Decor & Ambience

They've certainly spent a lot of money giving the former Avalanche unit a facelift, with a giant worker bee door handle one of a few subtle nods to the Industrial Revolution, which started in Manchester, aided by the opening of the Bridgewater Canal in 1761 - from which the restaurant takes its name. Although a long way from the smog of 18th Century Manchester, you should check out the stunning aquarium downstairs in Lily's Bar, where, as you'd expect, it's a single use plastic straw free zone.

Price

Dine at 1761 on a Monday or Tuesday and, for every course you order, they will donate a meal to local poverty charity, Mustard Tree. Prices are generally as you'd expect to pay for a Manchester city centre restaurant (Haddock & Chips for £13.50 or 200g Sirloin with sides for £26.50). Service charge is not included (and goes to staff).

Service

Service during our visit was genuinely friendly and attentive, with an informal chatty touch. Each member of staff made an effort to interact with diners and were certainly great ambassadors for proper warm Mancunian hospitality (even though they had come from Hampshire, Yorkshire and elsewhere).

Food & Drink

We're often asked where to go for traditional Manchester food. 1761 certainly ticks that box. This is proper Mancunian fayre - from Lancashire Sausage (£12.50), and Corned Beef Hash (£13.50) to Bubble & Squeak Risotto (£13), and Manchester Tart (£6.50). All the produce is sourced locally from the Manchester Veg People and Birtwistles Butchers in Irlam. Think standard gastro pub quality with more creative touches - like Fish & Chips (£13.50) battered in Manchester's Three Rivers gin and served with Manchester Caviar (a.k.a. mushy peas). Alongside Manchester's handcrafted First Chop gluten free ales, the Mancunian themed cocktails (£9.50 - £12) are successfully experimental and well crafted - there's an even greater concentration on presentation in Lily's Bar downstairs too - whilst you can choose from 13 wines available by the glass, and there's even Chapel Downs English wines from Kent (£30 a bottle).

Overall 65%

There's a lot to love about this latest addition to the Manchester scene, especially the ethical approach and support of local charities. They've done a great job with a notoriously unfavourable unit and the Manchester connection is delivered with some success throughout the food and drinks menus, if not the aquarium and tenuous Lily Bollinger theme downstairs.