Your bumper briefing of news and what to look out for
Amber’s Club to open in December
Firstly, how fantastic to have a club opening in Manchester that doesn’t seem to have the fingerprints of Sacha Lord all over it.
Instead, Amber’s Club - set to open in December in the Canvas site of Circle Square - comes courtesy of a collaboration between fabric and Rinse FM resident Hutch, heads from Un.titled Studio, Nothing Forced agency and - surprisingly - Sam Grainger, chef and partner in Madre and Medlock Canteen.
Sam’s team have already steered us away from incessant sushi with Madre and Medlock Canteen, so there’s no reason he can’t do the same for what we do after we’ve eaten and head out into the night.
Secondly, you’re not having your pants pulled down for a ticket, with £5 advance tickets and unannounced DJs ensuring there isn’t the usual bumrush that really only benefits a select few.
And lastly, there’s no photography allowed. In a world where seemingly you can’t just do something, but have to be seen to be doing it, this is a blessed relief.
A statement on the club’s Instagram reads: “Amber’s is a no phones club.
“This will add to the overarching vibe in the room and protect the experience for both dancer and DJ.
“Upon entry, phone cameras will be covered. We ask that everyone plays their part in respecting the concept.
“Preserving the moment allows for the connection that leads to euphoria.
“No photos. No filming. No flash.”
Edinburgh Castle announce new signing
Gallas for Cole, Eto’o for Ibrahimovic, and now Lea for Moffat.
Straight swaps are always a bit of fun for the casual observer; a curious and rare instance of balance, clean breaks and the sort of resolution that only really happens in romantic comedies.
Much-reported in these pages, Shaun Moffat left Edinburgh Castle and has taken up the head chef spot at MAYA. And now MAYA’s former top pan-rattler Gabe Lea has ‘gone the other way’ as Jim White would put it, stepping behind the line at Ancoats favourite Edinburgh Castle.
Stretford-born Gabe - once of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Northcote and The French - plans to bring some of his French culinary training to the upstairs dining room at Edinburgh Castle, which will still focus on local produce and seasonality, promising the best local and seasonal ingredients.
“I’m really excited to join the team at Edinburgh Castle and looking forward to what we can achieve together,” he said. “The pub and restaurant have a great reputation and I look forward to building on that with classical dishes, great flavours and working closely with our suppliers to bring forward great menus in line with the seasons.”
The Book of Manchester, a city in short stories
Here at Confidentials we love a local independent with something to say (I wonder why), and longstanding local publisher and champion of Mancunian voices, Comma Press, have released The Book of Manchester, a collection of 12 short stories by 12 of the city’s finest authors from the past and present.
Here’s a bit about the book courtesy of Comma Press.
“Manchester has a reputation for being one of the UK’s loudest cities. From its smoggy inception as the first industrial city to its proud traditions of protest and activism, to blazing a trail in the British music scene, the city has always been defined by an inexorable sense of urgency and activity. No wonder, then, that it feels compelled to shout so loudly about its accomplishments.
“In stark contrast, The Book of Manchester is more concerned with dialling down that sometimes deafening hubris. As international investment pours into the city, reshaping its skyline, these stories ask: at what cost?
“From the pair of homeless friends intent on shattering the ‘Manctopia’ property dream, to the middle-aged fangirl feeling abandoned by both her husband and her city, we follow the struggles of ordinary residents navigating a city in dramatic flux – stories of thrilling quietude that might otherwise be lost amid the roar and clamour.”
The Grosvenor announces opening date
As we reported at the start of this month, onetime student favourite The Footage is due to be reborn as The Grosvenor, and has now announced it will open on Saturday 2 November.
Here’s a bit about the launch.
“Following its £1 million revamp, The Grosvenor will welcome the public into the immersive space on Saturday 2nd, from 5pm with a free bar until 7pm for all attendees, who have signed up to the venue’s newsletter here. The launch night will feature renowned Manchester club night Edit Presents.
