Manchester is pretty fond of street food and with it boasting numerous food halls, markets, stalls and vans across the city, there are plenty of places to feed our appetite. Luckily for hungry Mancs and visitors to the city, Manchester just so happens to be quite the food hub, with a recent study revealing it as home to one of the best food halls in the UK – and the top one outside of London.
The study by Betway online casino measured the social media popularity of 40 UK food halls and markets, as well as their Google rating and search volume, to discover the most popular. Manchester was ranked the second-best city for food markets overall, with two entries in the top 10 best spots in the UK. Three of the top five UK food halls are in London with Borough Market, Seven Dials Market, and Maltby Street Market taking first, second, and fourth place, respectively.
The top 10 most popular food halls in the UK
- Borough Market, London
- Seven Dials, London
- GRUB MCR, Manchester
- Maltby Street Market, London
- Temple Quay Market, Bristol
- SPARK, York
- Herbert’s Yard, Birmingham
- The Dockyard Social, Glasgow
- Mackie Mayor, Manchester
- Shelter Hall, Brighton
GRUB MCR: one of the country’s top street food spots
Coming in third place as the most popular spot for foodies, and the UK’s top food hall outside of London, was GRUB MCR. One of Manchester’s biggest street food venues, this converted textile warehouse has an impressive 4.7-star rating on Google and 12,700 Instagram posts, and hosts some of the city’s top street food vendors.
Tucked away on Manchester’s Red Bank, just a short walk from Victoria station and away from the city’s hustle and bustle, GRUB MCR boasts two floors of outdoor seating, an event space, a secret garden as well as being home to independent cinema, CULTPLEX. From sweet treats to pizza, burgers to tacos, there’s plenty to choose from for a range of dietary requirements and preferences.
Additionally, GRUB has previously hosted festivals dedicated to the likes of plant-based food, tacos and Asian cuisine. Plus, if you’re after a place to meet with friends that doesn’t just mean eating, GRUB also hosts regular events, including quizzes and group painting, to enjoy.
However, as of the end of 2025, GRUB will be on the move, back out on the street, going back to its roots serving the people of Manchester. GRUB is on a mission to put the ‘street’ back in ‘street food’, with venues already lined up for the summer, and more to come on the horizon.
The top 10 most popular food halls in the UK outside of London
- GRUB MCR, Manchester
- Temple Quay market, Bristol
- SPARK, York
- Herbert’s Yard, Birmingham
- The Dockyard Social, Glasgow
- Mackie Mayor, Manchester
- Shelter Hall, Brighton
- New Century, Manchester
- Duke Street Market, Liverpool
- Peddler Market, Sheffield
Mackie Mayor ranked in sixth place among the best food halls in the UK outside London. Set in a beautifully restored Grade II-listed building from 1858, this Manchester favourite draws 726,000 annual searches. It also has the strongest social media presence beyond the capital, with nearly 14,000 Instagram posts, 200 TikTok mentions, and a solid 4.5-star Google rating.
Finally, New Century, located in Manchester’s NOMA district at one of the most legendary gig venues, came in eighth place. Its mid-century interior is home to traders serving everything from sushi to sourdough pizza and it also has a 4.5-star Google rating.
You can find the full study here.