The Refuge by Volta in Manchester

Had breakfast at Refuge with my kids this morning and Sara was amazing! She was super friendly, smiled the whole time, and really made us feel welcome. Such a great vibe—thanks for making our morning! 😊

We had a great time at Refuge. Very beautiful, colonial style bar and restaurant. Enjoyed the Sunday roast very much and the service was great. Vaishnavi who served us was super sweet and helpful.

Had a lovely roast dinner waited by the lovely Suma. She made our experience delightful. The atmosphere is amazing. Would highly recommend this spot if your in Manchester. A must go!

A beautiful lunch! Denisa was fabulous and the Sunday roast was exceptional.

Amazing food and stellar friendly service. Highly recommended. Plenty of vegan options.

Had breakfast Christmas morning, Ash my server was lovely and very helpful and made me feel very comfortable and the other staff I spoke to were very friendly. There were a lot of options and everything was delicious 😋

Had a delicious meal here on Christmas Eve. Stunning building . Thankyou Vaishnavi for the friendly and excellent table service . Back soon !

The food was good, unfortunately some on the menu was not available. The service of vaishnavi was great.

Great location and our waitress Vaishnavi was an angel! She took good care of us and made our day. We’ll definitely come back with our friends

Drinks a little expbut it is manchester

Everyone in the North West needs to try the Sunday lunch at Refuge at least once in their life! Our Sunday Roast here was absolutely divine with food at another level to anywhere else in Manchester. The surroundings of The Refuge make the perfect atmosphere for food and good times with friends!

So torn with this place - it’s close to work so a regular for us. Atmosphere, drinks, food are all great but the same issue every time is slow service. The bar is big and poorly staffed so queues form in random places and no system to serve people swiftly. Really does let the place down.

Super smiley lovely service - thanks Noemi! And really yummy food. Bar noise a little loud, but overall would deffo come back.

Just had drinks but very nice large venue

It's such a beautiful place inside here. Really chilled atmosphere and great vibe inside. If your a insta/social media pic hunter get yourself down to refuge. Get some amazing food drink and top quality pictures!!

Breakfast was fab, and Ash made it even better by being so friendly and attentive.

Fantastic Sunday lunch. Love the atmos, food and service.

Michael was a brilliant waiter, the food was gorgeous and the service was super slick!

Lovely atmosphere, great food and our server Michael was fantastic. Would highly recommend and will definitely be back if visiting Manchester again.

Stayed here for dinner and service was extremely quick didn’t feel like we were waiting too long. The restaurant is next to a bar but not nearly as loud. The lights aren’t too bright and the atmosphere is enjoyable. Tables are a bit close together in certain sections but isn’t a big deal. The look of the restaurant is very pleasing. Would go again!

All style, zero substance. Laughable experience. Our party of 11 booked on for the Christmas set menu at a price point of £45 per head. At such a price point, one would expect a certain level of competence. How wrong we were. Upon hearing that one of our party doesn't eat pork, our waiter told us that means she HAS to have the vegetarian option as no menu adjustments could be made. You'd think being unable to cater for Halal requirements would be something that you're informed of upon booking or that they could facilitate the seemingly straightforward task of ensuring the pigs in blankets are kept separate to the rest of the food whilst in preparation. Apparently not. When bringing out the starters, it became apparent that there wasn't enough salmon for everyone. We queried this and apparently it was one small piece of salmon per person. However only 5 pieces of salmon appeared. Our waiter conceded that he did not bring enough and bought out one extra piece. When we asked where the rest was, he informed us that he had provided enough as it was 6 meat and 4 veggies. Apparently no pork means that you can't eat salmon, who knew? Also riddle me this, does 6 and 4 amount to the 11 in our party? We finally confirmed that there were 8 meat eaters, one without pork and 3 veggies. So we asked whether we would now have the correct amount of starters. Our waiter laughed in our faces and walked off. At this point, we're now 90 minutes into our meal and we've seen an incorrect starter and one order of drinks. Of all the places that one could be both hungry and thirsty, surely a restaurant should not be one of them. The lack of attention to our table was baffling, so much so that even taking the rather extreme and petulant measure of raising a hand like a schoolchild to attract a waiter didnt raise any questions to the staff. We were informed that to make the adjustments for our party, we should expect a delay on the food so after about 1 hour and 45, the mains arrived. Underwhelming is the word. Already dehydrated from the lack of drinks service, the turkey sapped any remaining moisture from me. There was something that resembled a roasted carrot. Bland would be complementary. I think the biggest kicker was that the venue wasn't even particularly busy as a level of justification. The whole time, I was expecting someone to jump out and tell us we were being pranked. The venue itself is very nice but if you're considering their Christmas meal, go elsewhere.

