SOUP

Classic Northern Quarter eatery. As it says on the tin, great soup. Great for vegans and veggies. But some for animal eaters too! Good selection of beers, very friendly staff. Canteen style seating, DJ booth and a decent sound system. Soup & a sandwich meal deal, and good prices on alcohol. What’s not too like 😉

First time in Soup, bar staff fantastic, great set up. Slightly brighter than most music venues.

Really chilled and alternative vibe in here. Very nice selection of ales/craft/ everything else! Very tasty food. Reasonable for the city centre. Middle of the Northern quarter. Friendly staff!!

Lovely place, restaurant during the day, club in the night. The soups are delicious, as well as other stuff. Tere are some glutenfree as well as vegan options. Sandwiches are huge.

A hub for the arts, up-and-coming musical talent and host of great performance art. Soup has been supportive in so many ways over the past 7 years I've lived in Manchester. Keep on supporting this great place and the people who work so hard to make it this special.

I like that as it wasn't too hyped for a city centre venue. They may need to service that sound system though: we want more bass!

Awesome food, huge portions and a super relaxed cafeteria vibe. Lots of vegan and vegetarian options as well as meat dishes. Good coffee and a bar with wine, spirits and craft beer.

Soup kitchen has always been a favourite of mine, the food is basic (not a bad thing) but tasty. It's cheap and comforting. Theres always plenty of vegan options and the drink selection is always great. They have great bands in that play too, Love it.

Time for an update! Last night I experienced Soup Kitchen for the first time in two ways. I know you know I've experienced it before, but a) it's been ages and b) I've never been to the gig bit downstairs or eaten meat here. 1) Gig. ACE. Just wonderful. Great atmosphere underneath, and I mean FAR underneath, as in you have to look high up to see peoples' feet going past the window. Crazy, non? Lots of places to sit, which is great for me as I'm way too old to stand up at gigs for extended periods of time and I hurt my foot this week. #passtheprunes Fab sound and a lovely way to see lesser known bands. Oh, and did I mention it was free? Yes, we like free. 2) Meat. ACE. So for a mere £6, I got a big ol' juicy cooked-pink-in-the-middle burger pile of brilliance in a giganto bun with gherkins, salad and all kinds of amazeballs sauce. The chips where somewhere between wedges and fries - long story short, they were MASSIVE. Ketchup was offered and we got a generous ramekin of the stuff, and it was served on a rustic wooden board. It ain't just about soup! My maid of honour had the same dish, while Fiancé and Jemma G both had a soup coronation chicken combo. Their sandwiches were lovely, soft, deliciously spiced and had proper hunks of chicken (I tried it of course), and the satay soup was peanutty, flavoursome and creamy (I tried that too). Top marks for both soup and chips being served in camping mugs. Me likey. AWESOME food, like, truly delicious, cheap, and it might be Northern Quarter-based, but it does not have the pretention. I didn't feel like it was remotely as Nathan Barley in here as it is in a lot of places. Lovely, lovely Soup Kitchen. Why did I leave it so long between visits?

Soup Kitchen really lives up to its name, with a canteen style counter serving all kinds of soups alongside other hearty dishes, served up in enamel crockery with seating provided on big long benches. They do music at night but my two recent visits have been at lunchtime. The soups are varied and taste really nice, and all the other food looks great. Prices are reasonable too. However the service is a bit chaotic - you get your food and the server moves on, and sometimes you have to wait quite a while for someone to take your drink order or turn up and take your money. TL;DR - Good soup, unique venue, so-so service.

Had been meaning to try this place ouy for a year, mostly to check out the concerts they put on in the downstairs area....so we dropped by at lunch to have a quick soup (we tried the Satay and Moroccan Lamb and Lentils.) Not bad... The Satay soup was a little watery for my liking and the bread was definitely not fresh, but all other ingredients looked and tasted pretty honest and healthy. Great background music and nice laid back (slightly hipster) atmosphere.

