NEW BAR SHOCK
Only two new bars for Sleuth this week, one you may know about, one you definitely won't.
Texture opens fully in the Northern Quarter at 67 Lever Street this weekend. The first venture from former-DJ Kirk Paten, Texture bills itself as Manchester's first 'multi-media bar' and packs more unpronouncable techie kit than Elon Musk's garage. It's so techie, in fact, that the bar employs two in-house lighting and production engineers to come up with all manner of trippy stuff. Give it a miss if you're prone to psychotropic episodes. Give it a go if you're not.
Texture has some serious kitSpeaking of episodes, Sleuth's just got back from The Brink. No nothing to do with Alistair Darling's big book of resentments, but a new basement beer bar for Bridge Street, between House of Make-Up and Audio-T. All About Ale limited have just submitted a licence application for the subterranean space which must have the smallest and most awkward frontage in all of Manchester - mainly because the dusty curtain hiding the stairs is entirely blocked in by glass and wall. Meaning The Brink has the most strict door policy in all of Manchester... there's no door and you can't get in anyway.
The Brink has a very strict door policyNEW COFFEE SHOP SHOCK
Only three new coffee shops for Sleuth this week, two in the Northern Quarter, and one on Salford's Chapel Street - which is likely to become the next Northern Quarter when all the penniless creative types are finally pushed out by accountants and even more coffeeshops.
Foundation opens at the back end of Northern Quarter's Grade II-listed Sevendale House (built for drapery company I J & G Cooper Ltd in 1903) - also home to Fred Aldous and NoHo. Sleuth hears the new 130-cover coffee shop has partnered with Cornwall-based Origin Coffee and should open on 29 May.
Foundation will open in NQ's Sevendale HouseThe second new coffee shop opens just around the corner from Foundation at 20 Hilton Street - in the former-Aftershock fashion wholesalers opposite Hatter's Hostel. According to the blurb, Ezra & Gil 'is an evolutionary concept in urban coffee, café culture and general provisions. This synergy creates dynamic [sic] offering that is simple, yet rich in experience.' Sleuth's impressed they've managed to use 'evolutionary', 'synergy' and 'dynamic' without any 'blue sky thinking' or the 'leveraging' of any 'assets'.
Lastly, Lupo Caffe Italiano has opened in a dinky unit at 142 Chapel Street near the Salford Arms and next door to The International 3 art gallery. Sleuth has been told that Lupo - serving coffee alongside pasta and focaccia - is a little cracker. Properly Italian. Sleuth's going when he's finished writing this lot...
Nico from LupoNEW BUBBLE TEA SHOCK
Sleuth is pleased there’s a new bubble tea shop arriving in Manchester. This is Chatime and is opening on 21 May at 93 Princess Street. Their blurb says: ‘Founded in Taiwan in 2003, Chatime is an international franchise with over 1000 stores worldwide serving more than 350,000 customers every day.’ Sleuth hopes it doesn’t damage the prospects of the first Taiwanese bubble tea shop in Manchester on George Street. The manager of this place once explained to Sleuth the origin of the name. "ICFT is very simple. It means I Come From Taiwan". Sleuth adores this and is desirous of more autobiographical business titles. For instance Gordo, the Confidential food writer, could set up shop as ICFSASMF - I Come From Salford And Stuff My Face. Charles Dickens and Margaret Thatcher could start a joint venture called WWSABMUOAEIWWD - We Would Start A Business Made Up Of Autobiographical Elements If We Weren't Dead.
Bubble TeaSLEUTH’S ATTRACTIVE LEGGY BIRD OF THE WEEK
This babe was sunbathing naked by the River Irwell when it was attacked by a violent seaside visitor.
SLEUTH’S REMARKABLE MAKEOVER OF THE YEAR
This is Biospheric Project boss Vincent Walsh who has lost half his body weight from his head. He should copyright this as the new diet that delivers immediate results.
Before
After SLEUTH’S CUNNING PLAN OF THE WEEK
This comes from Avalanche restaurant. They’ve acquired the URL of defunct Stock Restaurant - stockrestaurant.co.uk - and written this: ‘Due to the recent closure of Stock Restaurant Manchester’s finest Italian restaurant Avalanche are now taking bookings for all our Italian food lovers. So never miss out on great Italian food by placing a reservation today.’ Very sneaky.
SLEUTH’S PHOTOGRAPHY MADE SIMPLE PART ONE
This is Manchester Confidential’s very own photographer Emma Golpys trying to capture that all important angle. Or maybe she’s being attacked by a snake. Or break-dancing. Then she fell asleep and was photographed.
She's a pro
Now she's asleep SLEUTH'S FAVOURITE MISLEADING PUB WINDOW STICKER
The Black Lion on the corner of Chapel Street and Blackfriar's Road in Salford. This 'Village Pub' sits on one of the city's busiest junctions, and isn't even in The Village.
