The Pen and Pencil in Manchester

Stopped for a coffee during a bike ride great service.

Really good place for lunch and drinks!

Great little place. LOVELY steak - cooked to perfection - and frites with good pinot noir rose. Service really great, attentive but not intrusive, and general vibe really chill and a bit niche. Shame couldn’t have the Philly cheese steak past lunchtime but the sirloin more than made up for it.

As a tourist coming to the UK I love having some good ‘pub food’. But last night the all pubs seemed either closed or fully booked for food?! I ended up in the Pen And Pencil. To my luck I should say. The staff was so friendly, even the chef came to advice me on their new menu. And the steak I ended up taking was buttery soft! Thank you guys for turning the night into a pleasure. Btw Chris Stapleton was awesome! ;)

Family party staff were excellent great venue and location

Stopped by briefly, nice place, but without TV screens. We didn't buy anything there, but it looked like a very nice place.

Lovely staff and great location

👍 50% off food offer on Monday is wonderful (need to book in advance)/cocktails are very nice, "happy hour" makes it even better/ staff very friendly 👎the small dining area gets quite smokey due to the kitchen extractor fan is near/ beef quality in the cheesesteak we ordered was not good, very gristly/ a bit mouldy on the brioche bread.

I was a little worried that the reviews I’d read about this place would be true for our visit, my friend booked the bottomless brunch as a birthday treat for me and we were not disappointed. The food was yummy, sausages on the burrito a little burnt but still delicious, steak was incredible, the special cocktail was delicious, the only thing that wasn’t great were the pancakes were a little bland and could’ve been fluffier but I’m just being picky now. The waitresses and waiters were brilliant the service was fast, we had 4 drinks within the first 40 minutes of being there and definitely had at least 13 rounds. The staff kept coming over and asking if we would like to order another drink I’d definitely go back. They were also really accommodating to my preference of no eggs I don’t have an allergy I just can’t eat them and they were happy enough to make sure they weren’t served on the plate. Can’t fault them really was a great experience.

The best breakfast in town! The staff very are welcoming, the food is presented well and tastes delicious. This is a hidden gem and I would highly recommend it.

Buttermilk chicken burger was very tasty, staff incredibly friendly and welcoming. Not a huge place but very intimate and had a great vibe

Awful food. Burnt and overcooked. Poached eggs were way overcooked and tasted like vinegar. Bacon was like cardboard. Sausages burnt. Tomato was cheap and rats. Get to Ezra and Gill or feel good for a decent breakfast. This is not the one.

Had the breakfast burrito, and it was the best breakfast I’ve ever had, highly recommend

Food was nice but expensive for how much you're given. The service time was a joke, over an hour for brunch

Cocktails in this place are insane! (Though time consuming to make) Book a table (but be aware there's a time limit on your booking! We hadn't realised and were annoyed when they moved us on as we were ready to settle in for the night!)

Blandest food I’ve ever eaten, cold. Pretty poor service all round.

The food was nice and the staff were lovely. The Philly Cheesesteak and Sweet Potatoes were very very nice along with the Pen Spritzer. The Buttermilk Chicken Burger was ok.

Really attentive staff, food was purely delicious.

Had a lovely early evening meal there whilst on a short holiday with my wife. Food was lovely, beef chili was delicious with a nice after bite. Beer and service were great. Our hostess was warm and friendly. All round a nice experience.

80p for a shot of syrup are you guys alright?

Had a great night in here before Liam Gallagher.

Bottomless brunch was meh. Compared to other bottomless brunches the drinks were slow. There was only one person on the bar so no hate to them as they seemed so busy and doing their best. I was expecting the food to be tasty but it was bland and also slow. Luckily we had the old price of £45 but now it’s £50 per person which is steeper than other places. We ended up leaving early cause it wasn’t worth waiting for drinks and was pretty uncomfortable on a high table (it’s nice to know these things in advance). Service team were lovely and I don’t think they themselves could’ve done better given it was busy. The low service rating is for how slow everything was.

Went here for Bottomless brunch . The staff were ace. I really enjoyed myself. Food was amazing highly recommended. The only thing Id say is the drink is not as varied as other brunches but they did hit everybody’s pallet quite well.

