Idle Hands Coffee — Restaurant in Manchester

If I could give negative stars, I would. My visit to Idle Hands was nothing short of a nightmare, filled with the most appalling and rudest staff I've ever encountered. The experience was not only horrifying but also deeply disturbing on multiple levels.

From the moment I walked in, I was ignored by the barista who was busy on a personal phone call, laughing and gossiping loudly. When I finally got her attention, she glared at me and said, "Can't you see I'm busy? What do you want?" I ordered a simple latte and a muffin, and she sighed dramatically, muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like a racial slur.

After waiting an eternity, during which I watched multiple customers who arrived after me get their orders, I checked on mine. I was rudely told, "It'll be ready when it's ready." When my order finally came, the latte was lukewarm and half-spilled, and the muffin looked like it had been dropped on the floor. I asked for a replacement, and the barista rolled her eyes, snatched the plate from me, and threw it in the trash, saying, "Happy now?" without offering a replacement.

As I looked for a clean table, I noticed a young mother discreetly breastfeeding her baby in the corner. A staff member walked over and told her loudly, "You can't do that here. It's disgusting and inappropriate." The mother was visibly embarrassed and tried to explain that she was covered and discreet. The staff member retorted, "I don't care. Take it somewhere else, or leave."

Appalled, I tried to find a clean table myself, but every single one was covered in crumbs, spilled drinks, and sticky residues. When I asked a staff member to clean a table for me, she threw a dirty rag at me and said, "Do it yourself."

To top it all off, the restroom was a health hazard—overflowing trash, unflushed toilets, and no soap. I decided to speak to the manager about the series of unfortunate events. The manager, lounging in the corner scrolling through her phone, barely looked up. When I finally got her attention, she smirked and said, "If you don't like it, leave. We don't need your business."

What really broke me, however, was when one of the staff members kicked my service dog, who is trained to detect my epileptic seizures. When I confronted her, she said, "Get that filthy animal out of here. We don't allow pets." I explained that he was a service dog, and she laughed, "I don't care. Leave now, or I'll call the cops."

I left feeling humiliated, unsafe, and deeply disappointed. Idle Hands is a disgrace to customer service and human decency. Save yourself the trouble and stay far, far away from this horrendous...

Visited today as I had read about this place and I’m a coffee freak. Sorry but it’s just my thing. Anyway, I ordered an espresso, a long black with some milk and the avocado on toast. They offered me a choice of coffees for my drink and I thought this is a good coffee place to have a choice. I then noticed they had beans for sale so I asked about what kinds and what do they have in dark and light roasts. The girl serving was totally clueless and asked the gentleman making the coffee. He was also unhelpful and just pointed to a shelf and said we have beans over there. I sorted it myself but left me thinking they have no idea about beans and the types. So long black arrived and the milk. Oh my days. So bitter. The extraction was totally off. So in went all the milk to get the bitter taste down. Food arrived and was very nice but seemed they had forgot about my espresso. It came. Obviously made with the same setting as the long drink and the temp was also down on both drinks. I don’t mind it Lukewarm but this was down on that. I always order an espresso in any coffee house as it gives a good indication of things. So food was good but I went for great coffee but didn’t arrive. Had to go to another coffee house to cheer myself up. Ok everyone has an off day perhaps this was it. But I tested them with knowing about the beans and they failed. I’m not asking for much from a named good coffee house. Sort your extraction and learn about...

I had been to Idle Hands for a takeaway coffee a few times and had been disappointed by the disinterested staff, but put it down to the “vibe” and the fact I’m not their core, MacBook wielding, demographic. But I had to walk out today.

As I entered and walked up to the counter, one member of staff was making someone’s order but didn’t look up to acknowledge me, there was another member of staff in the kitchen who also didn’t acknowledge me, and another member of staff who eventually sidled round the counter but also didn’t acknowledge me.

Now, I appreciate that the person making someone’s order wouldn’t drop what she was doing to serve me, but a simple “I’ll be with you in a minute” would go a long way. Then for the second member of staff to sidle round to the counter, and also not even acknowledge me with eye contact, let alone take my order, is just dreadful customer service. I gave it a minute or so, hoping to finally have my order taken, and left.

I know Idle Hands won’t miss me as a customer, but I won’t be returning.

The coffee is good, but the attitude of the staff is...