A quirky establishment with an upstairs dining area and downstairs bar. The food is 90% vegan, which was nice because they had creative options for everyone! We had the BBQ Jackfruit dog, which was a vegan sausage topped with BBQ pulled jackfruit, vegan chipotle mayo, and jalapeno's. It was absolutely delicious! The sausage was not dry, as sometimes happens with vegan sausages, and the combinations of flavors was great. We also got the vegan Mac n Cheese; it was listed under bigs, but the portion size was disappointingly very small. It also tasted a bit grainy, not the best potato cheese I've had. They are allergen friendly, but make sure you make all your allergens known! The mac n cheese does have coconut milk in it. They also have Ice Shack Vegan ice creams, which is a bonus! read more

The Deaf Institute - BBQ Jackfruit dog (vegan) - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

It doesn't have the same history as The Roadhouse, Night & Day or Manchester Academy but The Deaf Institute is probably my favourite venue in Manchester these days. They have great club nights and a truly eclectic range of gigs from emerging punk-funk and disco groups like Yacht and The XX to established underground pop bands like Broadcast. Even better, most of the gigs take place in an intimate room with high ceilings, cleverly stacked seating and standing room for about 300 people. I went to see Detroit protest singer Rodriguez on Monday evening and had a fantastic night. The atmosphere was great, the acoustics were fab and the drinks were mighty fine. Being a long-term country and Americana gal, I also fell in love with the Good Dolly and Bad Dolly wallpaper in the ladies toilets! The only disadvantage is, I'm still a little hungover! read more

See all

Approaching bouncers for a few years now with my adorable, youthful looking face always has me reaching for my driving license (provisional, still). What did I get at the Deaf Institute last night? The bouncer opened the door for me, told me that the gig would be upstairs but hadn't started yet meaning that I could go to the cash machine whilst a friend drove round and round looking for free parking. A good start. Drinks in the cafe on the ground floor were pretty reasonably priced - £2.75 for vodka and mixer, £1.25 for OJ - cheaper than some pubs near where I live, yes ma'am. The eclectic bohemian wallpaper and furniture illicited some oohs and aahs as we found a place to sit. I thought that it was cool that it managed to remain quite a masculine place (it was mainly men drinking in the cafe bar) with all these kitsch clocks and things everywhere - usually men steer clear of shabby chic establishments. One little seating area was reserved but the bartender told us we could sit wherever we wanted so we took up a whole eight person booth just for the two of us. Then up the wooden stairs to the gig. It did feel a bit like we were going to confession, as per our surroundings, but the decor in the 300 capacity Music Hall didn't disappoint. Bunting on the cute little stage, a handy amount of staggered seating at the back for the oldies and a collage of retro speakers on the wall behind the bar. Chandeliers, funny signposts, mirror ball - oh it was beautiful. I did get beer split on me but we can blame that on my spatial awareness (see above that I still have a provisional driving license for more details)... We have plans to go back this week. I think that says it all really ... read more

The Deaf Institute - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

See all

Loved this quirky bar which is part of the Trof chain which i love. I came in for a few drinks before heading off to the Manchester Academy to see a gig. I loved the whole layout of the place with scattered tables here and there, staff are young, friendly and easy to chat to, drinks were great priced and they also have a daily happy hour but we just missed it by an hour. They have a great selection of beers to choose from and there own draft beer which i particularly like. We will definitely come back and maybe see a gig in there upstairs music room. read more

See all

We popped into the DI for a mid Saturday evening pint on the way to Manchester Academy to see a gig. I was actually really impressed with how chilled out it was at this time, it would seem Saturday around 8pm is time for chilling in the main bar/lounge. Good tunes, good beers at good prices (the Longhammer IPA was only £4 a pint) and a nice clientele - just what we were after. This place is multi-faceted with gigs and club nights upstairs (very impressive hall) and they also do a variety of food, mainly catering to the burger side of life (although I hear their Sunday Roast is also pretty good) Hoping to get to a gig here soon, probably more likely I'll be back for more beer even before then. read more

