Bar Fringe, Manchester

Location: 8 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JN

Venue Type: Late Bar / Beer Specialists / Off-beat

EBG Rating:
8.1/10
Choice/
Quality of Drinks
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Belgian beer focus including some rarely found on tap. Decent if compact fridge selection.
Style/
Décor
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cream walls with small pillars in a one-room setup leading to the rear garden. A mixture of furniture. Eclectic design with breweriana, personalised bits and pieces and fish tank. A little off beat, and easily passes for a Belgian bar.
Atmosphere/
Character
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pleasantly homey and gezellig even in the quieter hours while versatile enough to be able to up the tempo as it gets busier. 
Amenities/
Events
⭐⭐⭐
Outdoor seating, snacks
Value For Money
⭐⭐
On the expensive side.
Description
While Belgian bars have moved out of favour in the last decade, this place has continued trading since the 90s which shows in the lived-in, personalised interior and stalwart vibes. Any novelty has long worn off but they don’t tend to make new bars like this, so arguably this now stands out. Indistinguishable from a Belgian bar, which is to its credit, aside from a few cask ale pumps. You can find plenty of classic Belgian marques on tap and in the fridge. Cosy during quiet hours, buzzy later on, the place has an easy versatility and natural, unpretentious appeal.