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    The Refuge

    3.8 (25 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    The Refuge Photos

    THE REFUGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Upscale
    Good for dancing
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Refuge

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    Gerald M.

    We're a couple of cultured Americans (almost an oxymoron) and foodies staying at the Clocktower Hotel and decided to try these tapas style menu. We were pleasantly surprised by the flavors. The grilled prawns were very good, the chicken wings amazing (way better than wing stop or hooters). The Jerusalem artichokes were a large portion and paired with great stewed tomatos, the brocolli on the salty side but with great indian/asian flavors. The grilled carrots were not as sweet as your common orange carrot and the pesto aded lots of flavor. The lentil and potato daal very indian in flavor but amazing. Service was top notch, and the ambiance and decor just amazingly historical. The prices are very rational for such visual and overall sensonsory experience. I highly recommend it and would definitely return.

    Alan K.

    The last time I was here was just for drinks. This time we had dinner. It was amazing! Small plates but larger than tapas. Everything we had was amazing. For me the winner was the Gochujang-glazed pork belly. A bit of heat and a whole lotta taste. We also had: Chicken thigh and Old Spot pork tagine, apricots, pistachios, mint, Lamb shawarma, roasted garlic toum, zhug, slaw, green chilli, onions, lahuhua, Cauliflower, coconut yoghurt, harissa, Green lentil daal, ghee, ginger....you get the idea. While all of us are carnivores there are plenty of veggie and vegan dishes. Everything was superb as was our server Curtis. My compliments to Chef Paul. A+++++.

    Our check came in this which is a nod to what the building used to be.
    Jill L.

    Loved the ambiance. Tall ceiling, but the decor kept it inviting. Food was amazing. Ordered a few tapas to share. Everything complimented each other. Plenty of food without feeling stuffed. Be sure to leave room for dessert. Lucia was our server and was kind and helpful and anticipated our every need.

    Tuna tartare
    Natalie W.

    Thought I reviewed Refuge already but I guess not! I've been for lunch on Sunday and dinner on Monday now and both times it was quietly buzzing and was a really nice environment - they've really enhanced what was already a cool, historical space (Manchester tiles!). The winter garden is beautiful. I did attempt to come for a drink on Saturday night but the winter garden seriously lacks seats (several tables left without any) so bf & I abandoned it which was a shame for Refuge given the amount we drink. Foodwise it's generally a good standard. We also had really nice servers both times. I enjoyed the black daal, it almost veers towards sickly but is great if you want comfort food. The pork belly was also really good. The lamb is also a safe bet (as at Volta). Also as at Volta, there's the occasional bum note -the aubergine chips we had just tasted a bit weird, and we thought the ox cheek, although a nice piece of meat, was not well balanced by the egg and Srichacha (it needs a lighter kick like lime or coriander perhaps) but the majority of the dishes are good. On my second visit our server recommend the volcanic tomatoes and the were genuinely outstanding, I really didn't expect them to be that good! Incidentally, they have vermut on the menu here. I hope this is the sign of more (sweet) vermouth to come in Manchester, because after much research I have decided it is the best alcoholic drink. Overall a very welcome addition to the central Manchester dining scene, especially given it's not an American diner or tapas restaurant.

    Saffy K.

    I've not had food here but have popped in for drinks on a couple of occasions now. My first impressions are very positive. The bar seems well stocked and the prices are decent. I LOVE the winter garden area, it's gorgeous, cosy sofas and chairs strewn amongst fairy lit trees. You can get table service in this section. They also have a large smoking area with tables and chairs around the back. The size of this place is impressive, there's ample seating and the bar is well staffed so you get served pretty quickly. The actual building is beautiful, the dark wood finish in the bar area really emphasises the cosy yet chic feel of the place. I'll be back for food soon, and for drinks sooner!

    Jonny Q.

    Popped in here yesterday when walking to Piccadilly station from Oxford Road and thought - oh yeah, this new place - must give it a spin! First impressions with only popping in for an hour is - yes, this place is awesome - so well designed and really bringing it back to life and to it's past glories (but with a modern spin) - it really will be great for all occasions. I was actually only looking for a place to work for an hour so got settled in their cavernous lounge and there was plenty of room and great high speed internet. I think it will be a big favourite amongst remote workers and the laptop brigade in the day, with enough room not to get in the way of everyone else - the name 'Refuge' pretty much sums it up! The drinks menu is vast, the separate dining room very cool. The only thing against it was the price of the tea - a pot (which actually is one of the smallest pots I've ever seen - 2 super small cups filled) - was £4! The same price as some beers on their list. Everything else like coffee's seemed standard but this was ridiculous - we live in Britain for heaven's sake - the land of tea drinkers so please don't rip us off!