This place is cool, albeit it's seriously trying to be. First point: do not ask for a cocktail in here. My friend wanted a whisky sour and got the response "we don't really do cocktails." Hm. They have a lot of liquor behind the bar for somewhere that doesn't do cocktails. I understand it's onerous to have all conceivable cocktail ingredients if you're really a beer specialist (and they do seem to have a great range of beer, btw) but I do think it would be nice if bars like this at least had 3-4 house cocktails for those of us they don't like beer or slightly dodgy house wine but wish to hang with our friends that do. Bartender also struggled with our request for tap water, which was less excusable. Meanwhile, the DJ was playing some awful music. "It's just noise, isn't it," pointed out one of the crowd, while apologising for being an Old Man. But it wasn't that we just didn't like the music or that it was too loud, is that the sound system couldn't take it and the sound quality/distortion was incredibly grating. Not relaxing. Shame really because I like the spacious layout, gig posters in the toilet, and the delicious bourbon Jonny Q kindly bestowed upon me. I'd go again if someone suggested it but given the amount of good bars in the NQ it's not top of my list for a repeat visit/recommendation in terms of drinking. HOWEVER the food might be a different story - the other reviews of meal-based visits have been great so I will try to return one lunchtime. UPDATE: went back for a Carefully Planned Festival - the music venue downstairs is one of the biggest/most attractive in the NQ although it smells SO WRONG and nobody could work out WHAT the smell was which was even more disturbing.

Soup Kitchen in Manchester is an interesting concept, serving soup but also being a pub/bar serving alcohol with regular live music which in my opinion is just strange and kind of makes this place hard to categorise. I used Soup Kitchen for an UberEATS order, where I ordered a soup which was £2.65 and it also came with some bread, which seemed fresh. The delivery charge was £2.50, which was down to UberEATS, I found the soup to be quite cheap and it was presented quite well in the bag, everything was there including butter and a knife and spoon, which I asked for in the description. The food was delivered in a car, after my delivery drivers' motorbike had broken, which was a little confusing but still this worked out okay as despite only travelling 0.2 miles, the food was still hot by the time it reached me. The portion size seemed good, but sadly the overall quality did not, there seemed to be some sort of lumps in my soup, which I presume was the cheddar and the leeks, I can't help but feel the cheese would have been better finely grated and sprinkled on the top, or mixed in with the soup rather than being big lumps in the soup, which wasn't too pleasant. My soup as I recall was ale, potato, leek and cheddar, which sounds fantastic, like many of the soups do here, as they seem to be bold soups, rather than plain and perhaps "safe" soups I would prefer, sadly they don't seem to do anything basic like that here such as tomato, chicken, mushroom or vegetable without a crazy amount of add-ins. I ended up binning my soup, as the quality simply was poor, the presentation was good and so was the delivery, albeit as the delivery was offered by another company who merely pick up the food and bring it to me, being UberEATS I won't let that affect the overall rating but while considering this and the overall menu choice other than booze and soup and bread is poor, with the soup choice being far from basic which I often prefer, and also considering the weird, confusing concept of a bar/pub/restaurant/live music place all in one, it just doesn't mix together or gel too well, hence I sadly feel this place deserves a single one star rating.

Quite a relaxed, young crowd in here on a Saturday afternoon with a scruffy-looking art exhibition adding some quirky charm. Other reviewers refer to other aspects of this place - the well-stocked bar, the gig venue. However, let's get back to what is says on the tin - Soup Kitchen, a kitchen that serves soup. So maybe 8 soups, 4 stews, 4 sandwiches, 4 salads, 4 cakes, and no printed menu, so the potential is there for much of the blackboard menu to be daily specials. Vegetarian choice is pretty good. I had curried parsnip soup, which came with a mandatory roll and butter for £3.75. (Mandatory meaning no reductions if you skip them!) A 500ml bowl of soup was just what I needed to keep me going for the rest of my day in town. However, I wasn't that impressed by the spicing of the soup - lots of ginger and turmeric was all I could taste, rather than more complex curry flavours. Eat at the long benches if you are feeling sociable, or at the window stools if you're not. I like the no-frills format - it puts the emphasis back onto the food and the people - and I felt everyone there, staff and customers, had picked up on that ethos. Soup Kitchen is fairly cool in my estimation, but still very welcoming. I think it is worth a try - their prices are very reasonable for food cooked from scratch, so you can't really go wrong.

Nursing a small hangover and desperately looking for some lost keys around the Northern Quarter, we needed somewhere quick, cheap and easy for lunch today. The atmosphere at Soup Kitchen is completely welcoming and homely - big wooden tables and a huge variety of people, from families and mum's with their babies to solo home workers and friends catching up, I don't think anyone would feel unwelcome. Food wise, it's pretty much in the name. A variety of soups, stews and sandwiches, all very authentically homemade. With canteen style service, you just head up and get your tray, pay, and return to your table. I had a bowl of the sweet potato, chilli and red pepper soup and it was truly great - perfectly warming for the winter weather. The boys had soup and sandwiches, which looked delicious, but would've written me off for the remainder of the day! I've been for music before, but I'll be back for the food.

