The Blues Kitchen Manchester

You'll find this slice of the Deep South tucked beneath Spinningfields, where the smell of proper pit-smoked meat hits you before you've even made it down the stairs. The basement setting works brilliantly – all exposed brick and dim lighting that makes you forget you're a stone's throw from Deansgate's corporate towers. The kitchen knows its way around a rack of ribs, and their burnt ends are genuinely decent for somewhere that's not actually Memphis. What really sets it apart though is the live music programme. Most nights bring proper blues acts rather than the usual acoustic covers, and the sound system doesn't overpower conversation. The cocktails lean heavily into bourbon territory (as they should), and while it gets properly rammed at weekends, the vibe stays more 'good night out' than 'student carnage'. Just don't expect quick service when it's busy.