Just came for drinks but we’re bowled away with how lovely the service was! We had Federica who served us and she was really attentive and friendly and helpful xxx

DO NOT GO HERE FOR A CHRISTMAS MEAL. The price was £45pp - for this amount of money, you'd expect excellent food and high quality service, which was the opposite of what we experienced. Yesterday night, the staff could not understand the dietary requirements of our party, even though we'd clearly explained them weeks in advance, and were told they could be catered for. This led to the staff consistently bringing out the wrong meals. When we questioned this, the manager was hostile, argumentative, and laughed at our requests - it was absolutely appalling behaviour. All vegetables that were served with the main meal (except maybe the potatoes) were ludicrously bland - it was difficult to tell what food we were even eating at times. The service was slow and empty glasses were left on the table for eons, even though the restaurant was not particularly busy (which says a lot, considering the day we went is probably the most popular day of the year for groups of people to go out for a Christmas event). We were sat down for about 90 minutes before our main meal was served. The reason I'm giving this establishment 2 stars instead of 1 is because the rude manager conceded that the service was poor enough to warrant a 50% discount for our food. Additionally, a different, much more professional manager served our table towards the end of this ordeal, and he was kind enough to also remove the cost of 1 bottle of wine from the bill. However, the staff still had the unbelievable AUDACITY to add a 10% service charge to our bill, which we promptly requested to be removed. The venue itself is nice, and I imagine it's a decent place to just have a drink, but what we experienced last night for our Christmas meal was frankly shocking.

Went for coffee with a friend. Nice surroundings

Suma was a lovely waitress to us! Super friendly and helpful she made our time here delightful ❤️

Wonderful classic British bistro.... Roast beef & Yorkshire pudding to die for! Sticky toffee pudding....worth living for! Service Stars...Alisha/Vaishnau..... Great staff!

I didn't even know this was a bar/restaurant, I always thought it was an office block! We only popped in for a quick pint before going on the markets on a dismal Saturday afternoon! What an amazing bar it is, very ornate with the ceramic tiled walls and high ceilings! Look at my other reviews to see where I've been!

Absolutely awful experience here. We booked a private room for a Christmas do and had to pre order a few days in advance with a minimum of £550. On arrival we were told that half of the things we’d pre ordered they didn’t have, meaning everyone had to re order. When food came out there was a meal missing which we were told would be at least another 20 minutes (it was a lot longer) and was cold when it arrived. All side orders were missing and came after the food was already finished. We ended up leaving before the final course as the service was so appalling and neither the waitress or the manager had apologised at all and the manager instead that we must have got it wrong. The manager was extremely rude, interrupting us each time someone attempted to explain the situation and we left with no resolution and having to pay for cold food that wasn’t even what we ordered. Disgusting place.

Amazing birthday meal! Service was 10/10 with Saukhyaal. We had such a lovely night!

Great food, really generous portions. Lovely cocktails and a great atmosphere. Not too loud, not too quiet. Saukhyad was really helpful when it came to making sure the food I had was gluten free. Thank you!

My guy Saukhyad made the experience fantastic!

