Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 19/06/2026 20:29:00

Billed as Manchester's first lager house, the Trading Route is a European-style beer hall and rotisserie kitchen on Goods Yard Street in the city's St John's neighbourhood. A collaboration between Manchester Union Brewery, the long-running Northern Quarter operator Trof and the Monton deli-bar Wandering Palate, it pairs fresh lager with rotisserie-cooked chicken in a large, contemporary space that opens onto the bustling streets outside. Beer is at the heart of the offering, drawing inspiration from the great beer halls of central Europe. Two taps pour Manchester Union Lager and Manchester Union Black Lager, served in specially designed tubinger glasses with a deliberately prominent foam head, and guests can ask for a mix of both should the mood take them. The focus on a small, well-made range reflects the brewery's close involvement in the venue. Food runs alongside the drinks, built around rotisserie-roasted chicken and an all-day menu served until the evening. A Wandering Palate provisions counter sits by the door, stocked with carefully sourced wines, craft beers, artisan cheeses, charcuterie, specialist coffee and other deli goods that change with the seasons, adding a shop-like dimension and inviting customers to browse as well as dine. The setting reflects the wider regeneration of St John's, a former industrial district by the River Irwell and the railways that once connected the city's industry to the wider world and is now home to leading cultural institutions and leisure destinations. The venue itself is a roomy, retro-styled space that can host around 120 seated or 175 standing guests, with full venue hire offering private bars, music control and the freedom to decorate. By combining a distinctive lager-house concept, rotisserie food and a provisions counter under one roof, the Trading Route offers a relaxed all-day destination in a fast-changing part of central Manchester. Open from late morning until late every day, its blend of beer hall, kitchen and deli gives it a character that sets it apart from the city's more conventional bars.