Drinking Outdoors in Manchester: A Guide
Looking to make the most of the lesser-spotted Manchester sun? Here’s The Skinny’s guide to buying some booze and blending in at five of Manchester’s green spaces this summer.
Heaton Park
Sited in north Manchester, nestled between Prestwich and Higher Blackley, Heaton Park is Manchester’s largest park by some margin. The well-mannered pleasures of its boating lake and golf course contrast with its annual hosting of Parklife every June, when thousands of local revellers pile in to get tanked up and dance to bands they heard on BBC Radio 1.
Where to buy alcohol
There are six different entrances to Heaton Park but acquiring alcohol near some of them is tricky. Plan ahead!
Smithy Lodge and Middleton Road entrance: Probably the most bountiful option with a Sainsbury’s and Netto just tucked away down Heaton Park Road West. You might fit in at Fairways Cafe and Bar inside the park if you wear one of those diamond golf jumpers (please don’t).
St Margaret’s Lodge and Station Gate entrance: Station Gate entrance is the most accessible from the city with the Heaton Park tram stop just opposite, but pubs aside, Bury New Road’s booze options are scarce. The best bet is the Best Saver off-licence (365 Bury Old Rd).
Grand Lodge entrance and Sheepfoot Lane entrance: Naff all here unless you fancy eating at the nearby Beefeaters beforehand. You’re better off heading up Middleton Road.
Going to the toilet
Heaton Park has two toilets near the Stables and the Boating Lake in the centre of the Park for all of your urinary needs.
What to do when you’re there
You could take a frisbee and a football, or lie gently blottoed on the grass in the afternoon sun. We recommend hiring a rowing boat on the boating lake with three of your mates between 12pm and 4. For £8.50 you too can fulfill your dream of being a drunken sea captain, at least for forty-five minutes.
Drink of choice
A refreshing bottle of white wine to go with your picnic.
Local knowledge
The park includes the grounds of a Grade I-listed 18th Century country house, Heaton Hall; a timely reminder that you’ll probably never own a house.
Piccadilly Gardens
If you like your afternoon drinking accompanied by blaring beatbox music, street preachers with megaphones and dozens of pigeons scavenging around your feet, Piccadilly Gardens is the place for you! Yes, it's pretty disappointing but these few patches of grass are the closest thing Manchester city centre has to a green space.
Where to buy alcohol
There are two main places: Morrisons just at the bottom of Oldham Street or Spar on the other side of the bus terminal, with a few other off-licences dotted along Piccadilly.
Going to the toilet:
Burger King at the top of Mosley Street are lax at letting people use their facilities for a free wazz, but we didn’t tell you that. This is the level of classiness you’re considering here.
What to do when you're there
You can pick up some decent street food from the food market close by on Piccadilly, or just enjoy realising how much you dislike most of your fellow humanity.
Drink of choice
One of those three litre bottles of White Lightning. What else?
Local knowledge
Back in the 1950s, Piccadilly Gardens used to have actual flowers. Imagine!
Hulme Park
Hulme Park was the first large scale new park to be built in Manchester for 50 years when it opened in the mid-1990s, making it a more modern choice. Great if you want the gritty city centre experience without the Piccadilly bustle.
Where to buy alcohol
Sunny’s Food and Wine Store is handily placed just at the entrance to the park on Stretford Road for your reasonably-priced plonk.
Where to go to the toilet
St Wilfrid’s Enterprise Centre is a renovated church on Royce Road that has no problem with letting people in. They’re open until dusk.
What to do when you're there
There’s plenty of space to chuck an egg around, along with a BMX and skate park if you want to relive those glory days when you could kickflip as well as Tony Hawk… On the Playstation.
Drink of choice
A six-pack of weak American beer like Budweiser. Woooo! Sports!
Local knowledge
Teatime Collective (next to St Winifrid’s) is a great little vegetarian and vegan cafe and ice cream parlour for when you’re done working up a sweat in the sun.
Whitworth Park
Hop onto the Magic Bus down Oxford Road and you’ll eventually reach Whitworth Park, location of the beautifully refurbished Whitworth Art Gallery. Right in the middle of the University of Manchester’s student corridor, you’ll fit right in with the revellers celebrating the end of exams or the families on an arts kick.
Where to buy alcohol
Those reliable big names Tesco and Lidl are on Oxford Road just opposite the park. If you’re after a more distinctive tipple you can try your luck down the Curry Mile.
Going to the toilet
Whitworth Art Gallery, of course! The museum is open every day until 5pm (9pm on Thursdays) if you're in need of a cultural experience.
What to do when you’re there
Apart from the previously mentioned art gallery, there are tire swings in the adventure play area, an outdoor gym and a statue of Edward VII to bow to if you get nostalgic while tipsy.
Drink of choice
Something classy but not too classy: Kopparberg or summat.
Local knowledge
The Edward VII statue commemorates the royal visit when Manchester Royal Infirmary was opened in 1909. Maybe the park will commemorate your visit one day.
Alexandra Park
If you’re a suburban south Manchester type, Alexandra Park is a practical choice. A leafy 60 acre park located in Whalley Range between Moss Side and Chorlton, its initial purpose was to “deter the working men of Manchester from the alehouses on their day off.” You’ll show them.
Where to buy alcohol
There are a few off-licences along Alexandra Road. If you’re coming from Chorlton, Tiny’s Tipple (510 Wilbraham Rd) is a great independent retailer you can stock up from before getting the 85 bus.
Where to go to the toilet
The Pavilion has some public toilets which are open until 4.30pm, 5.30pm at weekends.
What to do when you’re there
This is a more traditionally sporting park with football and cricket pitches and four tennis courts. Play one before settling down for a well deserved drink.
Drink of choice
A strong brown ale to show the park’s founders what’s what.
Local knowledge
Alexandra Park is the site of the annual Caribbean Carnival of Manchester, which takes place this year on 13 and 14 August. Psych yourself up by listening to this.