Play ping-pong at Twenty Twenty Two
Bar, Pub Grub
If you’re the competitive type, take your date to Twenty Twenty Two in the Northern Quarter and challenge them to a couple of rounds of ping-pong. Each table costs just £5 per 30 minutes.
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Unusual Date Ideas To Try in Manchester
Sip cocktails at The Refuge | © The Refuge
Bored of going out for a meal with a stranger or fancy spicing up your dates by opting for something a little bit different? We’ve pulled together a list of fun, unusual and downright strange date ideas in and around Manchester.
Strike it lucky at Dog Bowl
Bowling Alley
Another option for anyone who likes to be active on their dates, Dog Bowl is the city’s coolest bowling alley, located in an arch beneath Oxford Road railway station. Order a couple of cocktails and discover which one of you is the most competitive.
Head to Ginger’s Comfort Emporium for an ice-cream sundae
Ice Cream Parlour, Ice Cream, $$$
This exquisite ice-cream parlour, located on the top floor of Affleck’s, serves some of the most unusual and delicious flavours you’ll ever taste. Share a sundae and bask in 1950s nostalgia.
Hit the slopes at Chill Factore
Ski Resort
Escape the city and pretend you’ve jetted off to the French Alps at Chill Factore. Teach each other to ski or snowboard, or just enjoy pushing each other over in the snow as you attempt to climb off the ski lift at this impressive indoor slope.
Wander the passageways of The John Rylands Library
Building, Library
Literary lovers and architecture advocates will revel in a trip to The John Rylands Library, one of the most interesting buildings in the city. Spend some time admiring the collections or simply wander around the corridors, getting lost in the labyrinth of passageways.
Enjoy a chocolate-themed afternoon tea at Cocoa Cabana
Bakery, Patisserie, Dessert Shop, Contemporary, Bangladeshi, British, Pastries, Dessert, Fast Food
If your date has a sweet tooth, they’ll definitely appreciate a chocolate-themed afternoon tea experience at Cocoa Cabana in West Didsbury. Conveniently located right next to Burton Road tram stop, this chocolate boutique offers everything from steaming cups of hot cocoa to mouthwatering tarts.
Cook Indian food together at The Spice Club’s cookery class
Offering pop-up supper clubs all across Manchester, The Spice Club also run a series of Indian cookery classes where you can learn how to make their delicious dishes yourself. Held in a private kitchen in north Manchester, the classes take you through cooking a complete Indian meal from scratch. Following the class, the obvious second date would be to cook for each other at home.
Cuddle kittens to your heart’s content at Manchester’s Cat Café
Cafe, British, $$$
Does your date love cats? If so, we’re pretty sure they’ll be in their element at Manchester’s Cat Café, where you can both enjoy a refreshing drink and slice of cake in the presence of an array of friendly felines. Walk-ins cost £1 for every five minutes including unlimited drinks, so be prepared that it could get a bit expensive if you fall in love with the cats!
Take to the skies at Mainair Microlight Centre
Building
If you really want to impress your date (and they have a head for heights), book a lesson at Mainair Microlight Centre in Eccles. Choose from a 30-minute flight or take a series of lessons to learn to fly yourself, admiring the views of Manchester from above as you soar over the city.
In need of more inspiration? Read our guide to 10 Free and Cheap Date Ideas To Try in Manchester.
These recommendations were updated on May 19, 2020 to keep your travel plans fresh.