Nice vibe, polite staff, helpful and friendly. For such a large venue it’s still intimate. Chose to sit in the bar in the orangery bit. I hadn’t been in here since the palace hotel. It certainly has the bones of the old place but feels contemporary. Lovely cocktail try a queens peach ! The coffee was good abs food was perfectly fine too. This place was a strong all rounder.

Delicious! A very nice variety of food selection, a lot of vegan and vegetarian options as well. The wait staff are perfectly attentive without being overbearing (ask for Becky!!)The billfold for the check was the best one I have ever seen, i had to get pictures of it! A definite place to return to

A pretty place for good food and drink. Friendly staff. Sharing plates menu, but everything was delicious. We went for drinks and dinner on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings. There was a DJ on Thursday evening at the bar area, so it’s a little loud near the bar, but not too loud at the dining room.

Aesthetically pleasing place to visit. Great food, lovely staff. We always enjoy the Sunday roast when we visit here.

Beautiful food, beautiful surroundings, lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Simply one Manchesters best places. Full stop. Amazing decor and character, great food and DJs and events, run by people that know what a good night is. I could come here every week.

Would have got five stars, but our room was next to the railway station so it was noisy. Room was lovely, good breakfast and lively bar, would definitely stay again but not in the same room.

Lovely restaurant, we ate in the volta, and enjoyed a really great selection of food the staff are pleasant and explained about the menu and food choices very well .this is a beautiful building steeped in history with a eating area outside as well as many inside with a hotel above .I can highly recommend this lovely place .

The grand design makes up for a sometimes understaffed and undermotivated venue. You would think the poshness of it all would guarantee a great service, but for an hour no one was picking up glasses, bar staff seems depressed. Bottle shelves not stocked to the max behind the bar (first rule of bar management?!) That being said everyone was friendly enough and the drinks were good.

Amazing setting in beautiful big hall.Nice food but nothing that special. Flatbread and black garlic dip were the most tasty, the dip actually really yummy. Gypsy pie was super sweet, and the contrast between a rock-hard crust and the almost runny center was quite big. Staff was really friendly and sweet, allthough maybe they were serving too many tables as waiting times were quite long.Music was good, but really really loud, as it was echoying around very sharply in the big hall, making having a conversation almost impossible.

Perfect spot to have drinks and food in trendy Manchester. Art deco style.

I had coffee two mornings in a row. Very attentive service. The bar attendant on Friday 23rd July in the morning shift us very caring and nice. I did not get his name but he was a great employee for this restaurant. The restaurant itself it Instagram quality. Not to be missed even if you just come for a cup of coffee. During evening there are bouncers by the door, some may find it intimidating. But that also means the status of the place. Give it a try yourself and share sone pictures on your social platform, you will feel the elevation (I am half joking, of course).

The building is so beautiful but the service is very poor. We went and it was really quiet, and waited over 25 minutes to get served. Still no service so we left 🙁

An interesting concept, be ready for everything to be a sharing plate, but the food is tasty. But the venue is loud so not good for an intimate evening, we went on a friday. Was disappointed to discover the cutlery was dirty. The service was slow too.

Thanks so much to the team for making our anniversary stay so special, from the cocktails, to evening food, breakfast and Sunday Roast all high quality, great atmosphere and a superb team who were so attentive and friendly

Stopped by to have a quick drink, did a tour of the Hotel a few months ago and thought why not try this place out for an afternoon tipple.Good relaxed atmosphere in elegant surroundings, mostly groups meeting when we went.Would recommend this place for a quiet drink mid afternoon.A lot busier at weekends though.

Dropped in for a couple of drinks. A totally unique experience, ambience and relaxing.Had a couple of nice gins in a classy setting.

Superb staff constantly smiling and engaging, food was really tasty. Whats not to like

Fantastic food..... Dont eat all day and save yourself.

A beautiful building with lots of character.I’ve visited two times now, once for afternoon tea and once for a bite to eat in the bar area.Afternoon tea was beautiful, with a big selection of sweets which were all delicious. You also get to enjoy this in the winter garden which is a bit like a giant greenhouse with a black & white patterned tiled floor.The food in the bar area was great for sharing and a bonus that it is a dog friendly venue!The service was quite slow both times, but the staff are always pleasant. A few more check backs from the staff and it would be 5 stars!