The Deaf Institute - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

The Deaf Institute is a great music venue. The upstairs area is very well set up - nothing obstructing your view, stadium seating area at the back and gallery up one side while a bar runs the whole length of the other. So far, so excellent. Drinks are cheap, service is fast. You won't get the cocktail menu from downstairs but they've got various delicious things such as Brewdog Dead Pony in cans. The gig itself was great (Forest Swords) although srsly, crowds, why don't you clap for an encore? It's just rude not to... The audience was actually enormous, perhaps a little too many people for comfort actually (and surely for fire safety) and they only put the air con after the gig by which time everyone was boiling. Weirdly, a lot of people were wearing coats despite the presence of a cloakroom/the general proclivity of Mancunians to wear t shirts in gales. These hipsters... I had assumed this was predominately a music venue so was very surprised to find a full cafe/bar downstairs which, as well as its own live acts, apparently does pretty good food and cocktails. Will be sure to return. read more

What do I love about The Trofs? Ohhh, just about everything. I love that I can get obscure beers here. I love that in my experience, the staff have been all kinds of really nice. Like, seriously. Between Cheekbones in Fallowfield, some guy who though he vaguely knew me in the NQ and made me some ridiculous frothy coffee which had hazelnut in it, to the lady here. At first, I was completely confused. The weather was delicious and I was seeking a place with wifi and outdoor seating, so in I sauntered and clocked the sign reading 'outdoor terrace'. After lingering around the bar a bit and looking at the specials board, a girl who I thought was another customer stood at the bar said, 'Hi. You okay?' 'Oh yeah, fine thanks!' I replied. 'Just deciding what to drink. You?' 'Yeah, good thank you. What can I get you?' No, I wasn't being chatted up - she was working here. Pity, it's always nice to know I have a way with the ladies. Still, how lovely! Just chilled out friendly conversation. Anyways I ordered and was able to set up a tab, so ventured out onto said terrace and waited for my mum to join me with a cheeky Friday glass of white. THIS TERRACE! Okay, it won't be for everyone. But I think it's ace. You climb up a ladder to a platform - yes, a ladder - and there's just one picnic bench and a balcony-sized terrace. It's brilliant. It has walls at the back and feels really private, and since you're likely to be the only one up there, it could well be. When someone brought me my wine they had to pass it up to me as traversing said ladder with a glass could have been tricky! It was even funnier after my mum arrived and they brought the food. Another thing I love about The Trofs is that there'll always be slight differences between the menus. Certain dishes you can only get at specific locations. We went for a chicken niçoise salad and a pork and chorizo burger split between us, and they were both divine and didn't cost the earth. Complaints not coming, certainly not from me. All-round great experience. I know this is the place to be for gigs, but it's also the place to come for some serious al fresco entertainment! A ladder. Just brilliant. read more

This place is right by office. I go quite a lot for a lunch. The food is great, are chips always hot, burgers always juicy and you can pick up the Trof Dog here too. Which if you haven't tried you really should. The milkshakes are worth a go to, thick and yummy with ice cream. In the evening this place is good to hangout, good music and good drinks. read more

The Deaf Institute - Cheese burger, yummy! - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Am I the only person who's had a bad Deaf Institute experience? It seems that way. I went to see a Duke Special gig here just over a year ago, shortly after the place had opened and it was a complete disaster due to the sheer number of people they had let in. I don't mind being crammed in like sardines as I'm quite good at using my elbows to secure some space, but this was ridiculous. Some people couldn't even fit in the room upstairs so were forced to listen to the gig from the top of the stairs or even further down. It was completely impossible to reach the bar as people were rammed up against it. Duke Special likes to surprise his audiences so treated us all to a sing-along performance on the piano downstairs after the gig. This was mayhem and again some people could not fit into the room at all. Aside from that experience, the Deaf Institute seems to know exactly what it's doing. Even though I don't really understand what vintage electroclash is, it sounds quite cool and the venue does attract an effortlessly cool crowd. The Trof lager is nice and reasonably priced, the wallpaper is garish and the animal heads are weird. A good use for a beautiful old building which would otherwise be left to wreck and ruin. read more