After so much shoe shopping Friday morning, I desperately needed something hale and hearty for lunch so I headed to the Northern Quarter's un-official canteen, The Soup Kitchen. A cosy cafe that's laid out Wagamama style with long wooden benches, tables and magazines, The Soup Kitchen has been serving five different types of soul to ravenous locals for the last few years. I've only been a handful of times and have never left dissappointed. The soup isn't as amazing as Hale and Hearty Soup Company in New York's Chelsea Food Market, but what the hell - it's fresh, flavoursome and filling. I opted for a bowl of lentil, bean and bacon and left fifteen minutes later, ready to do my second bout of Christmas shopping.

The first thing that struck me before I started writing this is that nobody has reviewed Soup Kitchen for a year and only 9 people have reviewed it. If you are aware of the place but are unsure about weather to try it or not, all i'll say is that if you like soup then give it a try. Come to think of it, is there such a person? a person who is a soup hater? I don't think there has been a time when I have gone off having a bowl of soup,same with crumpets,I could never get bored of crumpets.Is there a crumpet kitchen anywhere? But I digress,one of the first reviews that I remember reading on Yelp belonged to our benevolent leader Em and it was for Soup Kitchen,and I remember telling Mr Z about it and her likeing the idea of trying it out. So a year later we finally got around to it,better late than never I suppose. Last night we got into the centre to late to go to the gin tasting at Epernay,but too early to go straight to 3MT,so we decided to go and get a bite to eat. We decided horror of horrors to have a change from Simple and give Soup Kitchen a try, and I am very glad we did. First up I really liked the lay out of the place,the long tables and big boxy bench combo and the stools by the window set up,although the view is not exactly the best view in the city,but that's neitrher here nor there. Ange went for the London Particular, a soup that I had never heard of before (Pea and ham). It looked really,really nice. It was insanely thick with some huge chunks of ham hock in it. There is nothing worse than looking at what someone else had ordered and wishing that you had ordered it. But my woe was not to last long,about as long as it took me to taste what I had ordered,Broccoli.cheddar and black pepper was my weapon of choice and what a weapon it was! I don't actually like broccoli,but blitz it up and put it in a soup with some cheese and pepper and i'm in soupy heaven (although being an Atheist I doubt the existence of Soupy Heaven). Both our soups came with a very nice seeded roll and some butter,and the pair of us could not fault either the food nor the price,£3.50 for mine and £4 for Ange's. I can't rate the place highly enough,it really was that nice. To think,we almost opted for Burger King!!!

To me, the Soup Kitchen is very average. Average quality, average prices, average service, average ambience (which is actually sad because they're aiming for a quirky vibe). They also have live music, which, again, tends to be pretty average. On the plus side they always have a lot of different menu items to choose from, and the selections are generally comforting and familiar. However, their sandwiches are 90% bread, their soup is lukewarm, and everything is under seasoned, all of which is about what you'd expect from a bare bones soup and sandwich place like this. If you currently get your daily lunch from pret-a-manger, eat here instead. Homemade really is a step up. But with all the exciting food happening in the NQ, I'm wonder how much longer "average" is going to pay the bills for them.

Having been here a few times . Only ever to drink never eat. This is based purely off the beverages and not foodstuffs! This may sound a really stupid but the bar is quite tall I'm 5ft11 and it felt quite tall. I order a black currant squash and a pint of staropramen and it came to £6.30 then he did a little head jig and then it was £5.50 Wow I thought that was very pricey and to be honest I might as well have had water as the black currant was weak as anything when I asked for more they said that's how normal people have it. I'm Not really sure the bar staff have an idea on pricing! This sounds like it's a bad review and it's not supposed to be I tried to write it sat at the table. But the music was far to loud for the time of day it was and I couldn't t think I couldn't hear my dad over the table a good 1.5 foot away so we finished our drinks and left. I have only ever been once before and ended up sitting on a stool in the window the first time and from memory don't bother there very uncomfortable If you want expensive beer and uncomfortable seats then come here! But in all of this the atmosphere sits relatively nicely most people are full of smiles. I'll return to try the food in the future!