    Stevie M.

    Excellent! We spent around four hours here on a Tuesday afternoon sampling their food, savouring their coffee and scabbing their free wifi! I'll start with the basics. The Refuge is conveniently located on Oxford Street just a two minute walk from the train station. The casual seating area is huge with plenty of places for different sized groups to sit, there's even an Apprentice Style boardroom table. The vibe is very relaxed but when I entered I noticed a lot of business people (or people clearly working). The decor is fantastic, as mentioned its a huge open space but the dark wooden finish makes it feel close and comfortable. The lunch menu isn't huge but they clearly want to keep things simple and do them right. I had the beef burger accompanied by skinny fries and it was delicious. Just the right consistency so you could pick it up without it falling apart. It was generously topped with salad and the 'posh big mac' sauce finished it off nicely. If you want to eat you'll have to head through to the dining area as they don't serve food in the lounge - beware this was very busy, even on a Tuesday, so you may need to book in advance. After lunch we headed back to the lounge area and had a coffees while we chatted. The coffee was great, I had a flat white which was just off on the good side of bitter. We also ordered snacks later in the day - the Almonds cooked in bacon fat are a must try - that might sound gross to some people but just wait until the bacon flavour hits your taste buds! To access the free wifi you'll need to sign up wth your email address but then it's all yours. I haven't even received a spammy email a week later. It's really hard to fault The Refuge - the staff were attentive without being too in your face, which I suppose is important when people are using their premises for business meets! All in all a really great experience and a lovely place to spend the afternoon working.

    Philip S.

    The Refuge is unbelievably impressive. the décor follows the rustic brass and dark wood trend that has become quite popular in bar/restaurants in Manchester City Centre, but that is far from a critique as The Refuge looks amazing! The venue is separated into different section with a long bar situated in the centre, and the front is the "Public Bar" area where everyone is welcome. Another section to the right of the bar is the dining area, which is a little isolate to the public area, which offers a great place to dine. Behind the bar and occupying the centre of the venue is the "Winter Garden", an intimate seating area, which looks incredible, and only by visiting would give you a full comprehension on the magic of this room. Connected to the "Winter Garden" is the "pen", a cutoff area with table football, high stool and surround seating, and a small bar. The pen offers an area for larger groups or functions. I had visited several times beforehand for drinks, but on this particular occasion, I was here for my work's Christmas party, and The Refuge did not disappoint, and full credit to everyone for accommodating the venue, despite hosting a Christmas party was a tailored affair. The venue was perfect, and the food was great, although offering a hot buffet, was non-traditional and confused some colleagues, it was thoroughly enjoyed, especially the desserts! I would love to return and sample there regular menu, but I am sure to pop in for a beer soon. The Refuge offers, a great selection of international beers, especially a fruity Schöfferhofer.

    Small Earl Grey tea for an eye watering £4
    Michael B.

    I wish I'd remembered Jonny's review and not made the same mistake of ordering a pot of tea here - though served in a stylish ForLife Stump Teapot, the cup wasn't much bigger than an Espresso and at £4 my Earl Grey was ridiculously overpriced. First world problems but I wasn't asked if I wanted anything with it (lemon or milk) and the server brought over the bill without seeing if I wanted anything else. Very peculiar. But apart from those glitches, this is a stunning space to spend some time in, with the large public bar area containing lots of comfy chairs and sofas to lounge for a while. There's also a large wooden table for sitting down with your laptop if you so wish. The bar itself is a thing of beauty - granite, back lit and glass panelled so you can see the 'Winter Garden' dining area in a glass atrium behind it. There are lots of period features in here and they've done a terrific job maintaining its splendour whilst adding in modern elements. The team from Volta in West Didsbury are behind the food and drink offering, so you can expect their good quality small plates (for this alone I'm definitely going to come back and eat soon). A very impressive space in the landmark Palace Hotel. Go and check it out! Tip: The public entrance is on the corner of Oxford Street and Whitworth Street.

