With all the announcements of new openings in Ancoats, things have been a bit quiet in the city. Calm before the storm, perhaps, as three new ventures launch in the centre this month. Award-winning pâtisserie Bisous Bisous branches out to a spot on Deansgate, and promising new coffee bar, Just Between Friends, isn’t ‘just between friends anymore’, as folks discover the Tib Street spot. Rumours start to emerge of a food market plan for Levenshulme Sorting Office and Northern Soul grab the thoroughfare spot on Station Approach.
Bisous Bisous pâtisserie opens on Deansgate
2017 was a big year for petit Didsbury pâtisserie, Bisous Bisous, winning the gong for ‘Best Producer’ in the Observer Food Monthly awards, and expanding to stalls in Altrincham and Selfridges. Big news for 2018, too, as Bisous Bisous announce that they will soon be turning out exquisite sweets at a new shop on Deansgate. The French-style bakery has garnered a legion of fans for their perfectly formed pastries, macarons, eclairs, and tartelettes, and we cant wait to see what their new city centre branch will have on the counter to satiate our sweet tooth.
Opening Apr 2018. Bisous Bisous, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2BW. Tel: 0161 222 4480. www.bisousbisous.co.uk
Just Between Friends Coffee opens in the Northern Quarter
Manchester has a wealth of excellent independent coffee shops, and a flurry of new bars have blown in with the winter snow (including Idle Hands, Pioneer and a second branch for Foundation Coffee). Adding to the Northern Quarter’s thriving cafe culture, we have new kid on the block, Just Between Friends – a dinky little space serving single origin coffee from London based roastery, Assembly.
Now open. Just Between Friends, 56 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG. www.justbetweenfriendscoffee.com
Levenshulme Sorting Office to become a food market…maybe
After a brief stint as The Buttery restaurant, a venture that didn’t quite suit the space, Levenshulme’s Sorting Office is set to become a new food market. Plans are afoot to turn the building into an all-in-one food hall, grocery store and microbrewery. Mackie Mayor and Altrincham Market have shown that the market approach can triumph, and opening up the building to a variety of vendors and suppliers could provide Levenshulme with its very own foodie hub. The Sorting Office will carve out an identity – not as a mini-Altrincham – but as an eco-friendly, community venture with shelves to rent for small-scale local producers, and space afforded to new traders to prep and cook on site.
Opening in 2019. Levenshulme Sorting Office, 30 Albert Road, Manchester M19 2FP. @Lev_Sorting_Off
Northern Soul opening on station approach
Northern Soul’s grilled cheese bar on Church Street is always buzzing, no doubt with shoppers refuelling before tackling the Arndale Centre throng. This week Northern Soul announce plans for a permanent shop on the Station Approach to Piccadilly. Commuters hurrying for the train can now pause for their famous ‘The Soul’ sandwich, a secret three cheese blend on sourdough toast, or their mac & cheese options. The brave carb-loader could even combine the two and opt for a ‘Mac Attack’ mac & cheese filled toastie.
Opening soon. Northern Soul, Manchester Piccadilly, Station Approach, M1 2QF. @northernsoulmcr
Supper club: Cibus Pizza in Levenshulme with Aperol Spritz
Levenshulme’s pizza pop-up Cibus hold a one-off Cicchetti-style dining experience. Chicchetti are the traditional bar snack of Venice, best enjoyed overlooking a canal with an Aperol Spritz. Cibus will be faithfully recreating the experience (minus the canal) between 12 and 6pm on Sunday the 22nd, with a selection of Chicchetti for £20. Classics such as polpette (meatballs), bacalla mantecato (creamy salted cod), cuttlefish and duck ragu spaghetti are all listed on the menu. Booking essential.
Sun 22 April. Cibus Pizza Pop-up, 843 Stockport Road, Manchester M19 3PW. Tel: 0161 221 0297. 12-6pm, £20 per person. @cibuspizza
In short:
Idle Hands open on Dale Street: This week saw the much-anticipated return of local independent, Idle hands. After a run of bad luck, including forced closure and a failed reopening, the coffee experts are back on their feet at their new dale Street home. Read more about Idle Hands here.
Now open. Idle Hands, 35 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 2HF. Opening times vary, www.idlehandscoffee.com
Electric Bear Tap Takeover at Soup Kitchen: Bath brewery Electric Bear head north to takeover the taps at Soup Kitchen. Their award-winning beers range from the citrussy ‘Live Wire’ IPA to a caramel and coffee infused Mocha Stout.
Tues 10 April. Soup Kitchen, Spear Street, Manchester, M1 1DF. Tel: 0161 236 5100. 7-11pm. www.electricbearbrewing.com
Hip Hop Chip Shop Crowdfunder campaign: Street food trader Hip Hop Chip Shop have launched a Crowdfunder campaign to help them along with their Ancoats shop plans. The team behind the venture are asking their customers to pay for a meal or two in advance – pay now, eat later. The meal can be bought to enjoy after they open, or for a homeless person through local charity The Mustard Tree.
Opening June 2018. Unit 2, Sawmill Court, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BF. www.gofundme.com
- Words:
- Olivia Rye
- Published on:
- Tue 10 Apr 2018
