Categories > Guides and Tips
Bring Your Own Booze at These 12 Manchester Restos for a Splendid (and Cheaper) Night Out!
We bet anyone will agree that eating out can be quite hard on the wallet. We’ve been there, spending most of our budget on the steak and only requesting a glass of water for the drink, simply because it’s usually on the house (or is the cheapest one).
Which is why we’re chuffed to realise that there are actually restaurants around Manchester that do “Bring Your Own Booze” (or bottle, a.k.a. BYOB). We’re finally saved from a bland, sober night with the fact that we can just bring a bottle from home!
Since we feel you, dear reader, and us are in the same boat, we like to pay the good news forward. Read on!
Hawksmoor Manchester
Media from Hawksmoor
Address: 184 – 186 Deansgate
Contact details: 0161 836 6980, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- Sunday – 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Pricing: £££
Hawksmoor is one of the most popular steakhouses in Manchester, and arguably, the entire UK. Given this pedigree, it isn’t surprising to know that dining here will cost more than average.
If you ask us, we’re proper chuffed with the fact that on Mondays, guests can bring their own bottle of wine and just pay £5 for corkage. What a nice way to save a few quid to spend more on the food, even for just one day, innit?
Now, just don’t forget to bring wine that would go well with the house’s Chateaubriand steak with bone marrow gravy, and you’re all sorted.
| Pro tip: Did we mention that the BYO wine promo runs ALL DAY? Day drinkers, rejoice! |
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza
Media from Double Zero Pizzeria
Address: 368 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Contact details: 0161 943 8980, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Pricing: £
This humble Chorlton spot is a literal UK top banana for pizzerias, having won rank number 1 in betting service Betway’s 2023 foodie polls. Moreover, the regular influx of international visitors should speak for itself!
Thankfully, Double Zero is just low-key proud but still consistent with pulling up all the stops for its menu. Don’t miss out on the crunchy arancini (rice balls) and their signature take on Napoli pizza.
The shop offers soft drinks and juices to pair with the meals, but since it doesn’t have a licence for alcohol, diners may carry their poison of choice—given they pay the almost two quid fee per person. Not a terrible deal!
| Pro tip: If you’re dining as a group of five people or more, be prepared to pay a service charge (which the staff rightfully deserves if they give a top-notch experience)! |
Phetpailin
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Address: 46 George Street
Contact details: 0161 228 6500
Operating hours:
- Tuesday – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Wednesday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Pricing: ££
Chinatown’s Phetpailin looks simple but elegant, thanks to the polished and regal-feeling Thai aesthetic. It seems like this elegant simplicity also translates well directly to the restaurant’s dishes.
If you’ve yet to taste real Thai food, this is your warning: it’s proper delicious for the flavourings and the fresh ingredients used. But, this can also get nuclear hot, thanks to the country’s great affinity for chillies.
Our other advice? Get the set menu with a friend or two at Phetpailin to save yourself from thinking too much about what to get—it has everything from the surf to the turf. Plus points for the BYOB setup that’ll just set you back a quid for corkage, per person.
| Pro tip: A 10% service charge is compulsory, added to your bill. |
Jasmine Restaurant
Media from Jasmine Restaurant
Address: 569 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Contact details: 0161 881 1442
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday – 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday – 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Pricing: ££
Jasmine is a mint Lebanese restaurant in Chorlton. The locals are mad for it, mostly for the sheer flexibility and (prospective) savings of its longstanding BYOB (“B” is for booze) system—no need to pay any extra fee!
We highly recommend dropping by, too, for the authentic Levantine flavours. Get the mixed kebab plate that has chicken, shish (meat chunks), and kofta (ground meat), great for doing a kebab mini-swap with your mates or enjoying every skewer by yourself.
Oh, and don’t skip the hummus, but definitely opt for the Beirut style instead of the “original” for a unique twist.
| Pro tip: Need a venue for an intimate group dinner? Jasmine has you covered—just inquire (BYOB still applies). |
Zena Restaurant
Media from Zena Restaurant
Address: 136 Burton Rd, West Didsbury
Contact details: 0161 718 8889
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday and Sunday – 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Pricing: ££
Another Levantine entry in our books is Zena over at West Didsbury. It sets itself apart from other restaurants with an all-wood interior, giving guests the homey feel of a Middle Eastern cabin of sorts.
The menu here is as basic as any other restaurant of the same category can be, but what keeps people coming back is the impeccably plated main courses. The grilled lamb is one particularly fantastic dish!
While Zena has a lot of non-alcoholic drinks on the menu, it wouldn’t really be a proper meal in the UK without the buzz of some booze—thank goodness for BYOB.
| Pro tip: Longtime patrons of Zena might recall being able to bring their choice of alcohol for free, but it now costs £2.50 a person. Remember to do the maths to make sure it’s actually cost-effective for you. |
Remal Restaurant
Media from Remal Restaurant
Address: 501 Bury New Rd, Prestwich
Contact details: 0161 637 2324
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Pricing: ££
After spending most of our mooches around restaurants in the city, we’ve finally seen the pattern with the Middle Eastern restaurants we’ve been through. If you need a clue, it’s the lack of alcohol on the menu.
Maybe it’s because the family owning this joint is deeply religious, or the business is really just having a hard time getting its alcohol licence, hence its popular BYOB promo.