Pre Liam Gallagher set with Clint boon. Blew the roof off. Banging boozer 🤩

First visit, seemed a decent venue, Boony DJing and Red Stripe on tap, are big plus points, price of a pint, not so much

We visited the Pen and Pencil on Friday 14.6.24. We arrived on time at 4.00 and were shown to our table by a very helpful member of staff who quickly took our drinks and food order.1 x Chilli 1 x Chicken Burger 2 x Philly Cheese Steak. We didn't see her again and presumed her shift had finished. While waiting for our food another couple sat on the next table and ordered their food and drinks, which arrived before ours and was returned to the kitchen and replaced due to being cold. We patiently waited nearly 45 minutes before we asked where our food was, only to be told we had got caught up in a busy period and we were next. Our food arrived at around 5.30 and the order was wrong. We had been sent 2 x Chicken Burgers and no Chilli. We explained this to the waitress who took 1 of the Chicken Burgers away and returned with the Chilli. We distributed the cutlery only to find we only had 3 sets and was unable to get the attention of a member of staff to request another set, having a Burger and Chips i was not too bothered and started to eat my food without. I picked up my Burger and the top of the bun crumbled apart and was not edible The chicken coating was that hard it crunched in my mouth when I tried to eat it and the chicken had no flavour and tasted of nothing. So I left this and decided just to eat the chips with some ketchup minor issue that there was not much in the bottle so I turned it upside down to get the sauce to the top to get it out. The chilli was just sauce in a bowl with no rice or chips and had no kidney beans in it so was just like a spicy bolognese sauce. 1 of the Philly Steaks had cheese on it and 1 did not and again both the buns were not edible and just crumbled if you tried to pick it up. We spoke to the manager and explained that we were not happy with the service and food that had been presented to us, he told us he would discount the bill for us. When the member of staff came to the table to take the payment he was very rude and a little sharp with us asking us to pay and throwing the card receipt onto the table and walking away without any acknowledgment. He then returned to remove the box which contained the condiments and realised the sauce had been left upside down and slammed the bottle back into the box, grabbed the box and struck the arm of one of our party and walked away with no acknowledgment or apology for what he had done. We left the restaurant a little disgruntled, but happy that we had not paid the full amount for the poor service and very poor food. We all agreed to send this message to the management team and wanted to praise the 1st member of staff that had taken our order only to be surprised to find that we had been charged for the Chicken Burger we had not ordered and returned. I don't normally post bad reviews I tend to vote with my feet and never return but this was so bad something needed to be said

great litte place, service was good and food was delicious.

Coffee and drinks were very good and the waitress was a credit to the place. So what went wrong you ask? Well the food sounds good on the menu but that’s where it ends. The sausages were nice and and the rest was ok. My wife had the breakfast and the beans were absolutely disgusting, mushrooms deep fried, tomato was supposed to be sumac but most certainly wasn’t. The portion size of the beans was shockingly small but as it was they were inedible. As for the chef he was so dirty he should not have left the kitchen in those whites. I have never seen whites so dirty and grubby and being a chef I would not leave the kitchen and let the customers see me like that, it just put us off completely. The wait for food was nearly an hour but we weren’t told of a wait time and it wasn’t that busy. All in all very disappointed as it was online in the top 13 brunch spots in Manchester.

Great service very friendly staff. Gorgeous food had brunch, loved the vibe of the place would defo return and recommend

I am a frequent customer at P+P and have a good rapport with the staff, as I also work in the hospitality industry. The staff consistently exceeds expectations, including the weekend doorman, with whom I enjoy conversing on my way home from work. The cocktails are consistently exceptional, and I often find myself captivated by the preparation process, which often leads me to purchase one or two. I'm always raving about your cocktails.

Waiting for half an hour for food with a party of 2 only for it to come out lukewarm. The food was nice enough, it just took far too long to appear and was cold when it did.

Great good, atmosphere & fantastic staff. X

Great pub quiz, but beer is very expensive for Manchester

Great Monday discounts, which led us to visit the restaurant. The sandwich bread is very tasty, it looks like homemade, super soft. Very tasty fries and burger, average but tasty milkshake too. Stylish atmosphere, it was just a little stuffy when we went. The service was very good, people were attentive.

Large selection of brunch, sandwich, and burger dishes. Friendly welcome and attentive staff.

