Via Manchester

Formerly Via Fossa, generally know as just ‘Via’, this is probably the most long-standing go-to bar on the main strip of Canal Street.

It has a traditional pub style and an accepting vibe; it’s somewhere you can go by yourself without feeling judged. It’s deceptively large once you get inside with rabbit-warren type stairways leading to quieter seating areas around the balcony and dance floor in the basement.

The bar and kitchen tends to be busy but efficient. Via is a good option for modern-day crowd-pleasers such as stone-baked pizzas, crafted burgers, nachos, sharing plates, brunch dishes and so on.

It has a premium spot for sitting outside so grab a table early on if you want to chill by the canal for the afternoon. In the evenings, you can catch cabaret shows featuring some of the North’s leading drag queens. There’s live acts on most nights from 10pm.