The Blues Kitchen Manchester

What it’s like

A restaurant with live music where kids can eat with you, but the bar and stage areas are strictly over-18s.

This one's a bit of a puzzle for a family day out, and it's worth knowing the rules before you turn up. Under-18s can only be in the restaurant, and only if they're sitting down eating with an adult. Sunday to Thursday that's fine any time they're open, but on Friday and Saturday it cuts off at 6pm, after which it's adults only across the whole venue.

So this isn't somewhere you wander into for the live music with the kids in tow. It's a meal out that happens to have a blues and soul venue attached, and the bar, club and stage side areas are off limits to under-18s completely. If you fancy a weekend evening here, you're looking at an early dinner before six, then sorting other plans for later.

Opening hours stretch late, especially Friday and Saturday when it runs to 3am, but that's really telling you this is built for a grown-up night out rather than a family one. Anyone who looks under 25 will get asked for ID, a passport, national ID or driving licence, so don't expect to bluff it if you're borderline.

The venue is wheelchair accessible, and they ask that you email or call ahead if you have specific requirements. Given how tightly the family window is defined, that early dinner slot on a weekday probably makes more sense than trying to squeeze one in on a Saturday.

Need to know

Wheelchairs

Wheelchair accessible. Contact in advance for special requirements

• Weekday evenings give you more time as a family than Friday or Saturday, when the 6pm cutoff applies
• The bar, club and stage areas are always over-18s, whatever the day
• Borderline on age? Bring a passport, national ID or driving licence
• Contact ahead of your visit if you need specific accessibility arrangements

Plan your visit

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