Where to eat, drink and play in Manchester this summer: Courts Club review

MCRJourno

If you’re chasing relaxed summer vibes, sports and street‑food right in the heart of Manchester, Courts Club (St. John’s, Spinningfields) hits all the right notes.

With its own outdoor tennis and basketball court that you can hire (prices from £15 - £30 per session), Courts Club blends city hub energy with leafy, open-air seating.

Think deck chairs, bench dining, indoor bar space, all around a big outdoor screen.

We tasted a good cross‑section of the Cantina & Margs vans menu as part of the Summer Series pop‑up run by Lucky Gyros and friends:

• Loaded nachos and cowboy caviar (basically nachos levelled up) - fresh, bold flavours

• Corn ribs - smoky, crisp, addictive

• Cheese quesadilla - gooey and satisfying

• Pulled pork quesadilla - hearty and well‑seasoned

• Tacos - flavourful and punchy, all around £7 - £10 per item, or part of a £10 lunch deal with a drink and sides

Everything was prepared by a single chef working the food truck - not a big operation, so there was a short queue when it got busy, but the portions and flavour made it well worth the wait.

For drinks, there’s a bar and a dedicated van serving summery sips - grapefruitcello and raspberry hugo among them - and they run a happy hour 5pm - 8 pm daily with two spritzes for £13, plus house lagers and other options.

When the courts aren’t in use, the venue still thrives - Saturday HOOPS DJ nights, Sunday outdoor cinema screenings, quiz nights and other events make for a dynamic calendar of alfresco culture and sport.

Bottom line - Courts Club is a unique, multi‑use hangout - book a court, enjoy bold street-food bites, sip spritzes by day or night, and catch live events on the big screen.

A seriously good addition to Manchester’s summer scene.