Fress - tatty Northern Quarter newsagent turns trendy indie restaurant

The creeping food and booze takeover of Manchester’s most bohemian quarter shows no sign of abating, as another of Northern Quarter’s tatty old-timers turns indie newcomer.

Later this month sees the opening of new 40-cover restaurant and bar, Fress (Yiddish for pigging out), in the old newsagents at 62 Oldham Street, two doors down from beardy boozers bolthole, The Castle.

Set to open on Friday 30 June, this ‘Modern Victorian style’ venue – fitted with marble table tops, extravagant light fittings and black and ivory tiles – will focus on fresh and seasonal food billed as ‘continental food with global influences’ from breakfast to dinner, alongside a compact menu of coffee, cocktails, beer and wine.

The new indie venture comes from Jennifer Hargreaves, formerly of the Marriot and Albert’s in Worsley, and head chef Sam Morgan, of Manchester’s recently closed veggie restaurant, 1847.

Hargreaves tells us that dishes (max £15) will include: French onion soup and avocado hummus with pomegranate molasses, mains of frutti di mare risotto and beetroot and chilli spatzle (German dumplings), as well as brunch items from Full English to French Toast and chicken livers on sourdough.

She said: “Fress will be a stylish eatery, offering simple, honest food and great service" - something, let's be honest, this trend-obsessed neighbourhood lacks.