    Classy bar
    Matt F.

    If first impressions are anything to go by, Refuge is going to do just fine in Manchester! I came in last night with my other half to try out the dinner menu and we really enjoyed the entire evening! Food was great, staff were supremely friendly and the building is just fantastic. We had two 'small plates' - the Halloumi and Fig plate and Salt Cod Croquettes - both really well presented and expertly cooked and we also had two of the 'larger plates' - the Seared Tuna and Hanger Steak being our choices there. Now I've had better steak before but the garlic butter type sauce that accompanied it was simply amazing, and the girlfriends Tuna & Pak Choi was well cooked and tasty also. We shared an Ice Cream sandwich for dessert which whilst it was tasty I'll be honest wasn't the best Ice Cream sandwich I'd ever had however I wouldn't put The Refuge as a dessert specialist and the mains were brilliant so we won't be too harsh for that! A perfect date night evening with the other half and besides a couple of very minor teething issues (wine arriving at the table before wine glasses and the small plates being a little delayed out of the kitchen) everything was great! -- Disclaimer: I was here during the soft launch in which they gave 50% off food but I assessed the cost and quality based on what the full price would normally have been.

    Wild Bass Cerviche
    Rich T.

    Wow! My first impressions of this place... Amazing! From the moment you step in, the bar infront of you is bright and airy with a great vibe going around. We came here for a late lunch in Saturday as weekend dinner slots were all booked up, but it was very busy both at the bar and in the restaurant. There is the 'Winter Garden' in the centre which is under the old skylight, and it really does feel like a different world there. The decor was authentically old, with well sized tables and really comfy chairs. The atmosphere was buzzing with chatter yet so relaxing away from the main hustle and bustle of Oxford Road. Menu choice was very good. The waiters are all so friendly and helpful and gave good honest suggestions. We had the lamb shwarma, halloumi, and wild bass cerviche as small plates, and the hanger steak and lamb chops for mains. They don't call it starters and mains here, as it depends on how hungry you are. Probably should have asked about this cos all the food came out at once! 'It comes out when it's ready' our waiter said. Shoulda said! Anyways all food was cooked to perfection, medium rare was medium rare. Sauces and sides taste great too. I would throughly recommend all our dishes. Everything just worked! We stayed around afterwards for another drink in the bar. I would certainly recommend that too. Definitely coming back to this in the near future (probably for afternoon tea in the winter garden), and hopefully this restaurant will manage to maintain its food and service excellence in the years to come.

    Sasha J.

    I was lucky enough to try out The Refuge on the last day of it's soft opening week (so the food was half price)... and I have to say I was not disappointed. The decor is stunning, I loved the old Victorian tiles, dark wood and the oversized dimly lit lamps over the tables. The music was a bit of a strange mix, it started out with some "thumping" beats with a lot of bass and then into more classical style and then again some more bass. It didn't detract from the atmosphere too much though. Having perused the menu beforehand, and as two vegetarians (my boyfriend and I), we knew we would have to order from the small plates menu as there are no options for vegetarians on the main menu. I do think this is somewhat of an oversight, but given that I prefer to try lots of different dishes, this was perfect. We had: Fig, halloumi, basil and mustard seed Smoked feta, beetroot, hazelnut and dill Black daal Volcanic tomatoes, cantaloupe, goat's cheese, basil, black vinegar Crispy aubergine, molasses and feta and fries and bread. This was just the right amount of food, on the menu it says 3 small plates per person but the waitress suggested 4 per person which would have been way too much. The flavours were absolutely fantastic. You know a meal is good when both of you are barely speaking and continually making "mmm" noises. We could not fault any of the food at all. We ordered a carafe of Malbec which was also absolutely delicious. To get to the toilet I had to walk through the stunning "winter garden." This would be an absolutely perfect place for a relaxed cocktail. Twinkly trees and and comfy sofas all surrounded by glass panels. The only slight disappointment (and the reason it wasn't quite 5 stars...although I'm probably being picky) was that the waiting staff seemed to be in a rush to clear our table (even though the restaurant was only half-full and it was later in the evening so I don't think they were trying to get rid of us.) We had shared small plates and each time one looked as though it was empty, they would swoop over to the table. I would have preferred them to wait until we had completely finished, although that may just be my own preference. As some of the dishes we had were quite saucy, it would have been nice to keep them for the bread etc. Overall it was a fabulous evening and I will definitely be returning. I can't wait to sip on a cocktail in the winter garden.