The Deaf Institute - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I'm probably not the best person to write a review of the Deaf Institute, as I just mentioned to a workmate today, I can't put my finger on exactly *why* I don't adore it...I just....don't. Time was, I could spend hours on end in the DI. Eating the lovely Trof nosh and drinking the Trof lager and generally being louche and lazy. Then of course night would fall, and we'd move on to the wine. They were good days, but recently I've felt something's missing. Now, the clubnights and gigs are still fantastic. They get really great DJs and recent gigs have included These New Puritans (yeah, still knocking around) and the huge upcoming Marina and the Diamonds all for around £10 a ticket. Regular night Now Wave is free in, and focuses on awesome music, basically anything you can dance to. On dancing nights, DI still has it. And when you get tired you can sit on the cool bench seats in back, and watch the people from your shady incline. The cocktail bar downstairs also still has it. Cute little tables in intimate settings, with an admirable jukebox and very very very good cocktails. It's a great place to go if you're on a date, even when it's busy, as once the tables fill up down there, people just go elsewhere. The cocktails are all around the £6-£7 mark, and I strongly recommend the French Martini. I wish, I truly do, that I could put my finger on what has changed about DI to make me not love it anymore, but I can't. Perhaps, perhaps it didn't change. Perhaps I did. Oh, what a sobering thought... read more

The Deaf Institute - Best wallpaper EVERRR - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I was pretty impressed by the place, and somehow I thought I would be. On the corner of studentsville - I wish this place had been open when I lived in the Bowden/Grosvenor complex as a fresher a million years ago. Aaah, but then at least we had the Old Steam Brewery An imposing building - can anyone remember what it actually was previously - was it a genuine Deaf & Dumb Institute in recent history? I have a feeling it was something slightly seedy that you hurried past between the Sandbar and The Temple. Whilst taking photos outside I was accosted by a large group of deaf people also taking photos. They asked me if I was deaf too. I replied that I wasn't, that I was writing a review hence the camera. They thought that was funny. I thought it was pretty funny how the one building had extremely different meanings for both of us - that sums up Manchester's regeneration over the past decade fairly accurately I think. Inside, there's a unique cafe/bar on the first floor where the most prominent feature is the wallpaper. I hate wallpaper, but the stuff on the walls at TDI really works well. It evokes some kind of retro/vintage interior with its montage of Far Eastern images and classic flock designs. The walls are also adorned with stag heads and assorted cuckoo clocks. There is a spacious and airy feel to the whole sprawling room, with plenty of light flooding in from the rear. The bar is well stocked with various ales on tap and in the fridges. Whilst there I had a latte (£1.60) and a Hoegaarden. A good mix, though I used separate glasses. Table service for non-alcoholic beverages and food added a touch of quality too. The food looks pretty good, with all-day breakfasts, brunches and roast dinners on Sunday. Upstairs is a nightclub type venue. I didn't venture up there but hope to in future. A band were arriving and I talked with them for a while. They looked at me and I looked at them, perhaps with them wondering Do you recognise us? and me wondering Who are you?. They were called.. I forget! But one of them was wearing a very bright pink body warmer that I won't forget in a hurry. read more