Unexpected disaster! Noisy like a pub, expensive like a real posh restaurant, disastrous serving, very salty and oily food! Strongly recommend to avoid this place!The place itself looks nice, the hotel has a nice history, but the high ceilings make the restaurant very noisy. You cannot ask 40£ for a beef steak if you even won’t put a tablecloth on.The menu comes on a piece of paper A4. No one from staff wore appropriate clothes, no white ironed shirts and black trousers, just some oversized apron wrapped around.The eldest waiter who served us was maximum 19 years old. It’s very difficult to be skilled enough to reach the requirements of a 4 stars hotel at 18 years old. We waited 20 minutes for some drinks and, in the end, the staff brought twice the amount we ordered.But food was the worst, compared with location, service. The 40£ steak was white, all covered in salt. The cured salmon can’t be classified as dish, maybe just a starter, the portion is around 100 grams. Broccoli were covered in grease or oily.Food was a disaster!

Great space, but takes ages getting served a drink, even when it’s not busy. The guy at the end of the bar seemed happy to just polish glasses all night, regardless of customers waiting.

We had an overnight stay booked in the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, and made a booking for dinner at The Refuge due to our package containing dinner credit. We initially had a drink in the bar, where the service was slow and disappointing, but luckily, when we went through to the restaurant, things massively improved. Our waitress was very friendly, and explained the menu concept. Essentially, it’s sharing plates similar to tapas, with a few larger and more expensive dishes for those who wanted it.We ordered an assortment of delicious sounding dishes, and after a short wait, the first dishes started to arrive. The first to the table were the chicken wings which were the best I have ever had, along with the lamb flat bread, which was equally tasty. Some of the other stand out dishes included the incredibly tender ox cheek, the delicious lamb shawarma and an array of vegetable side dishes which were all on point.We just about had room for dessert, which were very tasty, but slightly paled in comparison to the stunning mains. The flavours were out of this world, and I would highly recommend an evening at The Refuge!

Lovely surroundings, great food and cocktails....

This place is one of the best too chill and relax. Oh and on Sunday you gotta try the roast share platter its divine. Heck the food is always amazing here. Love relaxing here with a nice cold coke 👍

Terrible service - after advertising that they cater for walk ins we arrived to find the place was empty. We stood waiting at the entrance whilst various staff walked past us as if we were invisible. Eventually a lady approached us and asked if we had a reservation. When we replied no she said they were fully booked- despite only 2 or 3 tables being occupied and despite advertising that they accept walk ins. We drove 30 miles to come here my advice -Dont bother

Small plates with good options for both vegetarians and omnivores. Plates arrive when they are ready which usually isnt an issue, though we had a particularly long wait of about 20 minutes.

Walked passed this place a number of times but never stepped in. Quality cocktails and a great start to a wonderful day. Reasonably priced and the staff are bob on.

This was so perfect!Staff were the best and friendlyDog friendly too which is a massive bonus 💕Shame it wasnt wheelchair friendly with the massive steps into the building because the restaurant is massive instead.Really well decorated and food was incredible.No tables were cramped together giving everyone space and privacy.

Stunning decor. Great atmosphere for come as you are.

Nice food & nice vibesReally loved their Sunday roast - think it was so far the best i’ve had - was worth the long wait (cos it was just so hard to reserve lol)

Lovely room and great atmosphere. Music was great but gin was a bit steep but well worth a visit.

Great vibe with good music and a good selection of beers. Food is very good. Service from the hosts at the door and in the restaurant was excellent, but the barmen could cheer up a bit

Wonderful place with amazing original features, I was on my own and it was an evening so I didn’t feel comfortable enough to have a drink. I took some photos and then left quickly but I’d love to go back as it’s so beautiful. Probably best in a group in the evenings as it’s so busy but I think it might be quieter during the day.

DO NOT USE THIS RESTAURANT. I emailed them to ask if they were wheelchair accessible - no reply. The Midland replied straight away, so the Midland gets my business.

Very attentive and friendly staff. The most comfy couches too!!

What a place! Really glad we stumbled in here, just noticed it while passing. Amazing architecture and design - obviously. But also really good beer and tapas style food, including plenty of vegan options.

Despicable place. We were kick out from the table because they were setting breakfast at 2300. No idea about whisky, the menu doesnt represent what they really have. Service was so rude. Nice facilities but disappointing service.

We had the gorgeous Sunday roast platter for 2 and a few cocktails on a Sunday evening. We loved the ambiance and my husband who is into his music was very impressed with the music they were playing. Would recommend!

Really quite incredible interior! Excellent place to grab a drink with an amazing restaurant serving a well thought out and interesting selection of dishes. Service was excellent plus the resterant / hotel staff are really friendly and attentive. Highly recommended!

Dog friendly.Our favourite place in Manchester, we would give it 6 stars if we could.Absolutely outstanding building, experience and service here, such a class joint.Biggest roast dinner I’ve ever seen, beef was very fatty though, also they need to give out sharper steak type knives as their knives are useless for cutting meat.Apart from that, a faultless experience.Will be sampling a stay at the attached hotel next time we stay in Manchester too.