We stopped off at The Pen and Pencil on the way home for a small drink and food and we really enjoyed it. We ordered the steak, eggs and hash brown for both of us and it came out in a timely manner and was cooked to our request. I recommend here for some food and drinks and the service is great. Thank you to Connor for his help and great service

We've been going to the P and P for a few months now usually on a Tuesday to take part in the quiz and we love it. The atmosphere is great, the quiz itself is by far one of the best we've been too, and the food/drinks are reasonably priced and always delish. BUT the best part for us personally is the lovely customer service we always get from Niall whose pleasant, takes time to say hi to our pooch (we own a very nervous dog and although she often barks at other people when they come over, Niall always comes over in a calm manner which is much appreciated and really helps her in such a busy environment) and really just brightens up the place, so a massive thank you to Niall! 😀 We look forward to going every month to the P and P and would defo reccomend you visit if you read this review 😀

Attended a private function with work. Made the most of happy hour together with a great atmosphere

We went on Monday for dinner but waited for food was 1 hour and 45 minutes as they had 50% off food. Good deal, but be aware of the wait

Great food, great drinks, amazing staff

was a cool bar but staff were a bit rude when myself and a friend went in for a drink and they told us all the tables were reserved, bar wasnt full and same tables were empty after we left, could have been better service!

Yes, this mural is still there 😁

Excellent vibes, good drinks, good music.

Fantastic food, William cooks a great steak . Great drinks - overall top service

Ultra delicious I loved this place

Top notch pub. Casual but also upscale if you want it to be ? Great cocktail choice - low key and perfect

Always have such a great time here. Niall is a great server !

Lovely food, good atmosphere, friendly staff. The 50% off on Monday’s offer was great, really affordable!

We had pastrami bagel, chicken burger and philly cheese steak between us. All the meals were fantastic. Mine could have been a bit warmer, but that's probably me. I like my food hot. No one else had any complaints 😁 Will definitely be visiting again. It's dog friendly too.

We really enjoy coming here great service staff are amazing. It loses one star as there are always so many fruit flies buzzing around the food and drinks on every visit we have had. Otherwise great

Stopped in here to kill time before heading to Man Picc. Ordered the P&P burger and a Biscoff shake. Burger didn't look up to much initially but tasted absolutely amazing. Chips were perfect as well. Service was brilliant by Alex. Atmosphere was decent as well.

I went at 20:50 for a quick dinner and they said kitchen was close, there were nowhere write it about what time kitchen was close. Such a shame

Hosted my birthday event in the private event space I had a wonderful time hosting my birthday party - the service, staff, food and ambience was just amazing! With no minimum spend on the bar, this was the best option in the city to host my birthday. We had 40 guests in total and it was a good enough space for this, for my guests to be seated and stand

What a great place. Called in for a couple of drinks and really enjoyed the vibe. Dj was good and the drinks were better. Great cocktails and brilliant staff.

Great find in Northern Quarter of the city. Lovely staff super friendly brunch was yummy

This place is great not only for the high quality food but for the staff who make the atmomsphere. Would love to thank all of the members of staff who made our night those being Sophie, Niall & Laura! Great location which is quintessential to your night out. Our group is eager to return.

Fantastic food, the veggie breakfast was great! Staff were really helpful too. Lots of veggie/vegan options and they have quite a few gluten free/vegan options for those with dietary requirements.

Absolutely fantastic! Booked a table of 20 for brunch the morning after a hen party. The food was so good! The service was excellent. Thanks so much!

Booked the function room for a leaving do get together. The place is lovely, food was delicious and the bar staff were amazing. Great atmosphere in the main bar area. Brilliant night had by all and would definitely recommend.

We made a last minute booking for three couples for lunch on Saturday afternoon (10th Feb) and couldn’t have had a better time. From the moment we walked in it felt lovely, the atmosphere was warm and relaxed. We ordered a variety of meals which were all delicious and the service by Nile was great. He was helpful and very attentive and made our time there fun. We would definitely return and I will recommend to my friends, thank you

Great brunch here, relaxed atmosphere, can book a table online! Drinks were all really nice and the food was good, the french toast in particular was delicious. Service from Niall and other staff members was fantastic, very friendly and grabbed some sausages and bowl of water for our dog. We’ll be back 👍

Came in for a last min brunch, there was no tables available but they happily let us sit at the end of the bar which was plenty of space. Food was great and Sophie was friendly and attentive. Would deffo come back

Food was 10/10 our server Sophie was lovely!

Happy hours deals are great! Very friendly staff members and lovely atmosphere

The worst service out of any restaurant we have been to in Manchester. Were given a wobbly table and when we asked if we could be moved, the waitress literally threw her hands up, snapped at us and walked away. Her poor colleague had to apologise to use for her behaviour (he was lovely at least). The food was absolutely disgusting, I would rather eat cardboard than come here again. My friends who I came with agreed and we didn’t end up finishing our food because it was so dry, tasteless and yet somehow soggy at the same time

In all honesty been and tried the bottomless 3 times and it’s gradually got worse every time and we will definitely not be returning ever again. Most of the food was left as the quality was very poor. Multiple items sent back for range of reasons, they can’t even cook a pancake which says it all. The attitude of the management team is also disposable. Multiple tables complaining as they are unable to provide a good level of service. It was for a friends birthday and we were left disappointed that we chose this venue, a mistake we definitely won’t be making again.

