The new Northern Quarter venue with a special message that's offering an 'alternative to the typical noisy bar'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A new alcohol-free bar is to open in the Northern Quarter - making it the first ever sober bar in the area. Hinterland will be based within the basement of the Manchester Buddhist Centre on Turner Street and will serve up a selection of alcohol-free cocktails and beers that have all been sustainably and ethically sourced.

The concept comes from three friends who wanted to create a space where people could meet up and socialise in an alcohol-free and friendly environment.

With that in mind, the venue will also feature Conscious Connection Cards on each table offering guests a chance to ponder over and discuss a series of thought-provoking questions. READ MORE: Greater Manchester fish and chip shop with queues down the street named one of UK's best Stephen Jeffreys, one of the co-founders of Hinterland, said of the idea behind the bar: “Hinterland is about creating a space where people can develop meaningful friendships and have deep conversations without the need for booze.” Stephen, 33, said he gave up drinking five years after struggling with alcohol addiction.

He explained that his addiction began as his social life continued to be ‘centred around drinking’ and led to problematic behaviour. “Like so many people, drinking started out as a way to see my friends, but soon after that, it became the only way I would hang out with my friends,” he explained. “My social life became centred around drinking, and this made it very hard for me to realise that I had a problem with alcohol. “When I, later on, started struggling with depression and anxiety, I would resort to alcohol as an escape from these difficult emotions.