A strength of the Manchester food scene has to be its sense of community and willingness to collaborate, given the right occasion. Manchester Beer Week 2018 has commissioned the city’s best restaurants and breweries to work together to make some stunning beers for the celebration. We have more details from Trove about their new Ancoats restaurant, Erst, and crowdfunding king, Gary Usher of Elite Bistros sets a date for his King Street venture, Kala.
Upmarket cafe: Hampton & Voúis coffee shop opens near Town Hall
The city’s cafes are largely concentrated around the Northern Quarter, so Hampton & Voúis’ move into a neat little residence near the Town Hall is a welcome one. The team behind the coffee shop are going for a decidedly upmarket feel, with clean lines and some pretty plush furnishings. The menu may be mediterranean inspired, but clearly there’s also some strong support from the locals, with coffee from Buxton Roastery, bakes from Trove, and tea from Manchester’s own Brew Tea Co.
Now open. Hampton & Voúis , 31 Princess Street, Manchester, M2 4EW. www.facebook.com. Open Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm.
New from Trove & friends: Erst restaurant to open in Ancoats this Autumn
Trove has long been something of a hidden delight, occupying an unlikely residence on the Stockport Road as it passes through Levenshulme. After years of slowly growing the business from its present location, the team behind the bakery and coffee shop have announced plans to open a second venture in Ancoats’ Sawmills complex. Under the name ‘Erst’, the new restaurant will stray from the café and bakery concept, focusing on the food that Trove has become increasingly well known for – seasonal plates built around well-sourced local produce. Featuring an on-site bakery, and an extensive selection of natural wines and beers, Erst gives the neighbourhood another boost, and confirms Ancoats as the city’s next foodie focal point.
Opening Autumn 2018. Erst, Sawmill Court, Manchester, M4 6AF. www.trovefoods.co.uk
The Staff Room wine bar at Where The Light Gets In
Stockport’s destination fine dining restaurant, Where The Light Gets In, has been a big hit with the critics since opening in 2016 (The Guardian’s Marina O’Loughlin cited WTLGI as ‘the most exciting food she had eaten in years’). And, with all that attention, tables for the set menu are pretty hard to come by. However, if it’s the stunning selection of wines you’re after, WTLGI have taken to opening their staff room as an informal bar, serving a choice of natural wines by the glass or bottle from an ever-changing list. We suspect the snacks on offer will be a cut above, too. Check the team’s Twitter feed for The Staff Room’s impromptu opening dates and times.
Where the Light Gets In, 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY. Tel: 0161 477 5744, www.wtlgi.co
Beer collaborations for Manchester Beer Week 2018
The city’s best restaurants and breweries join forces this summer to create a series of one-off lagers, ales and stouts to showcase the best in beer and food pairings. The collaborations come about as a part of Manchester Beer Week in 2018 and are available for the July showcase and into the summer. Umezushi and Runaway will work together to create Japanese inspired brew, while award-winning Cloudwater and Stockport’s Where The Light Gets In home to offer something to tempt you away from the wine list. Bundobust and Squawk are a perfect match for a beer that is bright enough to match the vibrancy of those Indian Street food flavours.
Fri 29 Jun – Sun 8 Jul, various venues and times, www.mcrbeerweek.co.uk
Gary Usher’s Kala to open in September
Gary Usher, the man behind Didsbury’s acclaimed Hispi bistro, is adding to his growing portfolio of restaurants and bringing the grand total to 6 in the North-West. Like Hispi, his new venture Kala is rumoured to feature a paired back a la carte menu, and will open on King Street towards the end of September. Known for spearheading innovative and well-priced menus, Usher has earnt himself a shortlisting for ‘Chef of the Year’ from the Estrella Damn National Restaurant Awards 2018, and has garnered enough of a following to crowd-funded all of his previous restaurant openings. Alongside Kala, Usher plans to crowdfund the opening of Pinion, in Prescot, Merseyside.
Opening end of Sep 2018. Kala, King Street, Manchester, M2. Follow @StickyWalnut for more information
In short:
Siam Smiles reopens: Rising rents forced loved-by-the-locals Thai café, Siam Smiles, to close their Chinatown restaurant in March. To a citywide sigh of relief, Siam Smiles reopened in Deansgate Mews this May. Check back for our full review.
Siam Smiles, Deansgate Mews, Great Northern, Manchester, M3 4EN. Follow @SiamSmilesCafe, open Tue-Sun 12pm-8pm (10pm on Sat & Sun)
Hanging Ditch’s Last Supper: As uncomplicated as it sounds, Lovingly artisan will be bringing their basket of loaves – with some cheeses and condiments too. Hanging Ditch wine merchants will hand out a glass or two.
Thu 10 May, Hanging Ditch, Britannic Buildings, 42-44 Victoria Street, M3 1ST, Tel: 0161 832 8222, 7pm, £27.50, www.hangingditch.com
- Words:
- Olivia Rye
- Published on:
- Tue 15 May 2018