This place is so nice, Great staff especially our favourite server niale, nothing is too much trouble for him , and he always ensures his guests have the best experience in his lovely restaurant- Food 10 out of 10 Staff 10 Ambiance 10 Honestly I can’t fault the place , cocktails to die for !! And super super dog friendly ..

A group of 12 went for the bottomless brunch as it was for a friends birthday. This was my third visit and it’s fair to say it’s got worse each time and we will definitely not be returning. Dreadful in many ways, the only plus point was the friendly person who was looking after us but the food was often left uneaten and if you can’t even make a pancake properly I think that says it all. The turnaround of food, drinks was beyond a joke. Multiple tables could be seen all complaining. It seemed like a great deal but we left disappointed to say the least. The attitude of the management staff (just as last time) terrible. Clearly not putting customers first and the way they conducted themselves in reply was close to the worst service levels I have ever seen. They were approached and spoke to in mature manner but were not professional in dealing with the numerous complaints. So many other better options in Manchester, don’t waste your time going here! Even a table of two had to complain about having no drinks for long periods of time

I kept seeing this place when passing and decided that I’ll take my friend with me the other week and honestly it was really nice. The staff were lovely, I had a smoke on the water cocktail unfortunately they didn’t have an ingredient for it but the staff recommended something else to put into the drink and it was great. My friend had a Black Forest cocktail and they said it was lovely. The food was really nice we went during brunch so I ordered the breakfast burrito it was delicious, they got the buttermilk chicken burger and again it was fantastic. I have now recommended this place to friends and family and I will definitely be returning.

Amazing! Could not fault. Staff were excellent, restaurant was busy! Food was incredible and to die for. Would 100% return!

Been here a couple of times Dec - Jan. First visit was between Xmas and new year and seemed quite busy but they only had a few staff on, so it took 45 mins to an hour to get our food order. We were given a couple of free drinks to make up for it but table was sticky, staff seemed overworked and running around desperately and the food was lukewarm. The second time was in Jan and our booking was cancelled with no notice due to ‘technical issues’ in the kitchen. We were left therefore without a booking on a busy Saturday and weren’t even offered to stay for drinks. I used to really love it here but the last couple of times have really put me off, disappointed!

DO NOT GO HERE. They will not serve anyone with any kind of allergy, EVER! Also even when not a single table is taken, ie every single table is empty, literally empty, won't take a table without prior booking, but you can literally book on the spot, jobs worths. Almost like they're trying everything they can to turn away business. Even when booking it says to contact them about allergies, but they don't state anywhere that they categorically won't serve you. It's also apparently the law that they can't serve you ha.

Went here for a staff party. Honestly not sure what they told my employer what the capacity of the room they gave us was, but it was incredibly small and crowded and I didn't enjoy it. Most of the holiday menu was mediocre, but I did really enjoy the blue cheese pastry canapes they had.

Fantastic selection of cocktails ❤️❤️❤️ Good vibe, nice place

I was extremely disappointed for the customer service. Myself & my wife waited over an hour no one came to explain the reason of such a wait and no one apologised afterwards. The food wasn’t what I expected and unfortunately we won’t be coming back.

Only stayed for 1. Not really a fan, the prices are high and it was just too long to get a drink

Lovely environment, staff were friendly and attentive. Great place fir food and drinks.

Had a reservation for me and my wife for brunch. We were shown to our table. To our surprise we walked past a lot of empty tables and were placed in a room at the back with a group of 15 blokes who were loud and drunk. Since me and my wife couldn’t hear each other speak, I politely asked the waitress if we could be moved. She said that wouldn’t be possible. I pointed to the empty tables in the main restaurant and was told no, they are all reserved. We already ordered coffee so I asked for them to go as we can’t hear each other and wouldn’t be staying to eat. She was totally apathetic to the situation and said she would see if they had paper cups. Finally a chap called Niall stepped in who actually seemed to care about the situation. He found us a spot at the bar to eat so we could enjoy breakfast without a rowdy group around us. We were right next to the door so it was interesting to observe the walk-in/reservation process up close. Many couples were told they couldn’t be accommodated without a booking but a table of 4 were seated instantly without a booking. Very odd. Also many of the reserved tables that we couldn’t be moved to were empty for the entire hour we were there. The food was actually quite nice but the whole experience left a bad taste and we won’t be returning.