You know what I was thinking about this place today and what a great night I had back in October, so I thought I'd write a review based on that. My absolute favourite female artist was playing at their venue, so it was always going to be as magical night anyway.. but enough gushing about that. We arrived about an hour before they let us downstairs to the gig. I love the vibe in the bar/restaurant. Relaxed, friendly, warm and completely non intimidating unlike how I feel walking into other bars in the Northern Quarter. Of course that's personal preference I'm aware. The food is very reasonably priced and super tasty I couldn't fault it. My friend had a few beers also not badly priced for the Northern Quarter. The long wooden tables with seats either side almost reminded me of a cool house party where all the buzz happens in the kitchen-the hub! Finally, after spilling my drink in excitement at seeing my idol ever so casually drink at the bar with us minions, we could go down stairs to the gig. I must confess I harassed the poor ticket collector guy for a solid hour asking "can we go in yet can we go in yet" as I wanted a seat near the front. He deserves as medal really. Bless him. The cellar where they held the gig was intimate and intense for an acoustic gig like I was seeing. No matter where u sit you have a great view! There's also a bar down there too for drinky poos. It's casual too which is great if you're like me and have some weird anxiety about getting dressed up... Overall I had a really great experience at the soup kitchen and after writing this review and revisiting this night again in my head I shall be getting my arse back there pronto for another night out. Top.

Great beer! Great atmosphere! I've been here a few times now and have always enjoyed myself. They have a unique seating set: a couple of long benches. Initially I'd thought this might not be ideal (maybe feel like to evading in other groups evenings) but this is not at all the case. First there is usually enough room for this not too happen. Second, everyone I've meet here are just cool people. They have the usually fantastic beer selection normal of the northern quarter. Given the name Soup kitchen, I probably should have tried a soup here, whiich unfortunately I have not. However I have heard good things about the soup from reliable friends.

The Northern Quarter definitely has a style. Quirky (often by overspecialising ludicrously), British (in the main) but not as you know it, cheap and well delivered. Soup Kitchen ticks all these boxes. Soup Kitchen is a cafe/bar which serves soup and sandwiches. That's pretty much it. Sure in the mornings they'll do you an omelette and when they stay open after 7 (not most nights) they sell a couple of different types of pies and Welsh rarebit, but really it's soup and sandwiches mostly. Being the NQ though, this doesn't hold Soup Kitchen back. A narrow menu allows expertise to be developed, and never is that better shown than here. Expect half a dozen different soups, changing daily. Also, expect unusual but not original sandwiches - like I said above, British but not as we know it (any more at least). Options like hot sausage and mustard, cheese and pickle, and even a full ploughmans platter are staples, ensuring Soup Kitchen offers something you can't get elsewhere. Such dependence on an eccentric style carries risks; fortunately, the execution is marvellous. I went with 9 friends to Soup Kitchen, so we sampled most of the menu, and everything is good. The soups are warm, thick and surprisingly filling. The sandwiches are rustically made, which means the bread is strong and the filling plentiful and delicious. Finally the pies are great. Good quality filling gives a strength of taste and wonderful pastry really elevates the pies to more than 'pub grub' or the like. This is hearty food, but not cheap and nasty food. Well, not nasty at least. The soups will set you back £3-4 a go, the sandwiches £4 but combine the two and you can use their excellent £5.50 deal, one of the bargains of Manchester in my opinion. The pies are a bit more, a small pork pie is £3.50 but a larger more serious portion is just the wrong side of £5. Nonetheless, 10 of us ate well and had drinks for under £80, beat that for a good night out. Speaking of drinks, the full bar offers plenty of variety and the standard NQ offer of loads of different teas is in effect. So why not 5 stars? Firstly, the menu. If you want a larger meal or even a hot main, you are severely limited which can make this somewhat risky to try out, especially given the ever-changing menu. Secondly, the service. The staff were all very nice when we went there, and we were a big party, but given the main selling point is soup 30 minutes was too long to wait for our order. Also, some of our food didn't arrive or was the wrong dish. Still, we were a party of 10. To summarise, go there. If you live nearby go every time you need a quick or good lunch (or breakfast), if not then try to swing by anyway. Just make sure you are flexible with your tastes; the menu may not have exactly what you want, but they do what they do very well. And for the prices they charge, it's a great meal.

