Épernay Champagne Bar

I’m not Epernay’s biggest fan. I’ve been three times now and I believe it to be overrated.
The drinks and list are pretty good, but it takes forever to be served, and it ain’t cheap to say the least. On the last visit, we were ignored by the bar tender for quite some time and some large groups got ahead of us which was annoying. Probably a good 20 minutes to get served on a Saturday night which put a dampener on things.
Once you have a drink, the room is pretty awkward. There are a handful of tables that were full and then you are left with a moderately small room to stand in – with scant few places to rest your drink or put your coat down. There were a group of lads pushing and shoving us a bit, so we just finished our (£9 each) drinks and moved on.
When we were leaving, the bouncers were turning people away at the door «if you’re not on the list, you’re not coming in» style. That seemed strange to me as it wasn’t exactly packed for a weekend night bar. I think they try to hype it up to make it seem more appealing than it actually is. All in all, it isn’t welcoming, and it isn’t a good vibe when/​if you manage to get through the door.

I love this bar! I booked a table for a hen party after our afternoon tea at the Hilton. The various champagne cocktails on offer look and taste fabulous. Would definitely recommend for a special occasion if you are a champagne fan.

We booked a space following a conference and it was the best place to relax and enjoy some tasty drinks. It’s a two minute walk from the conference centre so it’s perfect to take clients or new friends you’ve met there.
We ordered a few different cocktails and tried a few of the champagnes and they were all delicious and served with flair. Even the mocktails were fantastic for our non-​drinking friend.
What I particularly liked was the music they played there which was chilled out indie.

I’ve been to this bar mainly for work nights out … one memorable one was our Christmas do in December: Vegas style. Arriving in my silk gloves and feather bower we we’re greeted with a glass or two of champagne and the room kitted out with roulette tables. The cocktails served up by the bar staff included some bramble gin based drinks and countless glasses of fizz. Anyone who knows me knows I am a fizz girl through and through!
I have since been back later in the year for a leaving do and the staff were just as great. The cocktail menu is very in depth with something for everyone! The bar has a great roof terrace which is fab for later summer evenings with that glass of champaz.
Although beware it may break the bank!

A first visit to Epernay and a pleasant one, rather than a WOW. Billed as a champagne bar; they do serve a good selection of other drinks including cocktails. A wide selection though of champagnes’ by the glass or bottle. A social group meet of 6 people and we were well served by table service at regular intervals, or you could go to the bar if necessary. They were not busy this particular evening; maybe with it being the start of the Pride/​Bank Holiday weekend. Nice surroundings, and we were able to sit outside on the balcony and enjoy the late summer weather. The only negative, being that the balcony now has to close at 9pm due to residents’ requests. Still an enjoyable time spent at Epernay.

Don’t come in here after midnight. They are keen to not serve you/​kick you out before official closing time! Disappointing!

I really love Epernay. I also like the place in France, though the bar is much easier to get to. I was invited to the opening party about 6 years or so ago but had a sickness bug on the day so couldn’t make it. Have been countless times since though, including a couple of Fridays ago after work (and this is what I am basing my review on).
We were celebrating an engagement plus two new trainees joining the team. My boss bought my first drink (bonus) so I went for red wine. Which might seem an odd choice in a champagne bar, but I was in a red wine kind of a mood. We then found a table in the glassy party of the bar. In the summer, I have stood on the terrace which is nice.
The red wine was absolutely lovely, maybe a bit too nice as I had several large glasses. It wasn’t cheap, though I didn’t keep an eye on the price.
As the time approached 8, it was time to go as I was going to the cinema (to see 50 Shades, like everyone else).
Cut forward a few hours, after the film, we decided to go back to Epernay, where I had a couple of glasses of champagne. Even after a few hours of not drinking, mixing red wine, prosecco (which I had whilst waiting for my friend at another bar) and champagne is not the best idea if you have things to do the next day and I really should learn not to do things like that.
The champagne was very lovely. I usually go for rose champagne but on this occasion, I had the normal. It’s £6.50 a glass which at only £1.50 more than the average glass of prosecco, is not bad value for my most favourite drink.
Overall, I highly recommend this place. I’ve sampled many cocktails here and never had a duff one, so whatever you’re drinking, you will enjoy it!

Nice relaxed atmosphere in here, have been twice and always find it to be quite quiet to be honest, but its perfect surrounding to enjoy a nice drink with the other half our catch up with some friends!
The cocktail menu seems to change, i’m not sure how often exactly but there’s plenty to chose from so i’m sure you will find something that takes your fancy!
Staff at the bar are friendly and helpful and even served drinks to the table which was a refreshing change! :)

This is a nice, classy but also relaxed place by Great Northern Square. As the name suggests, its a good place to have champagne with a wide selection.
The most recent time I went with a few friends, I had a nice cocktail. As Rachael T has said, most of the cocktails are champagne based. It was a weekend evening and late (ish) so it wasn’t busy at all. There is seating outside on the balcony but it was far too cold on this particular occasion!
On another occasion, I came for a champagne tasting event which was great. Excellent hosts and the champagne was lovely. And we also got to learn a bit more about champagne. If I remember right, their «house champagne» was one called Ayala which I thought tasted lovely.
A glass of champagne starts at £6.50 for a glass which isn’t too bad.