Nothing wrong with level of service or ambiance only issue was the misleading of the food we ordered. We ordered Shashushka ( which basically Turkish eggs ) but all we got a poached egg on top of a tomato sauce. I think rather chef doesn’t know the real recipe or the owner!!!! Will not order that again. Thank you

Extremely sloww service and food was disappointing dry. Waited one hour for food with no aplogies or acknowledgement from staff. Wont be coming back sadly - Hope the place improves

Niall was absolutely wonderful! There was a delay on the food but he was so attentive and gave superb customer service. Niall was so professional and we felt listened to. We’ll be back! ☺️

Fabulous bottomless brunch! The cocktail of the day was dreamy, the food was excellent and the music was full of good vibes. The stand out however was the incredible service, I could not fault it. Highly recommend!

Visited on Tuesday evening for food and drinks and have to say Niall was absoloutly fantastic. He ensured the busy floor ran smoothly all by himself, still keeping a smile and providing fantastic customer service.

Hosted a company event here and it was fantastic. The back room is the perfect venue if you're not sure whether you're going to get 20 people or 60. Thankfully we got more like the latter, and it was packed. But even with half that it felt full and buzzy. The food was great (we ordered four varieties of sliders) and the staff were super-accommodating. We did have an issue at the start where some smoke from the kitchen was coming into the room but that was quickly sorted.

Best staff, best night out in NQ ❤️

Niall is an excellent member of the team. He's attentive and very happy, and couldn't do enough for us even though it was very busy even with the quiz being on. I'd definitely recommend this place, the team, vibe and atmosphere is great. Thank you! See you soon.

My friends and I visited for brunch this weekend and really enjoyed our visit. The booking experience was straightforward and was helpful when we made some amendments to our party size a few days before. The menu had plenty of options for brunch and lunch...

Lovely staff, with really amazing cocktails and good options of food.

Ordered the brisket loaded fries here, dry and totally tasteless stringy beef topped fries. They at first offered to remove it from the bill, then backtracked and only removed 25%. I was told I didn't mention it quickly enough, although when asked how everything was- the manager didn't hang around to find out our answers. Awful service, awful food. Never again.

One of the most fun places to eat and have a drink. Food is great and the service is even better

a great place with friendly staff and the food is delicious. The atmosphere is good for both business lunches but also socialising. One of my fav places to go in Northern Quarter

We booked the private room for leaving drinks at the Pencil and Pencil. It was such a good experience and after contacting numerous Manchester venues, this was such a reasonable option. The staff were lovely and were super relaxed making the evening so enjoyable.

We went for the brunch with an offer, so price wise it was excellent. The chocolate french toast was done to perfection too. However the pen and pencil brunch however was underwhelming. The bread was too chewy, the poached eggs were not runny, and so the meal wasn't what is expected.

Refuse to serve people with allergies, absolutely unheard of in todays society. Never been turned away from a restaurant who can’t cater for allergies in my lifetime. Should advise this before sitting you down also. Also turn you away if you haven’t booked despite there...

Our table was booked for 6:15pm on a Monday evening. We arrived around 6:05pm and we’re seated very quickly which was great. The host who took us to our table ordered our drinks maybe 10 minutes later (which again was great!). However, after receiving our...

We had THE best bottomless brunch here! All of the staff are so friendly, in particular Niall. Made us feel instantly welcome and couldn't do more to help us from making sure we had drinks, taking photos and finding a table for us for after our time slot was finished! The food was delicious- loved the Eggs Royal. Thank you for starting my hen do off with a bang! Will definitely return.

Wow the prices in this place have gone through the roof.

Poor quality food and expensive drinks. Seven pounds for a pint of beer. More expensive than a top end restaurant. Won't be back!

We needed to book a restaurant close to Piccadilly due to one member of the party catching a train at 5pm. I booked a reservation for 5 on line a week before and advised we had one member of the party with a nut allergy....

Pen and Pencil Restaurant in Manchester offers a stylish ambiance. They provide table service for food, which is a plus. However, I found the evening menu variety to be quite limited. I ordered the crab roll, but it didn't quite meet my expectations. It had an excessive amount of mayonnaise and was served in a large hot dog bun. The overall taste was alright, but not exceptional. One disappointing aspect of our visit was that despite booking a table for 10 people a month in advance, we were given three separate high tables for our team. It would have been nicer to have a single table and a better view if we had walked in without a reservation. Additionally, our table was quite wonky, and we had to request multiple tissues to stabilize it. Overall, Pen and Pencil Restaurant has room for improvement, particularly in terms of customer service and table arrangements. While the food was decent, the experience could have been better.