A Manchester institution for some great old fashioned dining! The bench tables work very well for the space, never feeling too cliquey or elitist. The decor mixes student with medieval in a very comfortable way. The beers are a little pricey but the selection is nice for the size of the bar... The soup is delicious and hearty so no disappointments there, considering the name of the place! At night it's a great bar, the gig space is small but probably one of the best and most intimate in the city.

I love this place. Pure, heart-squishy love with cuddles and high fives. I have had lunch, dinner and afternoon tea here at various times and have never been disappointed. The selection of hearty and wholesome food is fantastic - great soups and delicious, body warming dishes, everything is good. It is what food should be - simple, tasty and makes your insides feel good. It is also a great place to come for a drink with mates - the long bench tables add a friendly communal feel to the restaurant and the drink selection and prices are great. Basically, just come here. It's awesome.

This review is for the Soup Kitchen basement where gigs take place, not the restaurant. Okay, I thought I was going to die of asthma in that hole that smells of rotten humidity and decay. I went to see AR Kane, who were fantastic, but I seriously had trouble breathing and had to leave earlier. Something needs to be done about that smell.

Soup kitchen is the place to been seen in the Northern Quarter if you want to cement your hipster cred. They have long wooden tables - "like Hogwarts" according to my companion. They also have a basement where you can go to dance.

No, not an actual soup kitchen for homeless people, but a lovely wee cafe bar in a hidden corner of the NQ. It's lovely, really. I'm with Elliot on the green fairy-like lady on the sign. She's hot. I love this place because I love soup. Homemade, chhunky, creamy, hot. I love soup and I love it served with nice bread in a nice place, and everything is nice. That's why I love Soup Kitchen. By night, it's a charming littel bar with live music and DJs. It can occasionally be rammed to the rafters, on weekends, but weeknights reveal a calmer, laid back side. It's basically the epitome of the NQ's bohemian roots. And I love it for that; there's no pretence here.

I firmly believe that the simplest ideas are always the best and the Soup Kitchen illustrates this perfectly by offering hearty, healthy and homemade grub. The reputation of the Soup Kitchen had preceded my first visit as I followed their mouthwatering daily menu tweets with growing anticipation, but my first taste was by coincidence when I happened to be looking for a 3pm late lunch one Saturday. What I love most about this place is that it is fuss free, there are no set times for noshing or restrictive seating arrangements. The canteen style seating makes for a really relaxed vibe and I like that they have the self-confidence to offer a few well chosen menu and drink options done exceptionally well. To top it all off my tasty, filling lunch and fancy beer came to just under a tenner - what more could you want really?

There are 2 sides to Soup Kitchen. Or possibly 3. 1. A place to have a drink afternoon or evening 2. Somewhere to eat some good and reasonably priced food 3 a club / gig venue. Lets start with the Drink. I'm not an ale drinker but my Husband is and he always seems pretty pleased with the options available to him. For me there are plenty of Cider and rum options. Its a sociable place, long canteen style tables and a few bar stools into the window. There isnt much standing room, but generally i've always managed to get a seat within around 15 minutes of being there. There are often DJs on in the evening lifting the quieter atmosphere of the day, although both are equally enjoyable. The food menu seems to change quite often, the last time i visited it was going through a Caribbean phase. I had the goat curry which was wonderful for just £6.50.....so great value for money too. And my husband, who wasn't feeling quite so hungry had the pattie for £3.50. I've eaten from previous menus too and Soup Kitchen has never failed to deliver. Its not corden bleu, its not faddy, its just good hearty food that never leaves me feeling disappointed. The club / gig venue is downstairs, its had a bit of a change around in more recent times with the bar being moved to the back of the room and the toilets having a much needed refurb (thank you). The sound is generally good (loud though...so take your ear plugs). Its a small room (at a guess around 150 - 200 capacity) and has a lot of newer bands booked in, so if you want to catch the next big thing just pick any night at Soup Kitchen. The best thing about Soup Kitchen as a gig venue is the height of the stage. No matter how far back you stand, you're guaranteed to get a good view! I like the soup kitchen, the feel, the food, the drink. They change as they need to without resorting to gimmicks. This one has been around for a long time, and i expect it will continue to outlive many of the other places within the northern quarter. Good work

5 kinds of soup, three veggies. Date! I love my soup big time and its great to know there is a place in the city centre always offering the homemade good stuff all day every day and always guaranteed an option for me! The actual place itself is lovely. Benches to share surrounded by a bar and chalk boards and leaflets, very casual, informal and welcoming. Cheap as chips and always open, what more could you want? Well I may be sneaking my own bread in next time but there will definitely be a next time!

