Mr Cooper’s is the other restaurant in The Midland Hotel, and where The French upstairs does the tasting menu thing, this is the more relaxed, everyday option. British brasserie cooking with a seasonal focus — think roast chicken with proper gravy, fish and chips that are a step above, and a Sunday lunch that regularly gets mentioned as one of the best in Manchester. The menu changes with the seasons and leans into comfort without being lazy about it.
The room is lovely. It’s named after the garden that used to sit on this site, and the interior plays on that with botanical touches, greenery, and a conservatory-style garden terrace that feels miles away from Peter Street. In summer the terrace is genuinely one of the nicest outdoor dining spots in the city centre. The bar area does good cocktails and is worth a visit on its own.
When to Go
Sunday lunch is the star here — book it. The roast beef with all the trimmings and a Yorkshire pudding the size of your fist is proper comfort food done in a beautiful setting. Mains range from eighteen to thirty-five quid. The pre-theatre menu is good value if you’re heading to The Palace or the Opera House after. Service is friendly and relaxed, matching the room.