Pies, pizzas and pop ups prevail as the new crew keep on coming
While the old guard stay afloat by welcoming savvy midweek diners taking advantage of the Eat out to help out scheme, the newbies just keep on coming.
Recent tightening of the social distancing rules in Greater Manchester means many are looking for an alfresco option. Luckily, there are lots of new outdoor dining spaces popping up all over the show as well as new branches from established brands and plenty of cold beer to keep you cool in this muggy weather.
Read on to see what's on our radar...
What: Community Kitchen On The Square
Where: Great Northern Warehouse, 235 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN
When: Open now
This new outdoor eating space which opened at the front of the Great Northern Warehouse last week looks set to be a popular one for what's left of the summer. Launched in conjunction with Sacha Lord's United We Stream project, with Estrella Damm proving the beer - and all-important table umbrellas - the kitchen will host a revolving rota of chefs from local restaurants. Deansgate tapas and wine bar Evuna are in there now, with pop-ups from Salvi's, South Manny Flavasand more planned over the coming months. The project is set to run until October. With stricter social distancing measures still in place for greater Manchester, this is a welcome addition to the city and is helping to support local indies. Bravo!
What: The Epicurean
Where: 102 Manchester Road, Chorlton, Manchester M21 9SZ
When: Open now
Beer-guzzling Chorltonites will be singing yippee-IPA as a dedicated craft beer shop has opened its doors on Manchester Road. The Epicurean is an independent retailer which prides itself on stocking the best and most varied range of UK and global craft beers. Winner of Best Independent Retailer at the Manchester Beer Awards two years running, and Best Drinks Retailer at the national Retail Industry Awards, The Epicurean was first established in West Didsbury in 2014 by craft beer connoisseur Simon Yarwood. A Heaton Moor branch followed four years later and now this, his third, is set to open in Chorlton. Cheers to that.
What: Pieminister
Where: 198 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3NE
When: Open now
Alright, this one opened back in March and we had planned to include it in a new openings piece then but things went a bit weird, didn’t they? Anyway, popular pastry peddlers Pieminister have opened a second Manchester branch in addition to their long standing Northern Quarter outpost and Gordo recently popped in to review it. This one is over on Deansgate next to Federal Cafe. They’re serving up their beloved pies including the spooneristic Kate and Sydney (steak and kidney), Wild Shroom with wild mushies and asparagus in white wine and their most recent addition Chooks Away, a vegan ‘chicken’ and celeriac affair piled upon fluffy mash with peas and gravy if you like. Their eat-in caffs also do exclusive pies like the Saag Pie-neer with peas, paneer, spinach, potato, chilli and mango. If you’re staying in, they do home delivery too. That's one Pieminister we can get behind.
What: Rudy’s
Where: 2 Northenden Rd, Sale M33 2EJ
When: October 2020
Continuing the expansion of their award-winning pizza empire, Rudy’s are heading for the ‘burbs with their newest pizzeria to open on Northenden Road in Sale in October. With its first walk-in-only restaurant in Ancoats Rudy’s gained an almost instant cult-following for its authentic, Neapolitan style, bubble-crusted pizzas. A larger restaurant on Peter Street followed, with further branches in Leeds and Liverpool coming later. Now the inhabitants of Sale - who apparently snapped up their cook-at-home pizzas by the bucketload during lockdown - are getting their very own pizzeria with a side dish of envious side-eye from neighbouring suburbs.
What: Viadux Social Club
Where: 8 Albion St, Manchester M1 5NZ
When: Open now (weekends only)
Located in the arches of the old Bauer Millett showroom off Deansgate, Viadux usually hosts a roster of major indoor events. Operated by Tokyo Industries, who seem set to tok-yo-ver the city having recently saved Gorilla and Deaf Institute from closure, the venue has now launched a pallet palace pop up of music, food and drink under the tramlines. The new alfresco space houses weekly changing food trucks from the likes of the puntastic This Charming Naan (Heaven Knows I'm Masala Now, Sheila Take a Bhaji etc.) as well as plenty of beer, live music and DJs. It’s currently open Friday to Sunday 4pm til late with bookings advised for larger groups but walk ins welcome.
What: What The Pitta
Where: Northern Quarter
When: January 2021
Another trendy London brand to set up shop in so-hot-right-now Manchester is What The Pitta. They’re going to be bringing their hum-must-have plant-based kebabs, falafels, nuggets and pitta - to the Northern Quarter in January 2021, having put their plans back to open this year due to the COVID crisis. Recently announced winners of Best Takeaway in London at the British Kebab Awards, What The Pitta was launched back in 2016 when, lamenting the lack of decent meat-free kebab options, founders Cem Yildiz and Rojdan Gul decided to borrow Gul’s German uncle’s vegan kebab recipe and bring it over to the UK. Now with four locations in the South, Manchester is the first northern city to get a look in although the exact location is still hush hush.