What I most liked about eating here was the opportunity to meet complete strangers over a bowl of hearty soup. The decor is simple and homily and the food while not the best I've ever eaten is good if not a little over priced. I forget what soup I had but it came with a fresh bread roll which was a nice to mop up the rest of the soup. I do remember the beef, beer and chorizo stew which was incredibly filling but the vegetables could have done with a little bit more cooking. I'll come back and give it another go but this time in the evening so I can hear some of the live music they have on.

A group of five of us decided to hit up the NQ for some food and we decided on Soup Kitchen for somewhere a bit different. The canteen style offers a cool differentiator to the majority of places in the area. I had a couple of pints of a great local ale and curried goat with rice and coleslaw. Both the selection of ales and the food on offer looked great, with the curried goat coming in a good portion and tasting very good. The canteen lay out with benches makes for a very sociable atmosphere in a bigger group. Overall it is well worth a visit. However, I am deducting a star from what should be a four star review because I feel as it is a canteen, the prices for food should be a bit lower. Although it's not as no frills as somewhere like This and That, i feel pricing somewhere between where it is now and This and That would be more appropriate.

Liked the concept, what with the long wooden tables and benches in rows resembling the soup kitchen for that group of unemployed workers in Bugsy Malone. If only there was an impromptu rendition of 'Down & Out'... The 'music' in here the night we visited was overly-loud and overly-crap - so I was somewhat hoarse after trying to talk over it to my friends. They have a small selection of beers I hadn't come across before which were good but we didn't have anything from the food menu as we'd already eaten. I doubt I'd be returning here for drinks as there's so many better places where you can hold a decent conversation with a larger choice of offerings.

The Soup Kitchen was the first place I ever went to in the Northern Quarter. It opened a few years ago now, before this was the area to be seen in and all the rest of it. I'm happy to sat I love this place as much now as I did then simply because I love soup. Yum yum yum. Five different soups everyday, cooked fresh everyday and decided upon on that day. You can check their website before heading down to make sure they've got something you like but I can honestly say I've always enjoyed every soup I've ever got from there, even if it wasn't my first choice one. It's so cheap too! It's not just soup, they sell breakfast in the mornings and food later on the afternoon as well as also having some special nights of full three course meals! Check out the website for more details. Although I've never been to one of these I have to say I'm tempted by this Wednesday's Christmas themed one...! Great place to head to for a different lunch, especially when the days are getting colder.

Wandering back through the city after some drinks we decided we wanted to stop somewhere for food. On a Saturday night at 8pm this is not always an easy prospect and the first two places we stopped in either had a long wait or no room at all. I thought of Soup Kitchen which I've never been to before simply because the opportunity has never presented itself. Soup Kitchen is a kind of marriage of bar and cafeteria experience with long food hall benches in the middle a bar at one end and a hot food pass and the back. The food all sounded tasty variations on Caribbean food on this particular night. Not sure if thise changes or whether it's fairly standard for them. They had jerk chicken, goat curry or a veg curry, dumplings etc. I went for the jerk chicken and my partner had the veg curry. My chicken was fine but I hardly noticed if it was Jerk, didn't seem very spicy at all and honestly it was really no more than a bbq leg, the rice and peas sadly had very little flavour. Also it didn't appear to come with any of the sides described on the board which means most likely they'd run out and not bothered to update the boards. The veg curry was nicer but still a little un-flavoured for Caribbean food and came with the same rice and peas and bit of steamed veg. As a place you can walk into and grab food almost immediately it's pretty good and far healthier than other options around, but I did find all the food a little disappointing so I'm not entirely surprised that it was packed out, though it was still happily busy. The cask beer on offer was a decent selection and I would return for a beer, but I'd be unlikely to come back for the food unless I was in hurry to get somewhere else, which is a shame because I did like the vibe of the place on the whole.

