Whether it’s a skin-of-teeth pass or a sparkling double-first, graduates from across the region are invited to celebrate the culmination of their university careers with a range of astonishingly affordable set menus and customary free drinks.
Here are some of the best graduation set menus around the city, in honour of Manchester’s newly minted alumni.
Served from 8th – 25th July, Grecian fine-dining sensation Fenix’s Feast of the Wise menu transports guests on an ancient, Aristotelian culinary odyssey in celebration of scholarly success and the opening of a thrilling new chapter in life.
Comprising a series of immaculate small plates showcasing the best of Aegean island cuisine, the menu begins with fresh pita bread and unapologetically creamy houmous and guacamole, before moving onto fried halloumi cheese tempura with yuzu, hollandaise espuma and shiso vinaigrette, and chicken antichuco. Orzo with langoustine & feta and smoked Iberico ribs feature in the next chapter, and the meal concludes with the brand new chocolate crème brulee.
Alternatively, you can enjoy Fenix’s Graduation lunch menu, at £31.50 for 3 chapters, from 12 – 3pm.
In honour of the class of 2024, The Ivy invites graduates into its famously plush chambers to dine on a special menu featuring a signature graduation dessert, crafted from vanilla ice cream, hot salted caramel sauce and a honeycomb centre, with a complimentary glass of house champagne on arrival.
As longstanding masters of affordable celebratory dining, Browns runs a characteristically generous yet upmarket graduation offer with a complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon Impérial Champagne for the academic high-achievers. Simply book a table for at least four people and dine from the A La Carte, Classic or Occasion menus.
For just £36.95, graduates dining at the grand Gusto Italian can enjoy three courses of light yet sumptuous classic cuisine with a complimentary glass of fizz. Choose from Crispy Lemon and Pepper Calamari, Chicken Liver Pate, Burrata and more for starters, with an irresistible range of mains including Truffled Mushroom Fettucini, Pan-Fried Seabass and an 8-oz Ribeye Steak, and Tiramisu, Biscoff Cheesecake, Warm Chocolate Brownie and a selection of Italian Gelato flavours for dessert.
From Tue 9 to Thu 25 Jul, Manchester’s first and favourite sky bar Cloud 23 offers a complimentary glass of bubbles with any bookings for drinks or afternoon tea. Celebrating graduates are encouraged to bring their ceremony ticket, or even turn up in a cap and gown, to commemorate their success with an unparalleled view of Manchester’s skyline.
Served in the aptly named Graduate Bar, the Hyatt’s Afternoon Tea offers an opulent selection of delicately crafted treats to sample amidst the bright, luxurious surroundings of the Hyatt’s Atrium.
For just £24pp, the homemade menu includes plain & cherry scones served with Rodda clotted cream and jam, an assortment of savoury snacks, pea, mint and feta quiche and coronation egg and cress on pesto bread, roast chicken, sun blushed tomato chutney, rocket on tomato bread, morello cherry mousse cake and an assortment of other sweet delicacies.
When you book a celebratory meal at Salford stalwart Vero Moderno, you can enjoy a complimentary glass of prosecco if you note the offer in your booking reference.
Situated within the £650m Salford Central regeneration project, the acclaimed Italian haunt offers £17.95 lunch options from Tuesday to Friday every week, featuring irresistible dishes like the swordfish rigatoni pesca spada, chilli-infused spahettoni della nonna and rigatoni con pomodoro, alongside a margherita or vegan-friendly ortolana pizza, while the evening menu includes everything from risotto con spinachi and pappardelle al ragu to authentic roasted Italian sausage with homemade chunky chips and rustic Parma ham pizzas.
Book your table below.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Fri 19 Jul 2024
Running throughout July and August, Zouk Tea Bar & Grill raises a toast to this year’s scholastic superstars with complimentary drinks, sumptuous set menus and a brand new selection of summer cocktails, as well as an exclusive themed dessert crafted in celebration of Manchester’s graduating class of 2024.
Newly minted graduates and graduands can commemorate their achievement in style with a complimentary cocktail, mocktail, soft drink or glass of prosecco, while your fellow diners can get a soft drink or flute of fizz on the house too. From there, Zouk’s lavish set menus offer an unforgettable dining experience for larger groups with a selection of sharing banquets, laden with samples from every dish on the menu including favourites like the Chicken Karahi, Lamb Handi and Punjabi Lollipops. Prices start from £30pp.
After a celebratory meal to remember, you can round off your visit with a limited-edition Graduation Dessert created by Zouk’s ingenious in-house pastry chef, featuring a strawberry and white chocolate vanilla swiss ‘scroll’ and an opulent dark chocolate mousse topped with a chocolate mortarboard. Simply add the words ‘graduation dessert’ to your booking notes to indulge in the elegant scholastic sweetness.
Find out more below.