Nonetheless, we love that this lack doesn’t affect the quality of the Lebanese scran. A few of our recommendations are Remal’s special chicken, the lamb hummus, and the lamb kofta.
| Pro tip: No need to do extra maths when dining at Remal, since bringing a bottle of your favourite Merlot is free. |
The Walled Gardens
Media from Eddie Shepherd
Address: 17 Alness Rd, Whalley Range
Contact details: http://www.veggiechef.co.uk/contact/
Operating hours: varies, available upon booking
Pricing: £££
Chef Eddie Shepherd’s well-kept (semi) secret in his flat is currently one of the best restaurants in the whole UK, for good reason.
Famous for undisputedly scrumptious eats, the twelve-course tasting menu at the Walled Gardens uses only the freshest and most sustainable ingredients from and inspired by the botanical wonders of nature.
However, tasting a plate is an elusive dream. Each service only serves eight people, so you’ll need to queue up on a five-month waiting list!
On the bright side, you can bring your own wine or beer to make your meal truly your own—no extra fees asked.
| Pro tip: Be ready every midday of the first day of the month to finally snag that highly coveted seat at the Walled Gardens website. They run out dead fast. |
Oh My Pho (formerly Mi and Pho)
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Address: 384 Palatine Rd, Northenden, Wythenshawe
Contact details: 0161 5188 682
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday and Sunday – 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- Monday – CLOSED
Pricing: £
Diners can bring their own alcoholic drinks at Oh My Pho with no corkage fee. The catch is that they can only do so every Tuesday to Thursday, so they’ll need to rely on the house selection of drinks (thankfully, they have the booze!) on other days.
As for the food, Oh My Pho continues to entertain its patrons with wonderful service and consistently great scran.
Its pho is one of the best out there, but we urge you to try the bun bo hue, too. This spicy soup has a richer broth and thicker noodles, best for chilly days.
| Pro tip: Order the papaya salad for a refreshing and light palate cleanser. |
Chez Nous Bistro
Media from Chez Nous Bistro
Address: 179 Marsland Rd, Sale
Contact details: 0161 969 1172, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Wednesday – 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM
- Thursday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 10:30 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Monday and Tuesday – CLOSED
Pricing: ££
A side trip to Sale made us fall in love with a small bistro called Chez Nous and its food. Its modern British menu is a mint sample of good food in Manchester today.
Some standout dishes include the crispy confit pork belly with a side salad, a starter that’s sure to get tummies excited for more, as well as the gammon steak, complete with fries and pudding.
You can say that the deal was sealed for us the day we came in, since we were lucky to chance upon Chez Nous’ BYOB promo. We’ll definitely be back on a Wednesday or Thursday with our own wine!
| Pro tip: Book your table in advance and prepare for one of the cheapest corkage fees we’ve seen around—£1 PER BOTTLE. |
Seoul Kimchi
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Address: 275 Upper Brook Street
Contact details: 07745 527603
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday – CLOSED
Pricing: £
Just a literal stone’s throw away from Manchester’s Royal Infirmary is Seoul Kimchi. It’s a family-run Korean restaurant that has been in the same corner spot since 1997, garnering many fans in the process.
Add us now to that list.
Go through its white diner-esque doors to be greeted by the savoury aroma of kimchi and gochujang.
The two best bets are the beef bibimbap (the quintessential Korean rice bowl) and the bulgogi (grilled meat) plate, available in beef, pork, or squid.
The drinks are self-serve—you can just grab ‘em from the fridge. But if you bring in your own, you’ll need to pay two quid per person.
| Pro tip: Seoul Kimchi has a quirky loo situation. It’s only accessible via a door at the back leading to the outside of the shop, so you’ll need to give the staff a heads-up if you want to go. |
The Fisherman’s Table
Media from The Fisherman’s Table
Address: 103 Church Ln, Marple, Stockport
Contact details: 0161 536 4389
Operating hours:
- Monday – 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
- Wednesday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Pricing: ££
Let’s widen our horizon a bit and take a trip beyond the M60 to Stockport, where the Fisherman’s Table is.
This aptly-named restaurant serves an almost all-pescetarian menu (except for a pork chop dish, a surf and turf burger, and desserts) in a scrumptious and interesting fashion.
However, whether you’re here for a simple meal or a fancy dinner, the fish pie won’t disappoint.
As for the drinks, the Fisherman’s table allows its guests to bring a bottle of their own wine, for a corkage fee of five quid per bottle—one of the best prices we’ve seen while getting this list together. That’s only on Mondays, though.
| Pro tip: Dining in with kids? Hand them the Kid’s Menu—yes, it’s still full of fish dishes since you’re in the “Fisherman’s Table” after all. |
Chilli Masalla
Media from Stockport Scran
Address: 38 Castle St, Edgeley, Stockport
Contact details: 0161 477 1443
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 4:45 PM to 10:45 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 4:30 PM to 11:15 PM
- Sunday – 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Pricing: £
Another Stockport restaurant that recently came to our attention is Chilli Masalla (yes, it’s spelled that way). This Indian joint is a favourite place for locals celebrating another lap around the sun, mainly because of the warm, fantastic service of its staff.
It’s a typical Indian restaurant when it comes to the food, but it does the cuisine justice for the authentic flavours. For one, the chicken tikka masala is one we’ll crave for days!
The good things about Chilli Masala don’t seem to end—it even allows guests to bring their own wine or beers on any day, at no additional fees!
| Pro tip: Chilli Masalla’s owner is a great lad who supports many causes. Check the restaurant’s socials for the latest giveaways and fundraisers—maybe all the goodwill translates to tasty cooking, too. |