Needing somewhere for a quick and cheap lunch I suddenly remembered about the Soup Kitchen, somewhere I'd not been to in years. Despite it's name they do offer alternatives to soup such as stews and salads, all written on a large blackboard by the counter as they change pretty much on a daily basis I think. It was pretty late in the day when I got there so I was the only one in and the choice of soups had dropped from 6 to 3 after selling out earlier on. I decided on the mushroom, ale and puy lentil which sounded pretty tasty but was actually quite disappointing. Not a huge amount of flavour and some of the mushrooms were a bit chewy as if they'd used dried and not full rehydrated them before cooking. The portion probably wasn't too bad but it wasn't the most filling of soups and due to my ravenous state I probably ate it in under 3 minutes, although priced at £3.50 including a big chunk of fresh bread you can't really complain. Being in there at 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon on my own with only a few staff members tidying up for company there was clearly not going to be any kind of buzz about the place so I can't judge the atmosphere too much but it did give me chance to notice just how scruffy this place is looking and that a lick of paint to brighten and tidy it up really wouldn't go amiss. I wouldn't rush back but it's not a bad option for a cheap lunch in an indie.

I realized my last review for Soup Kitchen did not exactly do justice because back then I didn't have a taste of their 'soup'. So I had a long morning and train journey from London and I was literally starving, that's exactly when lightning stuck my brains with a fabulous idea - I must try the soup at Soup Kitchen! I am very happy about this fantastic decision of mine because the soups did look delicious and it was just for 3.50 along with a healthy loaf of soft good quality bread (unlike other places where the bread is so hard that it takes ages to chew even after dipping it in soup). I must say I didn't exactly make the best decision on the soup (it was decent) I ordered (Hot and Sour noodle soup) because after that I regretted not ordering the Leak and Potato soup (well... next time). I was not completely satisfied after my soup so ordered for this delicious looking triple chocolate cake which tasted very nice (just a bit dry, wish they added a bit more butter in the batter) but I hate to say it -- I have had better. Verdict: Great place to go for lunch and post work drinks!

The Soup Kitchen have proved that their formula works. Always busy, this canteen offers 5 new soup choices every day as well as pies, sandwiches, chilli, curries, salads and incredible desserts at rock bottom prices. All the items including the cakes are created fresh daily by Gareth Phillips (who has worked at Greens, please see my review of this restaurant) to a high standard. From Broccoli and Stilton, Spiced Lentil and Bacon to Barley Broth, they're the perfect filler for lunch and easy on the pocket. I tend to come here in the winter months as it's quick, filling and extra warming.

My review is based on the Soup Kitchen playing host to my favourite band at the moment atr In the City. The musical conference held over three days in hail of the wonderful emerging talent included Slow Motion Shoes, a one-to-watch assemble. So the venue was very intimate let's say. The popularity of the bands on show that night was clear, every last space was filled in that room. It was unfortunately a struggle to the bar and back and to the toilets and back, not ideal. But luckily wonderful music was on the horizon. The bar staff were particularly lovely by the way so that helped the overly intimate environment. Overall the gig was excellent the sound people were doing their jobs and the drinks kept us in the right mood. Well done Soup Kitchen. Will be back for the soup. I've heard so much.

Delicious soup at a very reasonable price between £3 - £3.50 for soup and free bread, very decent coffee to. Great place to catch up with friends, am always going back!

I'd heard and read a lot of good reviews about this place prior to my visit and I was really looking forward to trying their food. Visiting midweek, the place was reasonably full, but we managed to find a space amongst the bench with relative ease. When buying food, Soup Kitchen has a canteen style approach, whereby you enter and go up and choose what you want to eat like you did at school, only here the food is great. I had their Pork Stew with brown rice which was excellent and full of flavour. As with most places in the NQ, there is a good selection of drinks available, with real ales on tap. I found the atmosphere relaxed and laid back. The prices were very reasonable for the quality of the food. We also managed to pick up some Veggie Rolls which they had on offer, to take out. These too were very nice. I'd definitely visit there again and would like to try it out at night too. I really like their philosophy of having proper homemade food through the day and events going on at night. It's a great business model and I hope that the place remains a success.

Great location, setting and staff but they always seem to run out of something on the menu. Food needs to be covered or glassed in as I always see little bar/midgy flies on the food. When busy, like you're back at school and the canteen is busy, great buzzy atmosphere.

The Soup Kitchen has only been open for a little while but has quickly become a favourite for its huge choice of freshly made soup, sandwiches and main courses throughout the day. It's always packed during the day where the customers grab their food and sit at one of the benches, chatting merrily to strangers on the same table and resisting the urge to flick the arty magazines and books that line the walls. It's full-on opulent here- chandeliers, huge candlesticks and great lighting make the place come to life during the day and by night, it turns into a den of main meals and nibbles to satisfy anyones appetite. Oh, and don't forget the puds.

