The best: Pre-theatre dining offers in Manchester

Slap bang in the heart of Deansgate, Hawksmoor is in prime location for fuelling up before the show…the food isn’t too bad either. What’s even better, is that the team offers an early evening menu perfectly timed for a memorable meal before the curtain rises.

The early evening menu is available from 4pm – 5.45pm Monday to Wednesday, and 3.15pm – 5.45pm Thursday to Saturday.

Gaucho is another excellent choice, and at two courses for £17.95, or three for £19.95, the quality is certainly matched by value. On the menu there’s prawn chicharron, rump and chips, salmon fishcake, dulche de leche pancakes and more.

The Lowry’s on-site waterside restaurant is a no-brainer for anyone heading out to a performance at the Salford theatre, where you can grab two courses for £32 or three for £38. The restaurant opens 2.5 hours before the start of a Lyric show, for example, 12pm for 2.30pm matinees and 5pm for 7.30pm evening performances. Pier Eight specialises in British cuisine and its views out across the Quays make it a wonderful starting point for the night.

Another not strictly touted as a pre-theatre menu, however, being served between 5pm – 6.30pm and 9pm – 10pm every Wednesday and Thursday, Peter Steet Kitchen’s set menu is ideal for anyone looking to add a little extra luxury to the night. With two courses at £23, and three at £28, it presents absurdly good value at one of Manchester’s most celebrated kitchens.

One of Manchester’s most renowned curry spots, theatregoers can grab two courses for £20, or three for £25 from the special pre-show menu. Available from 4pm-7pm, guests can choose from an array of starters including Zouk’s famous Chicken 65, Seekh Kebab and Paneer Tikka, along with tried and tested curry staples like Chicken Tikka Masala and Tarka Dall.

Award-winning tapas joint, La Bandera, offers theatregoers a huge sharing serve of paella, plus two glasses of wine or beer, for £45. Alternatively, you can enjoy five tapas and two glasses of wine or beer for £39. Available Mon – Thu and Sunday from 4pm – 7pm.

The Refuge is without a doubt one of Manchester’s most stunning spaces, and its location on Oxford Road makes it an ideal pre-show stop-off. The restaurant’s ‘Show Menu’ is priced at £35pp, and features a selection of 8 dishes designed to be shared between two. On it, there are things like Korean fried chicken, chilli-marinated olives, tenderstem broccoli in romesco, grilled flatbread and more.

A short stroll from the Royal Exchange Theatre, elegant Victoria restaurant Mamucium has partnered with the theatre to offer ticket holders a special menu that runs until 6 pm, featuring two or three courses of locally sourced, seasonally inspired dishes.

Expect fresh, thoughtfully curated flavours alongside a cocktail list designed to complement the evening, with one of the city’s foremost theatres only six minutes away via Exchange Square.

For slice of Italy in the heart of town, Don Giovanni offers a pre-theatre menu brimming with authenticity and classic appeal. Available 12 pm-2 pm and 4 pm-6 pm, the two- and three-course options feature dishes like risotto al funghi, salmon Adriatico and margherita pizza, alongside starters including calamari fritti, Tuscan chicken liver pâté and bruschetta di gamberoni.

An array of traditional desserts such as tiramisu and panna cotta round off the meal, all designed to be enjoyed in around ninety minutes so diners can savour each course ahead of La traviata, Madama Butterfly or The Merchant of Venice.

Located on King Street almost at the nexus of Manchester’s best theatres, Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat serves a pre-theatre menu every Tuesday to Saturday from 5 pm–7 pm, featuring sharing-style dishes devised for impact and efficiency.

Start with crispy baby squid, sweet and sour prawns or zesty teriyaki salmon, before moving onto Gordon’s Fried Chicken or other vibrant, exquisitely crafted mains, before finishing with fresh mochi.

Recently opened Chotto Matte brings its own sense of theatre to pre-show dining, with a tasting menu blending sushi, Robata-grilled dishes and vegetarian options across a range of bold sharing plates, served just steps from the Royal Exchange and Palace Theatres.

Available Monday to Thursday, 4 pm–7 pm, Highlights include spicy tuna crispy sushi, sea bass ceviche, miso-marinated chicken and furikake arroz blanco, with mochi ice cream to finish.