1.Brave the queue for your drink.2.Find a seat.3.Drink said drink.4.Look at the queue for your next drink.5.Leave.Recommend if you enjoy a good queue...

Very nice space with excellent food and a good choice of classic cocktails

There is something that strikes your soul when you enter buildings like this. Almost Cathedral like in its splendour. The various owners of the Assurance building have thankfully preserved this Victorian architecture and given it new purpose. Sunday Lunch was fantastic and the Manchester Union beer perfect accompaniment. We had the different meat options and were far from disappointed. Beef was superb. Veg was cooked perfectly too. Not the cheapest meal in town but the surroundings justify the extra. Staff were very friendly and attentive (thanks Tom). You cant lose based on this experience.

Super cool hotel with all the feel of industrial era Manchester. Big room, lots of marble, tiling and mahogany. Great service and feed. Will be back.

Excellent food, wine and cocktails. Refuge is so totally consistent in its excellence. Very enjoyable.

This has to be my favourite bar in the UK. Beautiful old building thats been refurbished. Not had food here but nice atmosphere

The best Sunday lunch I have ever had. The Vimto braised red cabbage was a nice Mancunian touch and was delicious. Service was great and the decor is history and stunning. A great evening.

What a lovely place! The food was delicious and so was the drinks. Lovely cocktails and wine. The service was impeccable too. We will definitely be back 👍

Well be staying at the hotel despite living in Manchester asI have to use my points. But the restaurant is staffed by incredibly ditsy dopey cheap unprofessional student staff. The 55 year old DJ tried hard to play some decent music.Chicken wings with caramelized sugar around them were interesting 😳Im sorry to say that this venue is all about a has-been reputation because the reality lets it down - very very down.

First visit ever and slightly disappointed.Friday night, been a nice day weather wise, so plenty of people out and about looking for a nice cold beer.So having to queue for over 15 minutes to reach the bar is a tad excessive.Why there was only 4 barstaff on (one who was less experienced or a trainee).On the plus side, the DJ was blasting out some classics.

Lovely decor, good service and fab if you want a drink in laid back surroundings.

Beautifully ornate location. Lovely middle Eastern inspired food in relaxed settings

House lager was off so had to buy bottled Peroni at £5 a bottle!!! Then the wine we ordered wasnt in stock either. Pretty average experience but building is beautiful so nice surroundings to drink your £5 bottle of beer at least.

Excellent staff, food, atmosphere.I didnt expect the food to be this good.

Great bar, stunning venue and great atmosphere. The only disappointment was the slow service at the bar, the barstaff not very friendly and were not good at making note of who was next to be served.

We enjoyed a weekday lunch at this beautiful restaurant while Christmas shopping in Manchester. I was very pleased with the variety of vegetarian options and everything we tried was prefect. The service was excellent and prices very reasonable.

Quick service. Great atmosphere. Not too crowded, we got a seat upon arrival at 5pm

Beautiful building, very well appointed, with disabled access.Food very good and staff most attentive.Would reccomend to all.

Amazing place!! Incredible food. Cannot recommend highly enough. Go on a Sunday for the best roast dinner youll ever have!

Fantastic meal. Each dish was very tasty and a little bit different to what we have had before. Beautiful atmosphere and building.

Very nice place, and very busy when we last went. Good place for drinks, but very limited for food (there is a restaurant but bookings were required for that)

Honestly couldnt fault our experience at the Refuge. Loads of vegan food, amazing service and such a beautiful venue.

Love love love everything about the Refuge. The food is fantastic, drinks are reasonably priced and the staff are fantastic 👏 😀

Ok but some of the food quite disappointing. Chicken wings bizarrely tasted only of fish, beetroot pakora not flavoursome and didnt work, flatbreads served cold, chicken leg would have been delicious if it had been warmer. However lovely setting, good music and friendly attentive staff. Wouldnt bother with the food but recommend for drinks.

Great food but unfortunately the lack of staff meant slow service

The best sunday roast dinner in Manchester. Ever.Beautiful setting, food and service absolutely love this place. Cant recommend highly enough.

Fantastic ace. Staff are so kind and helpful. Well worth a visit!

Amazing place! Staff so professional & friendly! Will definitely go back !!

Great architecture and design, peaceful stuff and delicious food.

Such a shame, great venue, security staff friendly, approachable and helpful but the wait at the bar is dreadful, not enough people working behind bar. Would like to have given a better rating

Beautiful building, lovely beer and a. Great post lockdown attitude.

Beautiful building with pretty illuminated garden. Had the Sunday roast for 2 which was plentiful and delicious. A little pricey but worth treating yourself to the ambience. Would recommend for a cosy date with a loved one.

