back of the shop, which has more than enough comfortable seating, are a few old-fashioned type writers! Wow. Something so unique. Some kids were finding them more than entertaining!! If I hadn't just eaten, the pancakes the were serving would have been excellent I'm sure, they most certainly looked it! read more

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Yes to this place, on so many levels. I love it. I'll level with you, when I was reading the menu and deciding what the order for breakfast I thought "this menu is too small" as they only offered around 8 dishes, but looking back, thats all they need! I popped in with Jonny Q for a quick catch up and I was there for a good 2 hours in total - 2 hours in a totally relaxing atmosphere with great coffee and wonderful food! I had the Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Egg Stack which was not only healthy but incredibly tasty - (Ok I had some white toast on the side so that ruined the healthiness but still - an improvement on Burger & Chips for me). Jonny had the pancakes and by all accounts they were great also! My dish came in at £4.50 (minus the toast) which is a very competitive price for a filling meal! I'd also highly recommend trying the amazing Bonbon coffee for a quick pick me up - though only have 1 because it is very sweet! Relaxing, spacious and welcoming - 5 stars. read more

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Environment alone gets this place a 5* never mind the fact that bacon and maple pancakes are half the price of most breakfast places in town that embrace the British type of pancake without becoming crepes! The use of the space is in the vein of not cramming people in and finding space for a 100 folk in a 50 seat room, rather find space for 30 in that room and let the space breathe. The shelves are well stocked and not over filled with 100 copies of the same book to jam down your throat. This place boasts that it encourages creativity, it lives up to the boasts. The typewriter booths are both quirky and useful, I brought my mac but as they don't charge for use of the typewriters I found myself drawn to use them instead... Wonderful! I can't say enough good about this place, visit at your earliest convenience and get the creative juices flowing! read more

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This place has a large variety of lovely teas and coffees, I really liked the coco chai here and they also have all the non dairy milk options which is great. My friends had cake which they loved. The atmosphere is very warm and cozy, but because it's so popular it's almost impossible to get a seat unless you come very much off peak i.e not the weekend or weekday early evenings. It's full of people on laptops, probably students or people working but when we went on a Tuesday evening, we just about got the last table and there were what seemed like 20 people on laptops. The cafe is a great cafe and has desks and charging points to cater for those who come to study or use their computer, so if you are looking for a cafe to camp out for a few hours the Chapter One seems great. I really enjoyed having tea with my friends here and it tasted lovely, but I think I would only come off peak to guarantee a seat. read more

I came here with a Living Social voucher. The interior is an eclectic mix but it is very homely. You have a mixture of soft arm chairs from which you can curl up in with a book, to sofas for group chats and wooden chairs and tables to have food on. The lighting is a bit dim in areas and there is a very random fountain placed near the entrance, normally I like the sound of water flowing but the sound emanating from the fountain was a bit harsh, possibly due to the material of the fountain? There is also a separate area filled with typewriters on tables from which you can try your hand at. My friend and I the bacon and pancakes and the smoked salmon and egg stack. I also ordered a mango and peach tea to go with my food whilst my friend ordered a coffee to be delivered after the food was eaten. These were both decent and I really like the teapot the tea came in. We also asked for two glasses of tap water The pancakes were soft, the bacon crispy and the fruit fresh. The maple syrup was also gorgeous with a nice consistency and not too sweet. The egg stack was cooked well with lovely smoked salmon, cream cheese and fried egg which wasn't rubbery. This was a gluten free plate but I can't help but feel like a slice of toast would help to complete this dish, especially given the portion size compared to the bacon and pancakes. Gluten free toast would work to keep with that selling point. The staff were really nice once we arrived but I had difficulty booking my seats as I was informed to do on the LivingSocial offer. The staff on the phone promptly told me that they are a book shop so reservations aren't required. Well yes... I know it's a book shop.. but the voucher said to.. oh never mind, I'll just drop by whenever... It left me with a slightly sour experience. read more