The Deaf Institute - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

See all

I've never had the opportunity to visit the Deaf Institute after dark but I did have the pleasure of visiting it's lovely little eatery on one sunny afternoon! I'm not sure whether to call the "Ground Floor Cafe Bar" Trof or the Deaf Institute, there are so many members of the growing Trof family that I get easily confused. When I visited I had just finished my exams and as my Summer was beginning my experience may have been through rose tinted glasses, but that's fine with me as I thoroughly enjoyed myself! There's a lovely casual atmosphere in this place, I don't know whether it is the friendly staff who are constantly joking back and forth with each other or the laid back, open plan seating; but it makes for a lovely chilled lunch and I felt as though everyone there was 100% stress free! The actual seating I did have bit of a problem with. Now I'm all up for odd bod and miss matched decor and I get the look they are going for, but they could at least make sure that the seats are comfy! Sitting on one of the booths was a right palaver as it acted as more of a slide than a seat, every few minutes involved repositioning myself and the crusty leather which insisted on sticking to my tights added to my annoyance! My friend was sat opposite on a tiny little stool which looked as if it was going to give way under his petite bottom; so the moral of the story is that you must ensure comfort for my derriere before you can impress me!. Other than that, no complaints!! I loved how Veggie friendly the menu was, not that I wish less flesh for the eaters of meat but I feel Veggie's are neglected in the world of hospitality and so it's nice when people pay them a bit of attention!! I had a falafel burger with carrot chutney on a toasted brioche bun and it was truly delicious. A few more chips wouldn't have gone a miss but the ones I did have were bloody beautiful! Twenty quid for two meals and four drinks cant be too bad and with my friends trusty Trof card we got a discount, this makes me happy as a customers loyalty should always be appreciated! read more

The ironically monikered Deaf Institute is brought to you by those little geniuses at Trof and it is about to firmly take the wheel of the number 55 to revolution street in Manchester's famous student run, Oxford rd. I say ironic because the fabulous music policy makes me wake up every day and thank God, Allah and Mohamed that I have ears and has forced me to seriously consider campaigning against ear muffs, headphones, hunting hats or anytrhing else that could cause somebody to miss out on the fantastic tunes rocking the "Institute" most days of the week! I make a lame bus-related analagy about revolution because it is mine and most other Manchester residents opinion that this scruffy little Godsend is about to propel the south end of the city centre back into the spotlight and give the Northern Quarter something to sit up and look nervous about- Southern Quarter anyone? Maybe it doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well as the NQ yet but give it time. From the outside of the bar little is given away about its true identity, the exterior is Gothic and ecclesiastical. Inside however, the three floors of the bar are decorated in an edgy mix of eclectic furniture, bare wooden walls, reclaimed doors, mock Toile wallpaper by uber cool fabric company Timorous Beasties, mounted stag horns and battered leather sofas. The decor informs you that something is afoot from the start- this is certainly no ordinary bar. There are a whole host of fantastically titled nights on through the week- "Now Wave", "El Diablo" and "The Low Anthem" to name just a bunch but the jewel in the crown has got to be "Guilty Pleasures" which has sensibly been restricted to once-a-month regularity so that I don't lose my tiny mind in a happy haze of shape throwing. The night is intended to be a celebration of all the tunes you loved in the 80's and 90's but are too embarrassed to admit to. I'd heard about it through a friend of a too-cool-for-school friend and was at first a little sceptical I must admit. I imagined a bunch people with directional haircuts who were operating on a level of ironic chic far beyond myself. "My jeans just aren't tight enough for that place" I worried. But on arrival my fears were erased almost instantly when I tapped an excited young man who was rushing past me on the shoulder to ask him if he'd been before and if he thought it was any good. He looked me dead in the eye and fixed me with the most earnest look I've ever been fixed with and his reply was instant "Now that I've found this place I will never go anywhere else." Need I continue? read more

The Deaf Institute - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I have seen two concerts at the Deaf Institute now (the gorgeous Sarah Blasko and the oh-so-cool Fanfarlo.) It is a fantastic small venue - just the right size for an intimate audience without being too squishy. It is a fairly basic stage set up (although who doesn't love a giant disco ball hanging from the ceiling?) but the sound quality is good and there is easy access to the private bar. Brilliant. The drinks are well priced, particularly if you get in for the £3.50 happy hour cocktails. I had a Dark & Stormy which had a surprisingly light and cheery affect on me. There is plenty of seating and some out door areas that I am yet to explore. Bring on summer! read more