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    The food was crap. The people were horrible and were rude. The place was dirty. I had to wait one whole hour to get served forfucksake.

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    Review Highlights - The Refuge

    The food is all in keeping with the décor and the theme of the restaurant, which are inspired by Voltaire's travels.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    The Laundrette - Image from @laundrettemcr

    The Laundrette

    4.5(2 reviews)
    0.2 miOxford Road Corridor

    Having been to the establishment in Chorlton many times, I was pleasantly surprised when a friend…read moresuggested we go to the Laundrette in town. Recently opened, the new restaurant is one of the few on First Street so it is quite easy to find. Obviously we took advantage of the January offer and judging by how busy it was on a Tuesday night, so did a lot of other people! Walking it the vibes were really good with great lounge music playing and people chatting away. The menu and drinks offerings seemed to be the same and prices very reasonable. We all knew what we wanted to have anyway- our favourite burger or pizzas! We started with a sharing platter which would probably suit 2 people more than 4, but everything on the board was cooked perfectly. We especially liked the spicy mayonaise as it had a good kick to it. I really liked the burger- big thick and juicy with accompaniments to match and we ordered 1more mac and cheese to share halfway through our meal cos we couldn't get enough of it! The staff were really friendly and bubbly which made the night an even better experience. We sat on the outside tables, so you might want to watch out for the heaters, as they are really hot! I must say, I was very impressed with this restaurant, and dare I say it, as good as the original!

    Decided to come for a few cocktails with the boyf before a night out. We were pleasantly surprised…read morethat they got tipsy pretty quickly. The atmosphere was great fantastic tunes playing in the background which really got us excited for the night ahead of us. We got three drinks one of which was a shared which was served in a massive popcorn container! It was delicious and worth the money. If coming here definitely try one of the cocktails they are gimmicky and very fun to drink! A great place for a catch up session with the girls and for prepping a night out on the town. I will be back!

    Photos
    The Laundrette - Classy place, great for date night. Brilliant cocktails.

    Classy place, great for date night. Brilliant cocktails.

    The Laundrette
    The Laundrette - Chorizo burger with a stack of onion rings and truffle and parmesan fries. Yum!

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    Chorizo burger with a stack of onion rings and truffle and parmesan fries. Yum!

    The Bulls Head - At Night

    The Bulls Head

    4.2(13 reviews)
    0.4 miPiccadilly
    ££

    Congratulations are in order! The Bull's Head has made it into the Good Pub Guide published by…read moreCAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale, friend of my locals the Crescent, New Oxford and King's Arms). Many say that this pub would get a lot more custom if it wasn't on the 'wrong side' of Piccadilly Station as it were. However this does mean that it gets a nice eclectic clientele, including office suits at lunchtime which often suggests quality food (smart types are picky about their food, I've met plenty of them). The food itself is your hearty, tasty pub grub from upmarket peppery steak pies and gammon and eggs to sirloin steaks and corned beef hash. The chips are particularly nice. The beers include the Marston's standard Burton, Pedigree and specials like Long Hop, as well as many festival ales such as Everard's, Brains and Ringwood's. Down to earth, upbeat and friendly staff serve the pub's varied customers, creating a jovial and relaxed atmosphere. Certainly a worthy addition to the guide.

    Because of The Star and Garter's odd choice of not opening until the gig starts (You're a pub with…read morethirsty MetalHeads stood outside for upto an hour,you do realise how much money you lost in that hour?) We were forced to wet our whistle elsewhere,and a quick check on the app showed that The Bulls Head was the nearest,so head there we did. It is always nice to go into a pub that has a good mix of clientel,and this was one of them,a smattering of regular looking folk? Check,a few suit and ties having a swift one after work? Check,and on this particular evening 2 Metalheads after a nice drop of ale. We both had a pint of Boon Doggle on draft (They have a really good selection),which went down a treat,as did the pub itself,it is a really nice place that I will certainly go back too the next time that i'm not able to get my drink on before a gig.. Good stuff

    Photos
    The Bulls Head - Painted on the wall in the Gents...

    Painted on the wall in the Gents...

