Manchester’s most student-friendly restaurants and bars

On a budget but looking for a fun night out? Then head on down to Black Dog NQ in Manchester’s Northern Quarter for great value drinks, arcade games, pool, darts and an American food menu! This lively New York-inspired bar and ballroom offers discounted prices for students, plus it also does a ‘free pool’ offer on Wednesdays with any drink purchased at the bar. And if that wasn’t enough to entice you, there’s a fantastic happy hour from 4-8pm every day (except Saturdays), which includes £4 beers, £6 selected cocktails, £15 bottles of house wine and £19 bottles of Prosecco. We’re sold!

This student hotspot in the Oxford Road area really has it all – including regular live music, student club nights, a large beer garden, plus extensive food and drink menus. This trendy Danish venue offers some really cool dishes native to Denmark such as Smørrebrød which are speciality open sandwiches with incredible fillings like smoked salmon, prawns and breaded plaice, as well as Frikadeller which is a hearty meatball dish with sautéed potatoes and red wine gravy. Students also get 2-for-1 daily deals on foods such as burgers, mac ‘n’ cheese, hot dogs, waffles, Sunday roasts and veggie/vegan plates as well as 10% off their food bill every day!

This vibrant pizza parlour/party place in the Northern Quarter serves frozen margaritas, ice cold beers and stays open until 4am if you fancy making a real night of it! Crazy Pedro’s does a £6 lunch deal which includes two slices of pizza and a soft drink – and if you fancy upgrading to a beer with your lunch it’ll only set you back an extra quid! The happy hour runs from 5-9pm Sunday-Friday which includes plenty of deals on drinks, £2.50 slices of pizza or £12 for a whole one, plus two cocktails for £12. Bargain.

Looking for some proper hearty grub to nurse you back to life following a heavy night out? We’ve got you. Pieminister is a cult favourite across the country thanks to its award-winning pies with heaps of fillings, rich gravy, and a wide range of sides like mushy peas, mash, crispy onions and more! Choose from options like steak and bacon, chicken and mushroom, and plenty of vegan renditions of much-loved classics made from tofu, jackfruit, mushrooms and vegetables instead. There are also great lunchtime deals, 2-for-1 cocktail offers and the best part is that students get 25% off food from Monday-Thursday upon showing their student ID.

If you feel like letting your hair down in between lectures, why not head on over to Boom Battle Bar for yummy street food bites, classic cocktails and games galore! On the menu there’s loads to choose from including fully loaded nachos, chicken wings, buffalo mac ‘n’ cheese bites and plenty more. After eating, you and your housemates can battle it out with activities like axe-throwing, shuffleboard, augmented reality darts, American pool, beer pong (or Prosecco pong if you’re feeling fancy), plus karaoke booths for singing your heart out! And as a bonus, students get 15% off full-priced games from Monday-Thursday.