Do love this bar. Fab selection of (mainly) champagne based cocktails which change during the season with lighter ones being served in the summer and richer ones being served in the winter. If you have a favourite though they will make it for you if you ask.
As the name suggests they also have a wide range of champagnes.
Nice terrace area which is pleasant in the summer. Small bar area does tend to get busy on the weekend,
They will do table service when its quieter (normally during the week) which is always pleasant.

Great interior and fabulous service.
I met up with fellow Elite Rach for a pre event cocktail here last Monday. I’d been wanting to go for a while having heard great things about it. It’s upstairs next to Taps. The interior is cosy and classy, with nice tea lights on the tables and good décor. The staff were friendly and helpful, talking me through the drinks menu and making recommendations.
I chose a cocktail, ‘The Fall’, which was apple based. They brought over a glass of tap water as well which I thought was a nice touch for that time of day (about 6pm). The cocktail was really good with a garnish of a dried apple slice and mint leaf on top.
They have a fairly big space up there with a main bar section, a balcony which I would have wanted to sit on it it hadn’t been raining and also a back area where they offer nibbles I think. The prices are reasonable and the champagne by the glass selection is good with something for every budget.
I would definitely had back here if I was on a night out at that end of town. They’ve got every element right here and I want to try lots of the other cocktails.

This weekend was just one of the many times i’ve been to Épernay and every time it’s been great. It’s one of those lovely bars where you can really relax. The ambiance is calm, usually some music playing softly in the background, and isn’t really full of large groups but mainly couples.
Their wine and champagne list is extensive — which allows for everyone’s taste. The cocktails are fabulous too.
A lovely little terrace with just a few tables looks out over Great Northern Square and in the right circumstances (and the right weather) can be really cute and kind of romantic.
Unfortunately this weekend it was freezing, so we had to sit inside — but just as cute with all the candles and fairy lights.
The staff are always friendly — even when they were politely asking me to leave at 2.30am so they could all go home.

Epernay is a champagne bar located above Taps next to Great Northern. It has a lovely sunny terrace and a large bar area with an extension on the back so lots of space. I know a few of the bartenders here and they are fabulous, in fact, 2 of them have been in the finals for national competitions.
They have a good range of champagne and wine (naturally being a champagne bar) with an extensive cocktail list. It is a shame they are called a champagne bar in many ways as their cocktails rival some of the so named cocktail bars in the city. The house champagne is very good and not too badly priced although the cocktails can be expensive after a couple!
Despite the upmarket feel this is a friendly place that I have never seen bustling, and I went in on New Year’s Eve. The bar staff are the chatty kind so it is even pleasant to go on your own, have a natter then take to the terrace with a glass of fizz and a good book. Or is that just me…

I always enjoy it when I have a few drinks at Epernay and this time was no exception. The place was a bit quieter than usual but the background piano music gave it a nice laid back feel. The cocktails were very good I had a Jane Mansfield and a Mai Tai and they were not too badly priced at around £6.50. Will no doubt be back again soon for a midweek tipple.

When we walked into Epernay early on a Friday night there was plenty of spare seating and the music was on fairly low so I immediately LOVED it. They’ve got a range of bottled beers although not much (anything?) on tap. They have a range of inexpensive cocktails (around £6.50 I think) as well as fancier ones and also, of course, champagne. The bar staff were really nice — it probably makes a difference that the place is not rammed so they don’t end up hating life!
Overall a very chilled place to come for after work drinks, a little bit glam but not stuffy and lots of room if you’re a group.

With the wet, wild and windy weather we’re having, I was feeling like a bit of a mess come Sunday afternoon — I’d eaten my huge meal at Common, had a relax in front of the box, then had to head out again to show the boyf’s mum and friends somewhere nice before their cocktails at Cloud 23.
After being to Epernay a few times, I decided I could match their level of class; the ladies were very nicely dressed up, and I just about matched, but Epernay on Sunday is a different atmosphere than say, a Saturday. A few very well dressed couples but others just wanting a quiet drink.
The service was very friendly and we were served at the table, which hasn’t happened before. The waiter was more than happy to chat about the perfect shaped glasses for champers (tulip, don’tcha know) and the regions of France that are best for vintage champagne.
Our drinks were reasonably priced, with 2 glasses for £12, making our overall order cheaper than buying a bottle. Unfortunately they were out of the majority of specialty beers, due to not getting the order delivered on Sunday, but the boyf made do with a heineken.
Another lovely experience at one of my favourite bars in Manchester — if only I could afford it more often.

