This week there is plenty to get your food and drink selves into in the sunshine. Whether it’s the £10 lunchtime deal at new Ancoats kid, Erst, or San Carlo trying where the Arndale failed with a Champagne Bar in a shopping centre, as well as one of Manchester’s oldest venues heading into the 21st Century with a new brunch menu. Or, if you’d rather shy away from all this heat and sunshine, there’s a blind whiskey tasting at Harvey Nicks. And let’s not forget another new bar hitting the Stockport area.

Deal: Flatbread and Wine for £10 at Erst
One of Ancoats newest eateries is offering a special deal for those looking for a slightly more refined lunch. The new restaurant from the folks behind Trove, Erst, has made a name for itself in a short space of time with its elegant and delicious small plates in the evening. If, however, you’re looking for a light bite and a glass of something alcoholic at lunchtime, then thankfully Erst is now open from 1pm so you can get a steak (pictured) or beetroot flatbread with a glass of wine for just £10.
Wed-Sun, 1-4pm, Erst, 9 Murray Street, Manchester M4 5BN, www.erst-mcr.co.uk

Bubbling up: San Carlo’s Champagne Bar comes to the Trafford Centre
Bubbly bars and shopping centres might not have the best association in Manchester at the moment, with Fizz!, one of the founding sites at the new Arndale food court closing less than 6 months after opening but a Manchester mainstay is hoping to change that. San Carlo already have multiple restaurants in the city, and will be adding a champagne bar in Selfridges in the Trafford Centre. Already a success with their restaurants inside Selfridge stores, the champagne bar will open this summer and ensure there is now a San Carlo site inside every Selfridges. Alongside the ten champagnes by the glass will be a curated list of wines and cocktails alongside specially chosen charcuterie and shellfish.
Opening Summer, San Carlo Champagne Bar, Lower Level, Selfridges, The Trafford Centre, Stretford, Manchester M17 8DA, follow @SanCarlo_Group for more info.

Blind Whiskey Tasting at Harvey Nichols
Manchester’s fanciest department store also houses some of its fanciest booze too, tucked away in its top floor Wine Shop. With a range that is not to be sniffed at, they showcase their offerings in their tasting sessions and this month sees whiskey take centre stage. For £25, drinkers can partake in a blind tasting session, led by Harvey Nic’s resident expert, aiming to shatter your preconceived notions of whiskey from around the world. Included in the price is a welcome drink, 6 samples, and a selection of nibbles from the deli. £10 of each ticket price is redeemable against a purchase in the shop. Booking is recommended for the hour and a half event and for an extra £15 guests can add a two course meal in the brasserie.
Wed 22nd May, 6-7.30pm, Harvey Nichols Wine Shop, 21 New Cathedral Street, Manchester M1 1AD, £25, www.eventbrite.co.uk

The Midland Launches New Brunch Menu
The Midland has often been well known for its afternoon tea, and they cemented that by opening up a dedicated afternoon tea venue in The Tearoom. Now, if you’re looking for a nibble a bit earlier than that, they’ve got you covered with their new £19 brunch menu. With choices of baked eggs with chorizo, or french toast with cinnamon, diners can also go bottomless for an extra £20 with a choice of bloody mary, mimosa, prosecco, or beer. Bookings can be made online or walk-ins are welcome too.
Daily 10.30am-1.30pm, The Tearoom at The Midland, 16 Peter Street, Manchester M60 2DS, Tel: 0161 235 4782. www.tearoomatthemidland.co.uk

Cheese Night at Pie & Ale
A special cheese event is heading to the Northern Quarter, and Pie & Ale will be the place to host the smelly get together. Homage2Fromage, the punnily titled cheese events group host themed cheese nights around the country and will be landing in Manchester on the 20th May to celebrate Welsh cheese. We all know, the only way to do that is carephilly, but in this cheese night none of the cheese are named until the end of the night and everyone has had their fill of the cheese. If you enjoy that enough, they’ll be back with unpasteruized cheese the month after.
Mon 20th May, Homage2Fromage, Pie & Ale, Units 1 & 2 the Hive, 47 Lever Street, Manchester M1 1FN, Tel: 0161 228 1610. www.clubhomage2fromage.co.uk

Crafty: Beer More Social Bar coming to Stockport
Stockport is set to welcome a new bar, as a craft beer community have announced they are to open in Hazel Grove. Beer More Social started as a way for friends and beer lovers to interact before evolving into a blog, events, and now their very own bar. Having raised £3000, Soo and Sean Gregson, the couple behind the project are ready to open up in June on the site of the burned down Grove Inn pub. Expect a focus on North West beers and spirits, with a few additions from further afield
Opening June, Beer More Social, 53 London Road, Hazel Grove, SK7 4AX, follow @beermoresocial on instagram to keep up to date.

Mon 13 May - Sun 19 May
Words:
Joe Daly
Published on:
Tue 14 May 2019