Manchester Half Marathon 2022: where to eat and drink near the finish line

The Manchester Half Marathon is taking place on 9 October, which means thousands of runners will be in the city centre looking to rest and recharge after the 13-mile race.

It starts and finishes near Talbot Road, just outside the city centre. While there are not many restaurant and cafe options in the immediate area, Trafford Bar Metrolink is a short 10-minute walk away from the bag drop-off point, so it should not take too much longer to find somewhere to eat, drink and relax after the run.

Whether you’re a runner or a spectator, here are our recommendations of places to check out next Sunday.

City Centre

First Street

Just two stops from Trafford Bar metrolink heading towards the centre, you will get to Deansgate/Castlefield.

First Street, which is right in front of the metro stop, is home to several food and drink spots. One of those is the arts centre HOME, which has food and drink available on all three floors. They have burgers, posh kebabs, pizzas and salads available in the restaurant and bar, as well as a cafe menu of hot drinks and cakes. There’s a bar for anyone wanting to relax with a well-earned pint.

Gasworks is another First Street bar and restaurant where you can enjoy a pint after the race. Their food menu includes classic pub food, including burgers, sandwiches and lighter snacks.

You will also find some of the favourite franchises there, including Pizza Express and Starbucks.

Deansgate

If you’re willing to venture slightly further into town, Deansgate is lined with food and drink options. A particularly good spot to head for is the Great Northern Warehouse, which as well as a cinema, bowling alley and axe throwing, has a wide variety of restaurants to suit all appetites and tastes.

For lighter snacks and sweet treats, there’s Alex’s Bakery, which serves cakes, cupcakes, brownies and croissants, as well as savouries like paninis and quiches. You can also try Polish restaurant Platzki, which opens at 1pm, or Almost Famous, a burger joint known for its extravagant burgers and fast food.

Salford Quays

MediaCity

Trams from Trafford Bar also head towards Salford Quays and Media City, which are about 30 minutes’ walking distance from the finish line – if your legs can still handle it.

Media City is a hotspot for restaurants and cafes and perfect if you fancy resting your legs by the waterside or in the Blue Peter Garden.

The Dockyard pub is one of the most popular spots there. Its menu includes burgers, flatbreads, salads and other smaller snack items like ciabatta and hummus. It specialises in craft ale, but also serves hot drinks if a cuppa is what you need after the run.

Plenty of familiar franchises have locations here as well, including Wagamama, Prezzo and Pret a Manger.

The Lowry

Just a short walk away at the Quayside mall, there is a whole range of well-known food chains, such as Nandos, Pizza Express, Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge. The food court inside the mall also has plenty of fast food options if you really fancy treating yourself after all that exercise, such as classic fish and chips from Harry Ramsdens and Burger King.

If you are looking for something a bit more cultured, you can head over the road to the Lowry Theatre’s Tower Coffee Shop that sells cakes, pies, pasties, hot drinks and sandwiches.

Football fans can also head towards Hotel Football by Old Trafford. Its restaurant has a full menu of pizzas, burgers and salads, as well as an afternoon tea menu and breakfast menu –  depending on how quickly you finish the race.  It has offered discounts to half marathon runners in the past, so keep an eye out for this year’s deals.