Freelance PR coffee shop working

Best coffee shops in Manchester for freelance working

Got your shiny Macbook? Thick black-rimmed glasses? At least one tattoo or piercing? Yep, then you’re ready for some coffee shop freelance working in Manchester!

I work from home a lot of the time, but at least once a week I like to get out the house and get into Manchester city centre. There’s a plethora of coffee shops around the city centre, which are perfect for tapping out an article for a client, or putting together a report. I tend to stick to the Northern Quarter a lot of the time because it’s right near Piccadilly Station, but I have been making the effort to head out to the rest of the city centre recently.

Here’s my favourite places in Manchester for a cup of tea and a spot of freelance PR working:

1. Fig & Sparrow
Set on Oldham Street, right in the heart of the Northern Quarter, Fig & Sparrow is a briliant place to work. I can usually get my favourite table (the booth opposite the till, that’s mine, so don’t sit there), they have lovely fresh leaf tea, Trove bread and great food.
The food is right up my street – salads and sandwiches – with some great veggie options, as well as Greek yoghurt with toppings if I’m there early for breakfast.
When it opened, there was a big focus on very desirable & trendy home products. This section has been reduced to make way for more tables, which we can only thank them for, but there are still plenty of homewares on display, as well as beautiful greeting cards and wrapping paper.
Fig & Sparrow, 20 Oldham Street, M1 1JA.
www.figandsparrow.co.uk

2. Trove
Not strictly in the city centre, but Trove is just one hop on the train from Piccadilly and it’s one of my regular working spots. I lived in Levenshulme for seven years and Trove was the first decent coffee shop that opened there, so it was BIG news. They then opened their own bakery and sell bread, croissants and cakes from the Levenshulme coffee shop.
They have a brilliant range of breakfasts, including my favourite, the vegan breakfast, as well as loads of veggie and vegan food. I always ask for a sourdough loaf to be put aside so I can take it home as well.
Trove is just 20 minutes walk from my home office, so if I need to get out the house quickly, that’s always where I head.
Trove, 1032 Stockport Road, M19 3WX.
Update: There is now a Trove in Ancoats, Manchester, just a short walk from the city centre, so check that out too.
www.trovefoods.co.uk

3. Evelyn’s Cafe & Bar
Evelyn’s is a new one on my schedule of Northern Quarter venues, and one that I will be going back to loads. Tucked away just next to where Simple Bar used to be, Evelyn’s is a beauty of a coffee shop and restaurant, with greenery hanging all around and a handy bar and stools area, with a view out to the street. I’ve not tried the food yet, but everything looked and smelled amazing, with brilliant veggie options, so I’ll be back soon. The waitress was really incredibly friendly and helpful and told me all her favourite things on the menu.
Additionally, the owners have opened a members club downstairs called The Daisy, which they are marketing towards freelancers to use during the day. I’ve not had a look round yet, but will report back.
Evelyn’s Cafe & Bar, Tib Street, M4 1NB
www.evelynscafebar.com

4. Manchester Central Library
The Central Library is a beautiful place to work, and has a cafe and plenty of seating space with free wifi throughout the whole of the library. The library closed for refurbishment in 2010 when I was still working in the city centre, and the four years it needed for the £50m refurbishment felt like forever. But here we are eight years later, and it’s amazing to see such a stunning, busy, bustling place.
The library is quiet in the mornings, but does get pretty busy as the day goes on, although you can always find a quiet corner if you look hard.
Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, M2 5PD.
www.manchester.gov.uk/centrallibrary

5. The Pen & Pencil
This is my go-to stop off at the end of a busy working day in Manchester, sometimes when I’m waiting for my husband to finish work at his studio at the top of Fourways House. I like to grab a booth, order a G&T and finish off my last few bits of work before we head home. This ultra-cool industrial style bar, set in a beautiful Edwardian former warehouse, does get pretty busy, always plays good music and is right near Piccadilly Station, so thumbs up all round.
The Pen & Pencil, Hilton Steet, M1 2EJ.
thepenandpencilnq.co.uk

6. Grindsmith
Based right on busy Deansgate, Grindsmith is a great coffee shop. Now I don’t drink coffee at all, but from what I’m told, their freshly-ground coffee is VERY good. This is a brilliant spot if you’re ever at a meeting at the Deansgate end of the city centre and I like to perch on the high table and stool right at the front so I can watch the world go by as I’m working.
This cafe also has a free hireable space, which is brilliant for putting on events.
231-233 Deansgate, M3 4EN.
www.grindsmith.com