Spring is in full swing. Here’s what we’ve spotted in the Manchester food and drink scene this month.
UPCOMING OPENINGS
Nonna’s Pasta, Deansgate Square
Thursday 20th April
Manchester’s pasta scene is thriving at the moment and Italian restaurant and bar Nonna's Pasta (pictured above) plans to continue raising the bar with their new permanent fixture at Deansgate Square following a successful pop-up period in October. They describe their menu as ‘Italian food with an American influence’ and plan to continue making their authentic pasta with a twist.
EL&N, The Trafford Centre
Friday 21st April
Dubbed ‘London’s most Instagrammable hotspot’, popular pink café EL&N is making its way to the Trafford Centre’s Palazzo as part of an agreed lease by Peel L&P. Expect aesthetically pleasing brunch items in a photo-ready setting.
As part of their launch, the first 150 people to visit on opening day will receive a free brunch and a NARS makeover. Doors open at 12 noon.
Knoops, Cross Street
Friday 21st April
Chocolate lovers, rejoice - there’s a brand new spot for you to get your hot choccy fix. Artisan hot chocolate brand, Knoops are making Cross Street their home - the first of its kind in the North West, following in the footsteps of its sibling stores in Oxford and London. Whether you like your chocolate hot or cold, you’ll be surprised how many different ways they can make it with all their add-ons and flavourings. You can even choose how strong you like your chocolate, from mild and sweet to strong and bitter. Go wild.
CLOSURES
As they say, all good things eventually come to an end and we’ve sadly lost another handful of fantastic hospitality businesses. We wish them all well with any future ventures, but for now, here are some of the names we’ve had to say goodbye to this month…
Alphabet Brewing Company, Manchester
After more than 10 years on the craft beer scene, Alphabet Brewing Company has sadly closed its doors. The Manchester-based craft brewery took to their socials to share the sad news on 14 April and have since received an overwhelming response from fans expressing their sorrows and wishing them all the best for the future. The announcement gave thanks to ‘everyone who drank a Juice Springsteen, popped down to the Taproom and supported [them].’
Draft, Sale
After opening in Sale’s Stanley Square three years ago, the owners of Draft craft beer bar decided to cease trading with immediate effect after struggling to keep afloat with the rising cost of living and soaring energy prices. The decision didn’t come lightly and was made ‘with a heavy heart’ as they expressed in an Instagram post made in late March. The post gave thanks to their team of staff for their unwavering service, lovingly referring to them as 'Draftonites’.
Doctor Feelgood & The Glass Spider, Stockport
Stockport-based rock bar Doctor Feelgood has also closed its doors, announcing the news on social media earlier this month. A post made on Facebook on 3 April by owner, Joseph Patten told how the concept for the bar was ‘born from a mixture of lockdown, watching The Dirt on repeat on Netflix and a desire to bring a venue that plays rock music through and through.’
Patten also made the difficult decision to close another of his bars, The Glass Spider within the same timeframe. At the time of writing, Patten’s smaller Stockport bar, The Cracked Actor still remains open.
Levanter, Bury
Levanter by Baratxuri announced their closure on social media on 4 April, leaving their following with a heartfelt message of how they’d tried so hard to stay open. The tapas bar and restaurant said the reason for their closure was a mixture of things but, ultimately, it was down to highstreet and suburb-based hospitality ‘being so squeezed [they] cannot breathe or see a single sunlit upland’. They’ve left their website live with a message thanking their customers for all their support over the last nine years.
NEW FACES
The Little Dutch Cafe, Altrincham
Lockdown-born pop-up business, Papa Dutch has opened a permanent home in popular Altrincham party square, Goose Green. The business will be selling stroopwafels (rich, syrupy waffles, served with optional ice cream), light and fluffy dutch pancakes and shakes with all different kinds of toppings. The Little Dutch Cafe is open from midday every day apart from Sunday and there’s even outdoor seating to enjoy something sweet on a warm summer’s day.
M’ama Italiano, Arndale Food Market
The new kid on the Arndale Food Market block is M’ama Italiano - a deli-style offering specialising in Italian classics done well. From savoury dishes like lasagna and meatballs to sweet treats including donuts, profiteroles and, of course, tiramisu, M’ama Italiano will be bringing authentic and homely Italian cuisine to the people of Manchester.
New head chef, The Barn at Moor Hall
Michelin starred restaurant, The Barn at Moor Hall welcomes a new head chef. Kane Williams will be taking over as head chef at The Barn at Moor Hall. Kane has been working closely with owner, Mark Birchall, to create exciting new menus which celebrate ‘the best of seasonal ingredients’ - most of which are grown within Moor Hall’s five-acres of surrounding land. Kane joined Moor Hall in 2017 and has worked his way up the rankings from sous chef.
Nightcap, Northern Quarter
Nestled in the basement underneath Hilton Street’s Another Heart To Feed lies new late night cocktail bar, Nightcap. Complete with original tiling, booths and an intimate red lighting, Nightcap is the Northern Quarter’s latest underground bar offering a complete juxtaposition to the brunch cafe upstairs. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, 6pm - 2am, this new late bar is ideal for date nights and dancing.
Oppio Lounge, Altrincham
Altrincham also welcomed another new addition, Oppio Lounge, to their highstreet last week. The Lounges company, who have over 100 bars and restaurants across the UK, offer relaxed dining including brunch items, tapas, burgers and cocktails. The dog-friendly eatery has regular deals throughout the week, including ‘Tapas Tuesdays’ and a Sunday-to-Thursday happy hour club known as ‘Teatime Tipple’.
RESIDENCIES
Seven Bro7hers and Three Little Words join Kampus
Kampus, the trendy neighbourhood packed with bars and restaurants just off Canal Street has announced that Seven Bro7hers and Three Little Words will be taking up a residency this summer.
Gin distillery and bar, Three Little Words will be taking over the bungalow whilst Seven Brothers Brewery takes up a short stint in Minshull Warehouse complete with indoor and outdoor seating for those long summer nights.
NEW MENUS & EVENTS
Ducie Street Warehouse, Manchester
Ducie Street Warehouse has announced a refresh of its ‘Something for Everyone’ menu following a changing of the seasons. Executive chef Scott Munro has elevated the menu ready for spring and the social dining that comes with it. Dishes are light and airy and include pastas, salads, bao buns and tacos, designed for sharing over catch-ups.
Provence, Spinningfields
Relaxed wine bar, Provence begins its monthly wine tasting events on Thursday 27 April, kicking off with their ‘around europe’ session. The laid back sessions are open to everyone regardless of wine knowledge and include five (full sized) measures of selected wines accompanied by pairing nibbles. Wine tasting sessions run from 7 - 8:30pm and are priced at £45 per person. Pre-booking is required.
Three Little Words, Deansgate
As well as their upcoming residency at Kampus, distillery, bar and restaurant Three Little Words have launched their latest cocktail menu. Alongside their offering of creative and unique, expertly blended cocktails is their spring food menu. Designed as small plates, the new food menu includes twists on classics like mussels Mariniere and artisan sausage rolls.
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