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Very cool place. In theory it's a book store cum cafe. In practice, it's closer to exploring a set of different themes and props, with books for sale dotted around each installation. In one corner, a relatively conventional array of books on shelves is hived off with 'police - do not cross' tape. In another, books are stacked on a picnic table and objects on that table, like an old, open, suitcase. Unassuming from the outside, the depths of this place only become obvious when stepping inside. Unfortunately I wasn't able to try their food beyond a slice of chocolate tart, feasting instead on their free wifi. So for now, four stars, with very likely an upgrade to five stars when I'm able to try all their wares. read more

One of the best coffee in Manchester, in terms of taste and environment as well. Ordered one flat white: a little bit extra hot but had rich flavor, also not bitter at all. They also sell books, and you could get one free hot drink if you buy books! read more

Chapter One Books - Flatwhite - Cafes Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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TL;DR - Unique setting, great for writing and nice cakes. So-so coffee. From the exterior, this place doesn't look much - some non-descript 1960s office building but in the interior couldn't be further from that. It's decked out like some kind of secret garden - statues, flowers, even a fountain! The interior is pretty big too, but the seating is spaced out so you've got some privacy. The place doubles as a cafe and a bookshop, so you can pick up a book to read whilst you enjoy your food and drink. There are also a number of locations which seem to have been specifically designed for people to set up and write - hell, some of the tables at the very back even have typewriters! We called in on a Saturday afternoon for some coffee and carrot cake. The cake was very nice but the lattes we ordered weren't very strong - but more upsetting was the temperature. The coffee was warm, not hot... I think this was possibly because the cups and saucers used were incredibly cold. On top of that it also took quite a while for our drinks to be brought over. This place is certainly unique and a great place for book lovers and writers. It offers some peace and calm away from the hustle and bustle of town, but if you're looking for a fantastic coffee there are other spots nearby to choose from. read more

It's the perfect study spot. There's a side of the cafe where you can get bright natural daylighting, and a shady spot where you can curl up on a sofa chair and read a book. The cakes and drinks are pretty cheap. I really want to try the avocado cake when I go back! read more

A beautiful place with soo many great features. I noticed this place when I was on my way to Foundation Coffee House and have been dying to pop in. This place is a book lovers dream with lots of books, some mainstream and others that look too good to miss/put down. When you walk in there is the service area where you buy your food and drink. I bought english breakfast tea and the angel cake which was sprinkled with hundreds and thousands which I quickly devoured. Before I tucked into my cake I had a walk around. There is a reading nook with lots of cushioned seating and dimmed lights. A bit too dark for reading but a good place for a book club to get together. Downstairs there are typewriters on display and contemporary books for sale. This area also makes a good meeting space as it is slightly offset from the rest of the bookshop. By the windows there is comfy chairs and more bookshelves (including secondhand). There was a large group of us and we sat at the back where they sold greeting cards and owners (two sisters were very accommodating). They have really cute corner bookmarks. The staff were very friendly and one of them had their wife and niece eating there. I definitely will be back again as the winter draws in the cold. I now have somewhere in the city centre that I can go to with a book. read more

Of you like tea... or cake... or books.. this is the place for you. Chapter one is located quire centrally in Manchester and is just fantastic! Just check it out for yourselves ;) read more

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A good place for reading books. I like the context here, quite, comfortable. But this time no wifi and only cash is accepted. They even have several typer. And books for selling and reading. read more

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Chapter One is a charming mix between a bookstore and a café. The place has a very bright and cozy atmosphere, and the food (and coffee) are simple but delicious. With a good variety of books, comfortable couches and armchairs, typewriter booths, nice music and some events that once in a while take place there (like book launches and performances), Chapter1 is definitely a place worth going if you are in Manchester. read more

Chapter One Books - Continental @ chapter1 - Cafes Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Fantastic little coffee and bookshop. I ordered hot chocolate and it was absolutely gorgeous. read more