    The Bulls Head
    The Bulls Head - Day time

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    Day time

    Piccadilly Tap - Classic train station pint

    Piccadilly Tap

    3.5(16 reviews)
    0.4 miPiccadilly
    ££

    Located in Gateway House just outside the station, Piccadilly Tap has been much-anticipated, to put…read moreit mildly. They are the latest venture from Bloomsbury Leisure, who operate Euston, Waterloo and Wembley Taps in London. There's supposed to be some sort of business link with the group behind the as-yet unopened 'Manchester Tap' mooted for Ancoats, who are the same team responsible for Tapped, based in Leeds, Harrogate Tap, Sheffield Tap and York Tap. It's all rather confusing. Anyway, PT offer an impressive 27 beer taps (20 keg and seven cask options) and once they get their fridges operational will apparently provide a range of bottled beers for travellers to grab on their way to catch their train and enjoy on the journey. The décor is rather unique in the city to say the least. It's practically bare. Behind the front wall of glass (with no signage at time of writing), the walls are floor-to-ceiling wood panels - I felt like we were inside a 1970s boardroom or remote cabin somewhere in Sweden. The ceiling is bare concrete and on the far walls they've added stone-cladding which reminded me of the Duckworth's house on Corrie. I liked it all. The main focal point is the large triangular bar, overlooked by chalk boards listing which beers are available. The taps are lined up on the back wall and surrounded by copper. It's a no-nonsense, stripped back affair. Though it's expected that beers will be regularly changed, it was surprising to see only one Manchester-based brewery (newbie Cloudwater) on the menu. Table numbers are limited (this may change as they're still finishing things off - their first floor area is still off limits and their toilet is a posh portaloo by 'Classic Chambers' out the back and you need to ask for a key before you go). There are a few high tables for standing round and bar stools. They probably just need a bit more time to get everything sorted and this'll be the go-to venue before you head to the station. Personally I'd hope to see more local breweries represented considering their proximity to a major gateway to Manchester.

    I really want to give Piccadilly Tap at least 3.5 as it's just opened and I know they're building…read moreit while we booze up in there - saying that I don't feel it's at a 4 from my 2 recent visits. The first time we went was Weds night when I was really excited about going - we sat downstairs and the atmosphere was just super low, the space is just so empty that I felt like I was in a board meeting for a 1970's cigarette company... So much space, nothing much to look at... We popped in on Sat and I sat upstairs and have to say that this was a much nicer experience with bigger tables, more people and a fussball table for a bit of variety - much better and much more enjoyable! I love the other 'Taps' around the country and in all likelihood will keep returning to Piccadilly Tap as it finds it feet, there's just nothing that's blowing me away apart from the damn fine selection of beer at this time.

    Photos
    Piccadilly Tap - The taps inside Tap

    The taps inside Tap

    Piccadilly Tap
    Piccadilly Tap

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    Churchill's

    Churchill's

    3.7(16 reviews)
    0.3 miGay Village
    ££

    It's always nice to find a city centre pub that feels like an old man pub, but has a certain…read moresomething. I guess, as James points out, that Churchills' something is the eclectic group of customers who drink harmoniously alongside each other. Yes, as an ex-student and generally quite bourgeoise fool, the sight of a scally strikes the fear o' gawd into me. But it really needn't. At Churchills, everyone is friendly and nice, or they keep to themselves. Though it's a couple of minutes off the main thoroughfare of Canal Street, it still gets sufficiently busy, and never feels empty. That's probably down to the staff as much as the punters, as they are always friendly, and will have a bit of banter with pretty much anyone. As Alexandra says, it's always nice to find £3 doubles in the city centre, and even nicer when they're done well. I had a cracking G&T here a few weeks back, and will certainly be returning for moe. Though perhaps not on a Sunday. Once you've seen a 6'5" drag queen do Back to Black, your karaeoke mojo somewhat shrivels...

    To be honest, I'm not really sure if this is a really good pub or a really good novelty…read morekind-of-straight-Canal-St pub. It doesn't really matter, because when I see skinheads and scallies enjoying a pint next to drag queens and leather wearing elderly chaps (no pun intended) it always brings a tear to my eye. What a progressed and civilized gang of drunks we are. Karaoke, cask ale, pub food, pub decor- ohhhh yes. Word of advice- do not approach the DJ, I'm sure he bites.

    Photos
    Churchill's
    Churchill's
    Churchill's

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    The Refuge - bars - Updated May 2026

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