I really do love the Deaf Institute. Having had the good fortune to play their as a musician and also check out bands that I love playing there, it really does get everything right. Upstairs in the gig room, the sound is amazing and the stage is nice and high so you can see everything going on. If you fancy having a more chilled out evening or getting a better view, you can always go and sit on the original step-seating at the back. And the whole room is just really cool as well, it's high and steeped in character and history. This place used to be the 'Deaf and Dumb Institute' when the idea of political correctness just didn't exist. Aside from the amazing shows they put on here, you can expect the normal dose of cool that the Manchester Trof chain offers on the lower floor of the Deaf Institute - great food, beer and cocktails. What a superb place. read more

I've been to the Deaf institute many times with different friends. I always liked the relaxing atmosphere here. The drinks prices are reasonable & food were all right. I haven't been to the night club upstairs, but the downstairs lounge is a good place to hang out with friends. read more

See all

We needed somewhere en route to Manchester Academy which offered both food and half-decent beers - The DI, thankfully, offered both. I can see why it's a popular venue - good bar and seating area downstairs with the concert space upstairs. We all ordered burgers from their menu (it's mostly those and Mexican-inspired dishes). They were certainly tasty but demolished in a flash; I could have eaten a second but at £8.50 a pop thought better of it. Given it was a Tuesday night and it didn't look like there was a gig on here, it was very easy to get a table and order - I suspect when there is an event on, the bar area would get incredibly packed out. It was good to be able to finally check it out (and now I know where it is, can keep it on my radar for the future). read more

I went to the deaf institue last year to watch some live music it was ok! but the place was small . they sell arrange of cook food but didnt get a drink as they only seemed to sell mens drinks of beer and cider and largers so that was disappointing! I been to much bettar bars and pubs on and behind oxford road so this place for me is a no no! read more

Awesome bar/ club. Not huge, but not necessarily a bad thing. The top floor is cool as its like a really old fashioned theatre which now has DJ's on the stage. Gold Teeth is my fave for a bit of hip hop hip hop hip hop hip. read more

One of my favourite gig venues in manchester. The place just feels cool, never mind the awesome sound and cool layhout. Used to love going to revolver hippy nights, not sure they do those anymore though? read more

The deaf institute has recently come under new management from a group known as trof (spelt slightly different to the thing pigs eat from). Ground floor during the day is an eccentric restaurant that does some amazing food; I've taken parents and girlfriends there all with resounding applause for the great menu. Sundays are one of the best roast dinners and other times of the week there is a huge selection from chillies to burgers. I can't find fault with trofs food, the decor is kooky with lots of deer heads and flash wall paper and the trofs usual audience of young n trendiness can be a bit intimidating, especially for a self proclaimed tramp such as myself, (I usually mince around in a sweater and tracksuit regardless of the occasion). Nighttimes sees the deaf institute turned into a nocturnal jaunt for the coolest kids, with live acts up stairs and an awesome selection of cocktails in the basement. For the smokers if you fancy poisoning yourself that bit more you can do it in the company of others in the heated terraces. read more

The Deaf Institute - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I remember this place for two things: where I've had my BEST mojito ever and for the patterned wallpaper. This venue oozes cool. By the way best mojito I've had I actually wanted to tip the stunned bar man, although I was a grubby student at the time. It's heritage quite unusual for a music venue of it's character. It actually was a deaf institute hence the name deaf institute. These days it hosts great live bands and DJs, specialising in the many range of alternative sounds amongst all those categories and subcategories you find these days. I love the Now Wave night on a Wednesday, definitely recommended. Cocktails at 241 between 4-9 and power on through to the dance floor upstairs. The first time I ventured up here, I was bewildered. It's like some theatrical dance hall. The Deaf Institute rocks my socks, to say the least. read more

