The Best Places for Cheap Cocktails in Manchester, England

Crazy Pedro’s is best known for its over-the-top New York-style pizzas boasting odd toppings like waffles, baked beans and pies, but this popular parlour bar also features a range of bargain cocktails. Its staff members know a thing or two about mixology too – with both their sleazy-styled Deansgate and Northern Quarter venues housing Manchester’s largest collections of mescal and tequila. Drop by between 5pm and 9pm, Sunday to Friday, and you can enjoy their 2-for-1 happy hour, which gets you two drinks for just £8. Will it be the refreshing LCD Swizzle with gin and watermelon, or their lemon and Patrón Blanco bust-up, Hulk Smash? The choice is yours.

Perhaps the go-to bar for cheap cocktails in Manchester, the Font is legendary for its extensive range of colourful and boozy treats available from as little as £3. This bargain price point – combined with its proximity to Oxford Road and the city’s two universities – makes Font extremely popular with students, who can often be found kick-starting their night with a zingy, vodka-powered Jelly Tot Sour (£4) or a fruity Solero (£5) that – you guessed it – tastes just like its ice lolly counterpart. Even Font’s priciest cocktails will only set you back £6, and their sticky-floor aesthetic and indie hit-heavy soundtrack makes it the perfect place for a lazy pre-gig drink.

A music venue, bar, and cheap-eats spot, Charles Street venue Yes opened its doors in 2018 and quickly became a mecca for hipster crowds looking to catch tomorrow’s must-see band in its oh-so-Instagrammable Pink Room. Once you’re done snapping this entirely pink space, head on up to their top floor, where you’ll find a leafy rooftop terrace and their pre-batched Negronis and Old Fashioneds, which are available on tap, daily. If they’re not your thing, don’t worry. Yes’s fourth-floor bar prides itself on its vermouth-inspired creations, with an ever-changing menu that’s full of surprises. Looking for the pulse of the city? You’ll find it here.

Located in the heart of the Northern Quarter on Edge Street, nestled just behind the area’s bustling main drag on Thomas Street, Common Bar is a favourite of city-centre crowds. As one of the longest-running pubs in the area, it has started many a night out with its chilled vibes, cask ales and cheap booze before nursing plenty of hangovers with its thrifty brunch offering. However, it’s cocktails that we’re after here, and Common Bar doesn’t disappoint with a range of drinks available from just £7.50. Looking for a place to start? Their Espresso Martini is sure to kick things into gear at just £8.50.