Erst

Erst sits at 9 Murray Street in Ancoats, a neighbourhood natural-wine restaurant run by a group of friends who wanted to build somewhere they would choose to eat themselves. The Michelin Guide awarded it a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 edition, with inspectors calling it "inch perfect for 2026" and describing a place that "combines a natural wine bar with small plates and stripped-back industrial design." Expect an open kitchen, bright and punchy Mediterranean sharing plates, freshly charred flatbreads and keenly priced natural wines, many of which you can buy to take home.

The non-alcoholic angle is the Soft Supper Club, which launched at Erst on Sunday 25 January 2026 as the first in an intended ongoing series and is hosted by sobriety creator Karl Considine. Guests sit communally for a slow sequence of sharing plates, each matched to an alcohol-free pairing: an opening aperitif, house-made sodas, palate cleansers and Eisberg Selection premium alcohol-free wines (Blanc de Blancs, Grenache Rosé, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio), created in partnership with Manchester drinks start-up Fun Softs. The premise is that zero-proof choices can sit confidently within fine dining, not as a fallback but as a pairing in their own right.

That philosophy runs through the kitchen too. Co-founder Will Sutton has said the team believes every drinks option "should feel exciting, celebratory and aligned with our cooking" - a framing that puts the alcohol-free list on the same footing as Erst's celebrated natural-wine cellar. Because the Soft Supper Club runs as periodic events rather than an everyday printed menu, check Erst's channels for upcoming dates before planning an alcohol-free visit.