Its alright. Food was pretty good and cheap. Good bar staff for cocktails. Usually a student hang out so fairly quiet over the summer holidays but good atmosphere. Reasonably good pub with quite a good selection of beer, if not a bit overpriced. In one of the rooms there's table service which is a novelty. One of the better places round Oxford Road area. read more

The Deaf Institute (if you're wondering about the name, the venue is in the old Deaf and Dumb Institute) is a music venue and bar that's spitting distance from the BBC building on Oxford Road. One of the first things you'll notice about the place is the great decor. Upstairs and downstairs are both equally impressive with ace patterned wallpaper, cuckoo clocks and old speakers built behind the bars. On the first floor, there's a great little bar that serves decent food (the all-day breakfast is a favourite there), a variety of ales (as well as non alcoholic drinks). In the evening, DJs play a wide range of tunes to a welcoming and slightly hip-nerdy crowd. It's not the kind of place that sees you worrying about fights or getting your bag stolen. Upstairs is a big ol' room that hosts live music and clubnights. Again, the decor is striking and there's a great section that you can sit and watch the bands just behind the standing room. There are smoking terraces and a small room in the basement that's free to hire. It's arguably Manchester's best music venue. read more

This is my favourite place to see live music! Located in the old Deaf and Dumb Institute, it's a historic venue that looks like it used to be a classroom or lecture theatre of some kind. There are old pews at the back, probably from the building's previous life, so you can either sit down or stand to watch the bands. It's nice to have the option if you're a bit weary or the support band isn't your cup of tea! The Deaf Institute is much more than a venue though. It's also a cool, quirky café and bar that's open every day. Part of the Trof family, it has a fantastic selection of booze, from bottled world beers to the cheap Trof cider that I love. The food is great too, especially the breakfasts, homemade cakes and burgers. But better still is the unusual décor, which includes Dolly Parton wallpaper in the ladies' toilets! read more

The third venue from Manchester stalwarts Trof, The Deaf Institute boasts a rare reputation for the student-filled Oxford Road area. Standing out among many venues in the area (known more for their cut-price drinks offers and meat-market attitude clientele) this is a place where nights out are thankfully of a friendlier nature. The crowd manage to span everyone from freshers to forty-plus without anyone looking or feeling out of place on most nights. Spread over three floors, the Deaf Inst is impeccably decorated, mixing original features of this listed building with kitschy wallpaper and arty wall fixtures behind the bar. The ground floor bar is the home of daytime dining, where the food is the tasty mid-price fare that the Trof bars serve across the board. In the evenings it plays host to acoustic gigs, open mike nights and a generally pleasant pub atmosphere. With a beer terrace for smoking at the back, this floor boasts an impressive floor space which holds large numbers without being overwhelmingly packed. The downstairs bar is a more compact basement bar which variously holds anything from smaller gigs to private parties, with free hire available for parties or large groups. The best part of the venue, though, is the upstairs Ballroom, with a large dancefloor, stage and separate bar. This is the place for the bigger gigs, monthly club nights and evening occasional showings of films and World Cup football matches. The gallery seating at the rear is a cute addition that neatly allows seating without compromising dancing room, while there's another smoking terrace out the back. The gig listings are impressive, varied and often offer something different in a city filled with the bigger named bands in most venues. The drinks aren't the cheapest (or scandalously expensive either), but the own brand Trof lager is tasty enough for those on a budget. If you're splashing out, try the cocktail menu or a choice of imported beers and ales that's worth investigation. read more

A bit overpriced for their beers and not great wines but good cocktails. I've been there twice, once for a gig which was great fun. They have some really good line ups. What put me off was the second time i went there, there was vomit in 2 corners and the bar staff were rude. read more