“The Grosvenor is set to become a go-to spot for live sports, featuring a 5-metre screen broadcasting major events. To celebrate, they've partnered with TNT Sports to showcase the real Premier League trophy on Sunday 3rd November, ahead of the Manchester United vs Chelsea game at 4:30pm.”
Chris Tulloch, Managing Director of the company behind the transformation, said: “We are so excited to announce that The Grosvenor will officially open its doors on Saturday November 2nd and to welcome the community back into this historic space.
“Our team can’t wait for everyone to step into this exciting new space and experience the fun, whether that’s diving into the ball pit, dancing to live music, or grabbing a bite and a pint and watching sports, all while being surrounded by the rich history of this remarkable building.”
Aiden Byrne announces opening date
Aiden Byrne has announced the opening date of his and wife Sarah’s restaurant in Knutsford, Li~ly by Aiden Byrne.
Following a successful crowdfunder work on the grade II listed building has been underway and the opening date is set for Thursday 14 November.
Here’s a few words from Aiden and Sarah on what they plan to bring to Knutsford.
“Our vision is simple: to create a warm, inviting space where regional and fresh produce take centre stage. By opening our doors for four evenings and three lunches each week, we aim to ensure that every dining experience is exceptional, both in terms of food quality and customer service.”
Archies Atomic gets its skates on ahead of opening
Bookings are now open for Archie’s Atomic, the new entertainment destination from the northern burger behemoth that is due to open on Thursday 7 November, and is set to include the north’s largest leisure roller rink.
Located in a whopping 5,000 sq. ft. space in Trafford Palazzo, it will also boast a state-of-the-art arcade, diner and milkshake bar.
Nuno Lopes, Operations Director at Archie’s, said: ”We’re incredibly excited to announce the date for Archie’s Atomic and welcome everyone into the venue this November.
“The venue is starting to take shape as we near completion and the iconic pink Archie’s branding makes its way to the Trafford Palazzo. We can’t wait for everyone to see the venue in only a few weeks time as we take the Archie’s brand to the next level with Archie’s Atomic.”
Autumn menus galore
Silly season is upon us, but that needn’t mean you pay stupid prices when you go out to eat. Here’s some autumnal offerings from a few spots in the city and beyond.
Society autumn menu
All five of Society’s street food specialists have created new dishes for Autumn.
Here’s a few examples of what to expect this autumn. I hope you like pumpkin.
- Pumpkin Cream Pizza from Noi Quattro pizzeria. Their signature Neapolitan crust with a pumpkin cream base, Italian sausage, ricotta, toasted pumpkin seeds and crispy fried sage.
- Manzoku have introduced a spiced pumpkin bao and a pumpkin-based variation on their iconic katsu curry with panko breaded pumpkin, pickles and java curry sauce. Other new seasonal dishes include a hoisin duck uramaki roll, sriracha fries and a cucumber salad with sesame and chilli.
- Slap & Pickles’ spooky season special is a stacked Halloween burger with their signature Swaledale double beef smash-patties, pumpkin spice mayo, lettuce, double cheese and maple-glazed crispy bacon on a toasted charcoal bun.
Mowgli festive menu
Mowgli are swerving the traditional turkey dinner in favour of a festive feasting menu.
At £35 per person and running from 4 November to 5 January, if you're planning a Christmas get-together or organising a festive meal with colleagues and don’t fancy an olympic swimming pool of cranberry sauce to get you through, this looks like the one.
Book here at any of Mowgli’s restaurants.
Fenix autumn menu
Fenix has now introduced new seasonal dishes from head chef Zisis Giannouras that will join the menu, focusing on incorporating warmer ingredients with heartier and richer recipes.
Expect dishes like Spicy Feta Dip, the return of the Broken Down Tart, made with pulled lamb shank and parsnip béchamel, truffle and oyster mushrooms and tuna truffle and caviar tartare.
Picture of the week
Our picture of the week comes courtesy of regular reader Nigel Lea, who sent in this photo of some signage wordplay found near Stamford Park in Altrincham.
“So good to see that the local ‘Yoof’ are appreciative of classic Manchester bands whilst on their way to Stamford park to do whatever it is they do in there,” said Nigel.
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