Across Greater Manchester, local communities come together to grow, train, create and support. These groups need hubs to come together, which is why community cafes are so vitally needed. Here are just some of the local hubs supporting these communities and creating safe spaces that you can visit and support by grabbing a coffee, cake, or a delightful lunch:
1. 53Two in Manchester
Meet, greet, eat and drink at the cosy 53Two on Watson Street in Manchester. Not only can you have fresh, locally sourced grazing platters or enjoy homemade pies, 53two have a whole bar arch for you to meet, catch up or indeed hire out for your party. You can either book a table in one of our snugs for a casual Sunday playing board games, reserve an area of the bar for a group or you can book the whole bar for a private event and celebrate a special day with your family and friends.
Take full advantage of their jointed facilities located in Great Northern Warehouse, just a two-minute walk from the café. Onsite is a 135 seater theatre and events space, equipped to host everything from live music events, seminars, workshops and live streamed productions.
2. The Dressing Room in Chorlton
Based in The Edge in Chorlton, The Dressing Room is an Observer Food Monthly-winning haven of delicious vegetarian food and fresh coffee by day. An exciting space to see new music or to grab a glass of wine and a small plate at one of the shows at The Edge. A space to relax with a coffee while you wait for a class, grab a pre-theatre meal, or enjoy a piece of cake while enjoying the surroundings. Based in the heart Chorlton, we hope that The Dressing Room Cafe Bar is an inspiring and tranquil haven.
The Dressing Room is also a dedicated catering and restaurant training facility for adults with learning disabilities. The trainees have the opportunity to learn skills, which can be applied in a real working environment and also transferred and applied to other areas of life.
3. Z-Café in Hulme
Whether you’re visiting to see a show, attending a class or are just feeling peckish, Z-Café is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and something to drink in the beautiful surroundings of a 113-year-old building. The accessibility-friendly café provides locally-sourced cakes and fresh sandwiches. Z-Café transforms into a cafe bar for grown-up events, with superb wines and bubbles by the bottle or glass, continental beers and British ales, and an extensive spirits selection so you can pop in for a drink after work.
Connected to Z-arts, the UK’s only arts centre dedicated to offering best-practice in creative provision for children and families. Engaging with tens of thousands of people annually in outreach programmes with local communities, schools and college groups, international touring theatre shows and with superb on-site facilities including: 230-seat theatre, studio theatre, gallery, cafe bar, recording studio, music space & dance studio.
4. Open Kitchen at People’s History Museum in Spinningfields
You’ll find organic Fairtrade coffees and teas, ethically sourced soft drinks, vegan and gluten free cakes, and a range of sandwiches and salad bowls at People’s History Museum’s Open Kitchen. This recently updated space has a mission to provide Manchester with ethical venue hire space, the cafe at People’s History Museum has a strong focus on offering great value to museum visitors, including families, while still ensuring that all of our products are sustainable and ethical.
The People’s History Museum is the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future. Explore the radical stories of people coming together to champion ideas worth fighting for, and be empowered by the past to make a change for the future.
5. 422 Community Hub Café in Manchester
Drop in for lunch, a coffee and meet the Pure Innovations team who staff the kitchen at 422 Community Hub Café. Offering hot drinks, classic café food and even a cooked breakfast. Located on Stockport Road at the Community Hub.
Pure Innovations support people facing challenges due to learning disabilities, autism or mental health related challenges. Clients of Pure Innovations are able to develop new, essential skills, whilst also gaining independence, raising aspirations, increasing confidence and ultimately improving their health and well-being.
6. Station South in Levenshulme
Station South is a destination cycle café, bar, bike workshop and urban garden based in Levenshulme, Manchester. A place to meet, eat, drink and dance. A space to share, grow, fix and ride. A community hangout geared up for good food, good brews and good times. Enjoy the views over the Fallowfield Loop and admire the grandeur of the Station Hall.
Station South also is home to organisations and neighbours shaping their own community, from cycling to gardening, corporate events and community outreach.
7. Levenshulme Inspire in Manchester
Levenshulme Inspire is a community-led organisation which brings together people from many backgrounds to transform our area through community activity, creativity, enterprise and fun. Fancy lunch, brunch or a coffee and cake with friends? Come to the welcoming, friendly Inspire Café in Levenshulme Inspire, where they serve excellent barista coffees, freshly made soups, sandwiches, meals and daily specials.
It's a place where people can meet, learn, work and have fun, a place where people can be inspired and supported to turn their dreams into reality. The café runs a pay it forward scheme, so anyone who needs a meal can have one, thanks to the community.
8. Home Community Café in Didsbury
Nicely nestled beside the Library on Barlow Moor Road and Emmanuel Church is Home Community Café. Serving delicious, freshly prepared food and cakes, served by volunteers. Every penny made at the café goes towards local community activities, and is home to a number of different local groups and classes. The menu is mainly vegetarian and includes main dishes, snacks and cakes (many are suitable for vegans) and delicious drinks too as well as a special menu for kids.
In addition to the main café they have a separate space, the ‘Living room’, which you can hire for your own Group to meet or a private event. Offering the space free of charge to not for profit groups who aim to make the community stronger and bring people together.
9. The Giving Tree in Manchester
The Giving Tree is a cafe & community hub at the heart of South Manchester’s international community of students, professionals and visitors. Just on the edge of Manchester’s curry mile, The Giving Tree serve fresh coffee, homemade sandwiches and delicious selections of cakes and bakes.
The Giving Tree offer vocational courses and classes for the community, from English, Catonsese and Mandarin classes to barista and brewing training. Classes offered change each year, with different events announced all the time.
10. Back on Track Café in Manchester
Swan Kitchens is Back on Track’s in-house café, providing catering training in a commercial standard kitchen, plus vital work experience to people facing barriers to employment. Their team of volunteers run the cafe day to day, cooking and serving customers. For those who want to explore a career in catering there is the opportunity to gain qualifications in areas like food safety.
Swan Kitchens reduces food waste by working with Fareshare, which distributes surplus food from supermarkets. It also uses ethical and sustainable products for its healthy and delicious meals it serves each day.
For more wellness content, head over to our Visit Manchester Well page.
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