Gorgeous outdoor area with a cover so perfect it the weather isn’t great.Staff are all super friendly and attentive.We had a few small plates which were very tasty and arrived quickly.Only downfall was the lukewarm latte but I would go back.

Really great food and good music! Only downside was we were sat at the back of the outdoor area without much heat so had to eat wrapped in blankets. Otherwise was lovely - will definitely be visiting again when indoor seating is open!

I love this place. Great food & atmosphere. A real gem.

Went for food and drinks about 8pm on Sunday. Staff were pleasant, helpful and attentive. Chose the Sunday roast and loved it. Would have preferred more beef and less broccoli but im just trying to be picky.

Fabulous lunch, in an amazing building, what isnt there to like!!!

Beautiful building. The food is excellent with big portions. Really good service. Staff are friendly and professional.

Great variety of dishes and good wine list in a wonderful building.Great bar area.

My fav place in the city centre. The best

Nice bar, great ambience, good drinks, would go again

This was a special treat and our first meal out since the pandemic began. The service was first class, everyone was very attentive and covid safe and the ambience in the courtyard was lovely.The food was hot and delicious, a real treat. And despite the obvious measures such as masks and enhanced cleaning it felt like a “normal” night out. Thank you.

My favourite bar in Manchester. Incredible food, one of a kind setting, and brilliant service. Would absolutely recommend the Sunday roasts!

Fantastic Sunday roast! I read an article about this place having a great roast and it didnt disappoint. Everything I ordered tasted amazing. There was a wait for a table when I arrived which I was fine with. They have a nice bar attached and I got to try some nice local craft beers. I would recommend booking if you have a large group or are short of time. The atmosphere was very casual and chatty. I would same it felt more like a student or adult gathering place than family place with kids. Which I am more than happy with. Great staff and great food.

A beautiful bar and restaurant. We came here for food before the theatre and were not disappointed. We ordered about 2-3 of the voltini plates each which was more than enough and we didnt finish it all. My friend is a coeliac and so cant eat gluten. The waitress brought out a flip book with which of the dishes were gluten free or could be made gluten free which was really helpful.Its a bit on the expensive side but its worth it for the setting and the food.

Security really friendly and helpful. Beautiful building and fabulous pop ups serving great food. Lovely afternoon

The decor was great and it looked like a nice place, but the service was extremely slow and the food was underwhelming. On the upside there were plenty of vegan options for the vegans in our party.

Absolutely loved my night here. Very attentive and lovely staff working there. Nice environment. Look forward to visiting again.

Wasn’t staying in the hotel but booked for breakfast one morning. They couldn’t guarantee a booking as hotel guests would have to be prioritised first. Luckily, we came super early before 9am and we were able to get a lovely table. Think it was £16 for all you could breakfast. Fantastic choice of hot options and an extensive pastry section. Staff and service was excellent.

Had such a lovely experience here. The food and drinks were amazing and the staff were so friendly! Our waitress Nilanee (sorry if I butchered the spelling!) was amazing! She was so friendly and attentive all night. Will definitely be coming back!

Genuinely fantastic food, and the service is just as good too! Such a friendly bunch with brilliant sharing plates. Check the prices before you go!

Great Ambience

One of my favourite places in Manchester. New Vegan options are excellent too. Great for drinks too!

Such a nice place great food great service, not the cheapest but great quality. Fully recomend a visit

One of the best meals out Ive ever experienced and certainly the best roast dinner. Excellent service and fresh produce beautifully prepared. Thank you.

Cracking spot just a 10/15 min walk from Manchester Piccadilly & a few mins over to the canal. Huge beautiful bar at the front & a nice dining room at the back. Strongly recommend grabbing a few drinks to relax on a Saturday/Sunday afternoon & then enjoy some food

Delicious food in a fantastic setting. The building used to be an old assurance company, and theyve kept most of the interior intact, which makes for a stunning dining room.All of the food we had was incredible - we just asked the chef to bring a selection and it didnt disappoint at all.I really recommend the Keralan fish curry and the chickpea dhal.Service was great - definitely looking forward to coming back here again.

Lovely place, food choices are interesting but nice place to go for occasions

Absolutely love this place because its just so beautiful! Love the original decor. Its spacious (high ceilings, loads of floor space), airy and cosy. Theres a nice relaxed vibe here. Dont think theres a strict dress code but most were casual or smart casual. Drinks were okay. In the evenings, it can get busy and noisy but in the afternoons its a nice place to chat and socialize. Definitely do stop for the ambiance and view. And whilst youre here, definitely go next door to the hotel section and admire the #architecture there as well. Useful #tip: head on up the staircase and have a wee wonder around the rooms and corridors. There are some nice shots to take if youre a keen #photographer