I've been to Soup Kitchen twice and the food has been delicious both times. The service has been friendly however I would suggest that if three families with lots of children are left to run riot over the entire cafe the staff should have a word. I had a word to the parents myself and was met with a load of abuse. Having said that, as soon as those people left we had a great time and the vibe was relaxed and easy going. The wine is good and prices accessable. The choice of soups wide and varied. All the meals are very filling, I wouldn't eat before hand!

Awesome food, well presented in a rustic style. Delicious, filling and enjoyed in a pleasant atmosphere.

Really good food in the Northern Quarter. Everything made fresh and you sit on benches to eat. Free Wifi coming soon. This place is definatly focused on food and staff are friendly. Soups are good but they do much more than this. Not too expensive either. Just needs DJ's in the toilet.

With a bar/canteen upstairs and music venue downstairs, Soup Kitchen has it all. The basement is a perfect sweatbox for gigs and events, and is a great no-frills venue where you can get back to basics and have a good old dance (no VIP section or cocktail bar here). The bar is stocked with chilled cans and mixers, and the sound system is well suited to the space. Upstairs you will find a much wider selection of drinks as well as some of the best cheap eats in town. Laid out with long tables, the upstairs bar is great for group meals during the day, and mingling in the evening when the lights are turned low and a DJ booth pops up in the corner. Food is served canteen style, with a rolling selection of homemade comfort food and some truly fantastic soups (of course). Try the chocolate & cherry chilli or the French onion soup if you have the chance. On Sundays SK put on a fantastic roast with all of the trimmings, including tangy red cabbage and puffy Yorkshires roasted to perfection. They also have a wonderful selection of cakes, tarts and pastries if you have a sweet tooth, and all food is available to take away. SK is well worth a visit, especially if you are looking for good value food or somewhere to lunch with a large group.

We were here for drinks a couple of times. Both times we didn't enjoy our time at the Soup Kitchen. The place was overcrowded and some ridiculously loud music in the bar area made us look forward to changing venue (which we did). Drink selection is ok, but the average is rather expensive. Overall unimpressive, good that they are located in the Northern Quartern so we could move to someplace else.

Travelled the UK many times, hands down the best meal I've had in the country. Amazing roasted vegetables w goat cheese, sweet potato wedges and more.

The Soup Kitchen is a good bar in the Northern Quarter if you fancy a few laid back drinks with friends. I like the long wooden benches and stripped back décor. They also do a decent selection of wine and beer. My only complaint is how loud they play the music as it doesn't really fit in with the chilled atmosphere. Nevertheless the Soup Kitchen is always a good option and I will definitely be back.

Stumbled across this place while wandering around the Northern Quarter looking for food. In all honesty, the sandwich I got wasn't my favourite (roast veg and tomato chutney) and the service was pretty slow, but I like the vibe of the place so much and I think if I ordered something else I'd like it more, so I think it still deserves four stars. Also my iced coffee and crisps were tasty, and the cashier guy was friendly and struck up a conversation with me, leaving me with a good impression. They have plenty of veg options on the menu, and I think it would be a fun place during the live music in the evenings.

Have to agree with all positive reviews, it's a great place for food and atmosphere. They also host gigs, don't know how often, but in 2009 they even were one of Futuresonic venues for music events.

Really good food in the Northern Quarter. Everything made fresh and you sit on benches to eat. Free Wifi coming soon. This place is definatly focused on food and staff are friendly. Soups are good but they do much more than this. Not too expensive either

Check the times turned up at 11 as advertised and they dont open till 12 on a sat Put 1 star as didnt get in

Big, airy, boho-chic, with lots of communal seating. Great prices and selection of freshly made food. BobtailPets is right, there should be more places like this. I tried the Veggie Broth with Barley soup, and it had only a few grains of barley, while the veg were cooked in that endemically English way: boiled until they were completely lifeless. The broth was flavorful, though, so I'll go back to try other soups and steam table items. Note: the Soup Kitchen doesn't appear to open for evenings anymore.

This is a great place, a new type of place to grab a bite to eat or to sit and eat a main meal. There should be more places like this where people can grab a freshly made bite before either sitting down or taking it with you. It promotes healthy eating and is cheap and cheerful. By the night the place transforms and serves great main meals. I'm also a real dessert person and these are to die for! I recommend everyone gives this place a go at some point, beats some of the usual places you might grab your lunch when you're in a rush. 4 stars!