We tried to call and book in a few times during the day and couldn't get through. We arrived and there were no tables available. Fran the manager was incredible. He bent over backwards to squeeze us in as it was a special occasion for a friend. The food was incredible and you can tell the chef has passion. The service was also top notch. Friendly staff and amazing food, amazing atmosphere. Absolutely quality.

Great atmosphere for our team Christmas party, with great service from Saukhyad.

An excellent breakfast and our waiter Nikita was very helpful and friendly.

Great pub for socialising. Love it here

Had breakfast here few days ago, the food was amazing, and Sarah was very welcoming!

Let me tell you beforehand , the food here is to die for ! It’s so good that you’ll visit again and again ! The service and the quality of food is beyond my expectations

A mixed bag. I have been to The Refuge several times before and loved it, but this time round, it was a disappointing experience 😔 The food wasn't great at the restaurant and we only came for the food ☹️ The hummus was substandard. We had to send back two small plates as the chicken was overcooked and dry. By the time the new plates arrived, we had already eaten our remaining food. It put us off ordering any dessert. A small bugbear. The Glamour of Manchester gin cocktail was served in a prosecco glass (!) I really wish bars and restaurants would stop doing this. Cocktails should be served in appropriate cocktail glasses, and at £13.50 a pop, it should at least be in a nice looking glass please 🙏 On a side note, the female toilet cubicles need alot of attention. It's not acceptable to have such messy and unclean cubicles for what is, overall, a lovely looking venue. I realise it must be challenging for staff on a relatively busy Saturday afternoon, but it's off putting and unhygienic. Ending on a positive though, the service was great; our server and her colleagues were professional, very friendly and helpful, which was much appreciated, thank you 😊

Federica always knows my order and makes the best cocktails! Love it there!

A brilliant experience today at Refuge. Huge thank you Vaishnavi for looking after us so beautifully!

Special call out for our waiter Michael who was excellent. Really knowledgeable and super helpful. Great food!

Lovely roast dinner with excellent service from Michael

We had a lovely time, thanks to Michael our server. The food was amazing and the place is gorgeous.

Delightful relaxed but upmarket eatery. Limited vegetarian choice but the dishes we had were delicious and we left replete without the deserts. Special thanks to the bar team who whisked us up Brandy Al even though they aren't on either the cocktail or dessert menus. 😁🍸

We had an amazing evening meal at the Refuge. The surroundings were exquisite, and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. They staff are attentive and welcoming, and the service is excellent. The meals were tasty and well cooked, and our compliments went to the chef and the waiting staff. It was a memorable evening for us, and the staff made it special. Many thanks.

Dark and noisy on a Saturday afternoon. The queues for the bar were incredibly slow.

We sampled their new festive menu which was absolutely gorgeous. Wonderful service from Vaishnavi and beautiful surroundings. Is a Manchester must!

We sampled their new festive menu which was absolutely gorgeous. Wonderful service from Vaishnavi and beautiful surroundings. Is a Manchester must!

This is such a beautiful bar in a really lovely listed building. I’ve been here for drinks in the day before and on Friday night I went there again with my friend for drinks. The cocktail list had some unusual choices and we really enjoyed our drinks. We also enjoyed watching them being made. It was really busy but we managed to get a seat and it was a really fun atmosphere.

Lovely food, atmosphere and vibes. Vaishanavi was great and attentive and very welcoming, we had a lovely time! Recommended to visit and Sunday lunch looks amazing !