Chapter One Books - I love this place.The hot chocolate is thick and chocolatey. It also doubles as a bookshop. An absolute gem of a shop. - Cafes Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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The best way I could explain Chapter One is that being there actually feels like you're in a story book. If I could give this coffee / book shop more stars I would. I LOVE this place; favourite in Manchester. The staff are incredible and lovely, the drinks and cakes are fabulous, the shop itself is cool, relaxed, and though it's always getting changed up it is always conducive to whatever you are doing. Catching up over coffee? perfect place. Need to study? perfect place. Have a deadline for work and need a place to do it? perfect place. Want to relax with a book? Perfect place. Seriously, my absolute go to coffee shop, and best part is it's open until midnight for people like me who are more night people. read more

really great that you can get a late night coffee away from a bar. I have been a few times now and staff always very friendly. Coffee pretty lush. The downside is that considering the size of the place there is just one toilet. Also, despite being busy if you look around there is a shocking amount of people not buying anything and I have even seen people eating food they have brought in themselves. Stopping paying customers from enjoying the venue which is a real shame for the customer and the business. Beautifully decorated and calm vibe read more

The worst customer service I have ever received. Avoid at all costs. I made a reservation for 19 people and received an email confirmation from the regional manager. When we arrived they were incredibly rude, had not reserved a table and when I asked to speak to the manager I was told "he's finished work so won't speak to you after hours" (this was said while another member of staff spoke to him on the phone). Thanks Liam and all the team at chapter one books. You give independent manchester businesses a bad name. Avoid at all costs @manchestereveningnews @eatingupmanchester @eatmcr @mcrconfidential @visitmanchester @manchester read more

A fairly quite place to have a seat and work or read. The sound of the coffee machine harmonising to the typing of keyboards and flipping of books. A great place for book lovers looking for a drink read more

Literally is as good as it gets! This is definitely my favorite place in Manchester, hands down. The inside of this place is an oasis, especially considering its location... Outside there are dirty and over-crowded bus stops and old apartment buildings in need of a remodeling... but step inside Chapter One and you feel like you're stepping into a piece of Renaissance art! There are columns, fountains, nooks and crannys to hide out... You can decide whether you want to be more seen and social by sitting in the front near the cafe, or you can sit a little further back in a comfy chair, complete with it's own throw for cuddling in (nice spot for a little crochet and a hot chocolate on my lunch break). There are also the typewriters at the back, a wonderful idea and a great creative outlet for budding writers in the NQ. Near the typewriters there are some horror and suspense books, cleverly displayed with red lighting around them to set the mood. I've seen all kinds of books here that I have never seen anywhere else. Perhaps the review below that says there are not enough books is expecting a quality over quantity vibe, like a typical chain store, but I would much rather have the quality. The book selection seems hand-picked by the staff and the owners (I don't know if it is, but it has that feel), and you feel like you are getting recommended a great read by a friend. Also, lots of great gifts here... whether it's cookbooks, coloring books, special editions of Murakami illustrated with beautiful artwork, notebooks, etc... And I haven't even mentioned the cafe yet! Best hot chocolate in town! Covered in whipped cream and rich chocolate powder... literally heaven. Well done Chapter One, you are just what Manchester needed! read more

Ooh such a lovely spot in Manchester to meet a friend, read a book, do some work, even have a meeting as some people were doing at the back of the cafe! It's nice and big with lots of tables to sit at, plenty of plug sockets everywhere and lovely and airy thanks to windows the whole way around the building. They offer breakfast and lunch, but I went in the afternoon so ordered some yummy loose leaf tea and their tomato and cream cheese cake - a lot better than it sounds, I can only compare it to an extra-moist carrot cake! They had lots of other unique cake options on offer that I'd love to go back and try, and the servers were really friendly and joking around with us. Only reason I'm knocking off a star was the dodgy wifi - not sure if we were just unlucky, but I ended up having to use my mobile hotspot. Otherwise, this place is perfect! read more

Looked interesting and had good reviews so I decided to try it out. The place is amazing, different types of seating arrangements, lots of great books to read and buy. great atmospher but I was disappointed with the coffee (Americano) - it was £2.20 (no problem with the price) but when it came it was only half a cup of coffee and it was not a large cup. Real shame but might go and try out the food if in the area, don't think I'll go out of my way though. Sorry. read more