Barely had the paint dried on Spinningfields’ new pop-up caffeine haunt Caffeine & Co when we received the news that up until New Year, it'll be transformed on weekend nights into a trendy new dinky drinking den called Neukölln (pronounced Neykon). Opening times will be Thursday to Sunday 6pm–11pm.
By transform we mean shift all the coffee stuff to one side and move all the boozey stuff in for the night.
“We love a value night out and Neukölln wants to give people great simple food, paired some of the world’s best booze in a well designed space."
Named after the hip district of Berlin which has given rise to the DIY ‘living room bar’, all low-slung roofs, soft lighting and people too cool for even themselves, these bars are notoriously small scale low-key affairs.
If you’ve ever been to one in the south easterly suburb of Berlin, you’ll know that many aren’t more than a fridge or two full of beers on rotation, a smattering of spirits, perhaps two kinds of wine (red and white), some music and a couch or two to plonk on and get plonked on.
Neukolln interior
Initially Neukölln shall be offering a list of beers and craft ale including Jever Pilsner, Erdinger Weisse, Anchor Breckkies Brown from the USA, Norway’s Nogne Pale Ale and the UKs Thornbridge Jaipur. On top of this there’ll be Appleton’s rum, Elijah Craig bourbon, Death’s Door gin, Finlandia Vodka, two single malts and whatever wine they can get in for around £4.50 a glass or £20 a bottle. Casual, we like that.
There’ll also be food on offer, grouped into three parts from Caffeine & Co’s bakery and kitchen: bars snacks with pork crackling, chipolatas and nuts, homemade bread with beef, fish or a veg option and a hot slow cooked daily special.
You can have anything you want, as long as it's one of these
Claire Howells from Neukölln and Caffeine & Co said: “We love a value night out and Neukölln wants to give people great simple food, paired with some of the world’s best booze in a well designed space. The price for a meal with drinks will be around £20 per head or less which we hope will appeal both to the people of Spinningfields and the rest of Manchester.”
Neukölln shan’t be the only Germanic inspired offering to land in Spinningfields this festive season. Just over the ice rink you may have seen Long Bar adding a wooden wing to its southerly side. The Bierhaus is a take-on a Bavarian beer hall complete with steins, frankfurters, pretzels and a Haus brass band.
Lasst uns betrinken.
Launches Thursday 14 November, Quay House, Byrom Street, M3 3JE
Follow @NeukollnMCR on twitter.
Find out more about Long Bar's Bierhaus here @thelongbarmcr.
Follow @David8Blake here.