We recently dined at the exquisite Refuge Bar & Restaurant in Manchester and had an absolutely impeccable experience. From the moment I was seated until the very end of my meal, our waiter, Saukhyad, provided top-notch service that truly exceeded all of our expectations. Saukhyad’s professionalism was outstanding - he was attentive, courteous, and displayed an in-depth knowledge of the menu that was impressive. His friendly demeanor made us feel right at home and added an extra touch of warmth to the dining experience. I must say, in a time where customer service seemed to have vanished after Covid, Saukhyad and the entire team at Refuge Bar & Restaurant truly got it spot-on. Moreover, the building itself is stunning, the decor is nothing short of fantastic, and the overall atmosphere was simply magical. The addition of a talented DJ only served to enhance the ambiance and made our night truly unforgettable. We cannot recommend Saukhyad and the Refuge Restaurant enough - a five-star experience all around. Thank you for an evening filled with delectable cuisine, incredible service, and we’ll be back when we return to Manchester

I tried to book a table for my family of nine and was told that they would not take a booking that large. On what planet is 9 too many to book for, when it mentions on Open Table that it is a good place for special occasions and groups, evidently not! A number of us were flying in from the USA and we had booked into the Clock Tower Hotel. They recommended Refuge to us, but because of this appalling service we have now made alternative arrangements for both the meal and accommodation. Poor show!

Lovey building. Enthusiastic waitstaff, but overall service lacking. Food overpriced for what we received, arrived before drinks and mostly lukewarm (admittedly didn’t complain as we were hungry and was just warm enough to eat). I would go again for drinks but I’d give the food a miss

nikkita was amazing and very welcoming❤️

Great place for a couple of beers before our night out

Beautiful location and very friendly staff!

Ebony was a wonderful server. She was friendly, knowledgeable and great for helping us make choices.

Beautiful food, grand setting, friendly staff and management.

Fabulous food, drink & ambiance.

I like eating out and exploring new places. Great mid-week vibe at the bar, an impressive entrance. However, our evening at the Refuge was disappointing, our table was booked for 7pm and was made up for one place setting only. I had to ask for a plate and cutlery. We were both hungry, starters were very small, but the main course plates followed the same theme. The smallest steak I have ever seen, at £45 for a ribeye, I was hoping to be impressed. Rock hard veggies were inedible. Very few chips. Really poor food. My only regret is not booking somewhere else. A disappointing experience.

Lovely evening at The Refuge. Food and drinks were delicious and our server Saukhyad provided excellent customer service

Dinner and drinks in a lovely setting. Cocktail was delicious. Only downside was the time it took to be served both times. We also had sharing plates which were great but no serving spoons.

Went here for drinks with some friends. Delicious cocktails but pricey! Lots of seating and space. We went on a Friday night and there was a DJ.

A beautiful refuge in the heart of an Autumnal Monday night. Saukhyard was diligent and caring and brilliant in his recommendations.

Saukhyad made or meal very pleasant. He really looked after us.

Had some great food here on the weekend, my server Holly was fantastic!!

Very good breakfast and pleasant service from our waitress, Nicky.

Fantastic breakfast and wonderful service from Sarah and Matt 👍

Excellent food with excellent service,

Beautiful decor, divine food and perfect service! Thank you Jared and Vaishnavi!

Had a wonderful stay at the hotel and a fabulous breakfast, ash gave us such wonderful service during breakfast service and Matt made me the most amazing cappuccino looking forward to my next visit!

Lovely place for eating or just drinks

Hollys service was excellent, very kind and polite. The food was also amazing. Definitely recommend.

The food was excellent, and Holly was great — super friendly and helpful. Lovely place with good vibes and service. Definitely recommend.

Bar service was excellent and our server was full of knowledge and a great maker of cocktails. The building is phenomenal. But the bar area was an absolute catastrophe. Tabes full of glasses and mess everywhere (had a show at the palace theatre, book of mormon) and there wasn't enough staff drafted on to help clear.

We visited last Saturday with some friends and loved it. I had the pork belly and it was divine, would definitely recommend. Holly was a waitress and her service was brilliant

Vaishnavi was an amazing waitress! Great experience

There was a good variety of food to choose from at breakfast. Our server Evie was very friendly and helpful. Ten out of ten for both.

Our waitress Alisha was excellent. She couldn’t be more helpful. Thank you.

Great breakfast, our server Ash was excellent too. A great experience. Highly recommended!