A beautiful building and brilliant live music venue. The music hall upstairs is the perfect size and layout for intimate but well attended gigs. Having seen several bands there I've found that the sound is always good and the events are never oversold making for a very pleasent musical exeprience. The cafe bar downstairs is also a lovely space, intrieguingly decorated. The soundtrack tends to be a pleasing mix of indie/low-fi and most things good from the 60's onwards. I have found the food can be pricey and a little dissapointing at timesl, but do look out for the 10% with gig tickets deal as it's a nice touch. read more

Good for: HAPPY HOUR, upstairs event hosting, smokers, sweet potato lovers Bad for: light-weights, going in not hungry then seeing/smelling the delicious food your neighbour has just ordered and suddenly becoming ravenous.. read more

Both inside and outside, the prettiness of The Deaf Institute is hard to beat. The café/bar on the first floor is really cosy and must have the funniest drink menu I've ever read. The music hall on the second floor hosts concerts of upcoming acts as well as club nights. Both for shows and clubs, I have always had a pleasant experience here. It's not huge, so you can't really lose your friends. There's tiered seats in the back and a smoker friendly roof terrace, drink prices vary so ask for offers. I can recommend their indie/electro night 'Now Wave' every Wednesday. Great music, free entry and you meet all sorts of people there, from the typical student crowd to more hipsterish persons and occasional weirdos. Only flaw is it just lasts from 12-2am (at least no one's there before 12). read more

I've been here many times, but only for gigs upstairs, so I resisted the urge to review it until I had chance to visit specifically for its cocktails and food as well. I love the upstairs which is used for live music, its small, cosy and intimate. Tickets bought for a gig here will be classed as general admission, but that means you get a choice of either standing room on the dance floor, tiered seating towards the back or if you get there earlier, you could be lucky enough to sit on the small balcony to the side of the stage. The bar does get busy up here, but that is to be expected when there is live music on, but gaze at the enormous glitter ball hanging from the ceiling or the stare at the parrots on the wall whilst waiting to be served, that's what I do! On the ground floor is the Café Bar and open from 9am you could start the day with a Royal Breakfast or Eggs Benedict washed down with a frothy coffee, currently they are doing an offer of a breakfast butty and coffee for £3 and if you can't face a full English, they also do a light breakie for £4. I went for lunch and although disappointed that the Falafel was temporarily off the menu, I was more than happy with the replacement of the Ploughman's Lunch I had instead. Amazing sides of chutneys and pickles with some great local cheeses and they gladly replenished our plate with whatever we wanted free of charge, so we had some more chutney and cheese! To wash it down, we sampled some of the cocktails that are wonderfully described on a huge blackboard behind the bar. Unsure what would drinks would complement our lunch, we sought advice off the bartender who suggested we start with a pineapple and black pepper marguerita, our starter if you will and that we finish with a fruity badger cocktail for our pudding! Wonderful service, wonderful venue with real charm, next time I am visiting on a Sunday to sample the free range roast dinner with maybe another cocktail for pudding! Oh and do make sure you visit the bathrooms, the decor is awesome. read more

Ah! After months of vehemently asserting that upstairs at the Deaf Institute is one of THE best gig venues in Manchester I now have to introduce a caveat - not for early gigs in summer. Yes, the garish wall-paper still, weirdly, works, yes the wall of speakers behind the bar still looks cool as and, of course, the massive disco ball over the dance floor is still, well, a massive disco ball. So what's different? The difference is that thanks to an unfortunate combo of BST and a glass panel roof until, say 21:00 the room is flooded with daylight. So, until late evening, a space that usually gains a lot of its charm from bearing a quirky resemblance to your old scout/brownie hut actually just feels like your old scout/brownie hut. Not only does the poor old support act have to deal with the usual support-act related woes (namely, playing to a mostly empty room while most of the punters are in the bar downstairs) but they also need to create some kind of atmosphere in a space with all the ambiance of, well, a scout/brownie hut. Save from getting everyone involved in a chorus of 'Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree' they're kind of fighting a losing battle to try and break the ice. Of course, by the time the main act swans on it's all a bit darker and a lot more conducive to a gig venue. Unfortunately, in my case it then transpired that the band I had endured several flashbacks to frequent tellings-off from Brown Owl for was actually pretty terrible but oh well! read more