Yesterday was my first ever visit to Epernay, even though I had been to Taps (the bar on the ground floor) several times before, for some reason I never bothered to go upstairs. One of the main reasons for that could be that I always assumed it is one of those ultra pretentious bars, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised.
Epernay definitely looks the part of being a posh, upmarket bar but it definitely isn’t uptight or should I say all the negative presumptions I had were wrong. It actually is a very chilled out bar with great cocktails (I had a gin and stawberry one, can’t remember the name) and a lovely outdoor balcony. The dim lights, warm feel, comfortable couches and great cocktails makes it a perfect venue for a relaxed date (there you have one more place in manchester to take out that special someone). The price is reasonable for a deansgate bar, definitely wouldn’t call it over priced. They also happen to serve food here which I have not tasted so I better not pass any comments about that but from what I saw they looked pretty darn good (need to get back here to try the food). Even though the name is french but I did not get any French vibe or feel here, makes me wonder why they would have this name then (well that’s just me though).
Verdict: One of the better bars in Manchester!

Un sitio muy bonito dónde se puede tomar vino, champán, y riquisímos cócteles de champán. Con vistas muy bonitas desde la terraza del segundo piso (o desde la mesa justo dentro de las ventanas, ¡porque en Inglaterra hace friiiiio!). Precios adecuados, ni bajos ni altos. Parece que también al fondo hay un restaurante que tenía un pintazo, todo super elegante y la decoración con mucha clase.
Te lo recomiendo para unas copas o cócteles con los colegas después del trabajo, o también para una botella de champán para celebrar cualquier cosa. ¡Nada mejor que el champán para celebrar!

LOVE this place now. It may just be my bar of choice outside of the NQ.
Thanks to Emma-​Louise for introducing this place into my heart, after our disappointing cocktail afternoon tea at Beluga we were in need of a real cocktail with real alcohol! And this place is just simply the best. During our visit on a Saturday afternoon the waiters made us plenty of cocktails both on and off the menu.
Be aware if every Saturday is the same here — you’ll be lucky to get a table!
Also, this place gave me my first taste of Brockmans Gin. Its ace. Ace of Base.

Now first of i am not a fan of champagne/​wine or any other grape based alcoholic drink. Don’t get me wrong I have nothing against them, they just attack my Bourbon trained taste buds :)
I’ll leave a review of the event i attended until another time and base these ramblings on other aspects of Epernay.
For a start it is a really nice looking and comfy place, really not the type of place any self respecting Nor Cal loving Thrash Metal Fan would usually hang out. But every so often there is nothing wrong with a little indulgence. My indulgence is a nice Rum based cocktail called funnily enough a Zombie (What else?).
After the event myself and Mrs Z retired to the balcony/​patio area for a hit of nicotine and a cocktail. Mrs Z opted for a Mojito, which she liked but added that it was’t the best she’d ever had (Refined Living Dead pallet). That honour goes to a beautiful Cuban bar in Fuerteventura. My Zombie was very, very nice, a beautiful blend of Rums, pineapple and sugar. It hits the legs, and lets face it that’s what you want isn’t it??. Alas it also wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, that honour goes to, yep a nice Cuban place in Fuerteventura, see a thread here at all?
This is of course not designed to put Epernay down at all, it is after all a Champagne Bar and not a Central American/​Carribean cocktail bar. If myself and Mr Zombi were having a nice weekend in the Heartland then Epernay would certainly be a port of call, and that is why it deserves a 4 from me…
P.S if it was on here, a certain little Cuban place in Fuerteventura would get 6 :)

Epernay in Northern France is best known as the capital for Champagne around the world. Aptly named, the owners began this champagne bar venture in Leeds 5 years ago bringing it to Manchester last year. The restaurant «Taps» downstairs is owned by the same people but that’s a Unilocal for another day.
If there is a champagne out there Epernay is likely to stock it. They really have done their homework in this place. It’s not just champagne the bar stocks either, other premium spirits are also on the menu. I would recommend Chase potato Vodka from the same people that brought you Tyrrells crisp and E[8] rum branded king of rum. It comes in platinum and gold.
The place is pricey but that’s because it’s aimed mainly at the corporate and affluent leisure market. They are always holding events so add them on facebook and check them out, you won’t be disappointed. Epernay is a welcome addition to the high-​end bar trade in Manchester. I can imagine the people who live above Epernay are regulars and lucky to have such a cool venue in their building. If you can’t make it to one of the nights they put on if you want to impress a friend or a date save up some pennies and take them Epernay way, you’ll have a Unilocalin good time I tell thee…