The Sunday roast platter is 100% worth the hype! Our server, Alisha, was lovely and you can't fault the food. Go hungry! Plus they always make me a lovely virgin Mary ❤️

Haven't eaten here yet but the bar service is great, plenty of options and the building is beautiful.

Roast was delicious, I believe our waitress was called Holly, the customer service was exceptional! Definitely would recommend!

Let down by the value for money. £21 for a bland pie… got to do better than that

Lovely really kind staff, breakfast was brilliant

The waiter Ash was incredible , great service

Perfect venue for hosting an international guest. Beautiful building with vibrant atmosphere and good food. Our server, Saukhyad, provided exceptional customer service. Overall, a great experience.

Fantastic service from Ebony who was so knowledgeable about the menu, warm, approachable and completely brilliant. Delicious food cooked to perfection, a wonderful experience, thank you so much!

Superb roast, one of best I've had eating out, however, really needed an extra piece of beef, it was a bit small for the price. Or give an option for extra bit of beef

Vaishnavi was extremely friendly, smiley, attentive and welcoming 😊. Our food was lovely as always :)

Sunday lunch platter for 4 , £138. Total bill with wine and desert £360. Thought it pricey today. Also was only able to eat the chicken on the platter as pork was very fatty with no cracking, and beef was literally mooing inedible for 2 of us. This was our goto meet up Sunday lunch venue. but it no longer represents value for money to us. Ps the yorkshire pudding is the size of your head and gravy and staff are good. Probably needs a rethink on pricing to stay competative in a saturated market. (perhaps include dessert in platter)

Food was good but the service is terrible. The server didn’t know how to serve the bottle of wine and was pretty awkard… The place looks fantastic tho.

Hands down the best Piña Colada I’ve ever had! The atmosphere was fantastic & the music added the perfect vibe. Such a great spot to unwind & enjoy a drink - Even bring a date 😏

Drinks Fine Service good to a point Food, poor quality, poorly prepared and nowhere near enough. I’m not sure who chose to call the sharing menu a “feast” but 1 chicken thigh to share between 4 people is not a feast! When we asked if there was more coming we had a menu thrown at us and told if you want more you’ll have pick something off the menu and pay for it. I would probably come back for a quick drink, but the food is extortionate, it’s not cooked particularly well and the service leaves a lot to be desired

Eboni was great. Food was great. Quiet when we visited- but great space

Friendly, great food in a 1800 building that keeps the character until now

So reading these reviews, Sunday lunch sounds great, but good god the main weekday menu is tosh. Overpriced, absolutely tiny - and when I say tiny, the squid starter was an absolute joke size (£9). There’s a beetroot starter that’s about £8. It’s a dip type thing. Does it come with anything to dip it in? Don’t be daft, either use your fingers, or pay extra for some Sainsbury’s level pitta bread. Small plate or big plate option? Neither is enough for one, never mind the hilarious prospect of sharing. More than a couple of hundred pounds spent on a tiny amount of food and all of 4 of we’re starving after. Brilliant bar and aesthetically pleasing, but do yourself a favour, get a drink there before or after you go to a different restaurant for dinner or go on a Sunday when it looks like you might get a decent meal.

Lovely meal great atmosphere too

This was so disappointing and not what I would expect from a restaurant with such a high reputation. My friend and I visited for Sunday roast and the food arrived cold, so we sent it back. But then waited nearly an hour for it to return. We sat in the garden courtyard area and loads of tables around us were left dirty and plates hadn't been cleared away. It wasn't like they were short staffed as we saw a lot of staff stood around. When we voiced our concerns they offered us a free round of drinks which didn't seem a fair compensation. So we asked if we could have a dessert to share which they agreed to. However the biggest insult was when they left they service charge on the bill. The food when it did arrive hot was delicious but the evening had been tainted by that point.

We were served by Michael today. He made us feel at home, with a smile and light hearted banter. He also catered very much to our needs and I will definitely be returning. Amazon food!