The first thing people asked me about after my weekend getaway in Manchester was how the food was.

To which I answered that some of it (Wetherspoon’s chips) was truly aweful and some was absolutely brilliant.

And the Soup Kitchen is definitely on the truly great side of things!

Serving up freshly prepared, delicious British café food (think soup, sanwiches, jacket potatoes…), it’s a neighbourhood gem and Mancurian favourite come lunchtime!

Come early and set camp on one of the long wooden communal tables with some coffee while the kitchen get the last of the lunch prep ready.

Within minutes, the room fills up with regulars coming in for a taste of the Soup Kitchen’s delicious food (and Pinterest-worthy decor).

Old crockery, a collection of cookbooks, honey-coloured wood everywhere and enough knick-knacks to keep your eyes busy for days, Soup Kitchen feels just like home (a much better organised and instagramable home, that is!)

Plus, no need to slave away in the kitchen to get something nice and healthy on the table, Soup Kitchen’s lovely staff got it covered!

There are fresh, vibrant salads.

Perfectly cooked, steaming hot jacket potatoes.

Juicy & spicy jerk chicken waiting to be piled high onto plates.

And a few other Jamaican-inspired delicacies in case you’re feeling a bit peckish!

But the main event? The Soup, obviously!

Thick, creamy, flavourful concoctions generously ladled into enamel bowls and the Soup Kitchen’s best seller.

Get a bit of everything onto a tray, hurry back to your table and get tucked in without any delay!

Velvety Tomato & paprika soup.

An absolute dream on a cold day!

Jerk chicken ‘dumpling’ with coleslaw.

Crunchy, spicy, wholesome and comforting all at once!

And a gigantic Saltcod & veggie fritter.

Surely one of the best dippers that was ever invented!

Now, if only the Soup Kitchen could set store near my office so I could keep going back for delicious goodness in a bowl (and a side of fluffy bread roll smothered in salted butter)…

In the meantime, I’ll definitely go back next time I go up North (and so should you!)

Find them here

Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear St, Manchester M1 1DF