Recommended by a friend and did not disappoint! It's a perfect combination of great surroundings, great drink selections and the food looks quality (although we didn't experience it). Excellent selection of craft beers. The music on offer was top drawer too, with an appearance of Toto Africa making our night... read more

This place has got it oh so right. By day it serves great food and has a wide selection of vegetarian food to please all tastes. Effortlessly stylish with its shabby chic interiors this place is a home for home for any student/ ex-student city dwelling bohemian. By night however this place plays host to a range of night anything from live music to big club nights to karaoke! I visited on a night called 'Guilty Pleasures' on every first Saturday of the month. What can I say but this must be the best night I have had in Manchester so far. The idea is to indulge in the 80's and 90's tunes that you don't dare to admit you like in any other scenario. I was dancing from start to finish and could have carried on for hours. Yes this place gets packed and yes its probably easier at times to walk up walks than get to the bar but if you plan ahead this place is the place to be. Make sure anytime you you go to the bar you don't come away with less than your next two drinks, make sure you don't lose your friends and keep water to hand as this place gets hot. The backdrop is glamorous and the DJ is uber cool so dance your little forbidden socks off :) this venue definitely does rock! read more

The Deaf Institute - www.thedeafinstitute.co.uk/ - Lounges Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Just met a few friends here for dinner. I had the nachos. Perfectly acceptable food and fairly prompt service but nothing to write home about. read more

This is Trof Mach 3, opened recently after the success of the mini-chain's bars in Fallowfield and the Northern Quarter (rumours abound of a fourth Trof in Chorlton but that might be a while off yet) This one's become something of a regular haunt recently, due to its close proximity to my workplace and the poor quality of the hostelries nearby (The Pub and KRO2 to name two). It's got three bars, the main one on the ground floor (ok, it's up a few stairs) has a mixture of benches, stools and comfy sofas to sit on, you can also order food here. There is also a smaller basement bar downstairs open in the evenings and a bigger hall upstairs used for club nights and as a gig venue. It's a nice enough place to go for a quiet drink, although it is a bit pricey if you don't drink their own Trof Cider/Lager. As ruthhunter mentioned, they do also have table service in the main bar, which is good if you're having a meal, but slightly odd when you've only popped in for a swift one. I got used to table service bars when i lived in Vancouver for a while, but it does seem a bit awkward over here. It's alright, but the one in Fallowfield's better read more

I've been to The Deaf Institute a few times, and every time I was impressed with its popularity. This is no wonder, as the club is very close to the universities, so there will be a plenty of students there. Seasoned music lovers, however, also come down regularly, and the place occasionally ends up being packed to the roof. There is a terrace also, ideal for summer nights, and musicians usually play close to it. There are several curry and pizza places down Oxford Road, not far from The Deaf Institute. They are of help if you are in for a late night out, or just heading home after live music party at Trof. read more

Loved this place when I visited! Gorgeous food, hilarious wall paper in the ladies bathroom (I won't spoil the surprise) and just a really interesting quirky place to eat. Small bottle of Fruli was £4.50 which annoyed me but over all, a top place to eat. read more

Been there only once but definitely looking to the second visit. Can't say much about it though, because since we were on a gig, the whole action was on the upper 2nd floor. But I really liked the interior. The drinks are decently priced too. In overall it's a good place to grab a pint or listen to some band (gig prices are mostly read more

This music venue/nightclub is a good alternative to the normal nights out of Printworks/city centre. This venue just off Oxford Road has a good atmosphere for small gigs and is also good for a summer drink if not slightly dark inside. Reasonably good pub if slightly pricey at times and regarding restaurant food, table service is available which for students is quite staggeringly brilliant. Definitely a place to go for a pre-drink venue or a night out on a Tuesday for its Hip-Hop night. read more