1761 and Lily’s Bollinger bar will open in November
A brand new two-floor restaurant and bar, inspired by the birth of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester, is set to open in the former Avalanche site on Booth Street next month.
On the ground floor will be 1761; a 130-cover restaurant serving modern British food and drink inspired by the city’s industrial past (1761 marking the opening of the Bridgewater Canal, which would spark the Industrial Revolution).
Downstairs, the opulent Lily’s Bar (named after Madame Lily Bollinger, enterprising member of the famous Champagne producing family) has been designed as the ultimate escape from the city above.
Handmade drapes, 500 locally hand-crafted pieces of furniture and a huge 18,000 litre fish tank filled with stingrays and other marine water fish will dominate the room. There will also be a secret drinking den, Lily’s Library, available for group hire, complete with its own private bar, projector and fireplace.
Designed to be both luxurious and welcoming, the new basement bar will offer cocktails on the theme of ‘a moment in time’, such as ‘Sparkling Cyanide’ and, of course, Bollinger by the bucket load.
This will be the first city centre site for operator Phil Healey, who has owned the Victoria Lounge in Glossop for three years. Phil grew up in Belle Vue and is a Mancunian through and through.
“I wanted to create something that is truly of this city,” he said. “For me the whole concept of 1761 is something from Manchester, in Manchester, for Manchester. It’s not cheesy or themed, but about creating a real feeling of pride and warmth for this city.”
Phil has created 40 new jobs, bringing together a top class hospitality team. The General Manager is Emma Greathead (ex-Beautiful Drinks/Almost Famous/Home Sweet Home) who says: “We hope to create something really exciting to reinvigorate this huge space which has been empty for so long.”
Salford-born Head Chef Oliver Walker, who won Scottish Young Chef Of The Year, as an apprentice, has since worked with some of the city’s best operators. Diners can expect dishes such as corned beef hash, enormous salt beef and pickle sandwiches, oysters and popcorn cockles. “For me, this menu is all about Manchester” he said, “I want to create dishes which are industrially inspired, using great local suppliers, while bringing back some traditional home comforts such as good old Manchester caviar” – that’s mushy peas to you and I.
Lily’s bar manager Jon Kloman said; “1761 is very much about the city’s identity and culture, whereas Lily’s is based a lot more around ‘The Golden Era’ - a place where you can lose yourself for hours. Having researched different historical movements and artistic cultures, we will deliver moments in time which will resonate with customers and help tell a story.”
The restaurant will open daily on Booth Street from 11am-10pm, for brunch, lunch and dinner. Lily’s Bar will be open from 12pm to 12am. Both will open to the public for the first time on Monday 13 November.
