This year is shaping up to be a bit of belter with some fantastic openings on the cards for the year ahead. Street Food favourite Blue Caribou have started serving up Quebec-style Poutine to Hatch on Oxford Road, with Wine shop Love + Labour coming to the space in the spring. Coffee bar The Department of Coffee and Social Affairs quietly opened behind the Mercure Hotel and refurbished NQ bar The Freemount had it’s first lively weekend in the city. Popular Leeds tapas joint Pintura bring basque flavours to the New Manchester Hall development and we have a great last minute deal or two to take advantage of before January is out.
Now opening at Hatch: Blue Caribou Canteen
The units are certainly filling up down at Hatch on Oxford Road, with two more announcements this week. First up we have Blue Caribou canteen, who have just opened shop selling their authentic Quebec-style poutine. Not sure what poutine is? Drop what you are doing right now and try it. The description ‘chips, curds and gravy’ really doesn’t do this Canadian delicacy justice.
Now open. Blue Caribou Canteen at Hatch, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7ED. www.thebluecariboucanteen.co.uk
Coming soon to hatch: Love + Labour wine shop
Love + Labour having been running wine tastings in the North West for some time, and will soon have a home in one of the Boxpark style containers at Hatch. We aren’t quite sure what to expect yet, but their events focus on carefully sourced natural and organic wines, with cheeses, and charcuterie featuring heavily too. We wait with baited breath – watch this space for more information.
Opening soon. Love + Labour at Hatch, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7ED. @love.labour.mcr
Now open: Department Of Coffee and Social Affairs
The Department of Coffee and Social affairs opened quietly last autumn and has been churning out excellent brews for those in the know since. The London based mini-chain has only the one branch in the North and this is it. The company has their own roastery and their selection of blends is pretty decent, plus there’s a well-equipped members only work and meeting space at the back, the first of its kind in the city. Read more about the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs here.
Now open. Department Of Coffee And Social Affairs. 7 New York Street, Manchester M1 4JB. Mon-Fri: 7am-5pm. www.departmentofcoffee.com
Coming soon to Manchester House: Pintura
Leeds based Basque restaurant Pintura have announced plans to bring a branch to the new Manchester Hall development (alongside the slick new Masons restaurant). From restaurant group Leelux who have a couple of other regional cuisine concept bars, the menu is basque tapas, with pintox (things on cocktail sticks), plenty of fried nibbles and good jamon. All swilled down with a good bottle of red perhaps?
Opening soon. Pintura at Manchester Hall, Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BT. www.pinturakitchen.co.uk
Coming soon to Ancoats: Hip Hop Chip Shop
Manchester street food veterens Hip Hop Chip Shop announced plans a while back for an Ancoats restaurant and it looks like we won’t be waiting much longer. Coming in 2018, expect their usual award-winning beer battered fish, chunky skin-on chips and deep fried halloumi fingers to be the order of the day. The menu is wonderfully punny too with dishes like the ‘Shell L Cool J Burger’ and the ‘Halloumi Myself and I’. Its all sustainably sourced, and there is plenty of choice for vegetarians and vegans. Oh, and they won a prize at the national fish & chip awards, in case you needed anymore reason to get excited.
Opening soon. Exact location TBC. @thehiphopchippy
New opening: The Freemount
You might have noticed the building work going on at Northern Quarter bar ‘The Northern’. Reopened and completely renovated, the bar has now been rebranded as The Freemount. There’s a sleek and classic vibe to the place, with dark wood furnishing, exposed brickwork and leather seating. There’s a well stocked bar and a pretty good cocktail list. With The Patron opposite and The Freemount’s attractive green tiling, this part of the Northern Quarter is certainly looking smarter these days.
Now open. The Freemount, 73-75 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1EB. www.facebook.com
IN SHORT
Book now: Wander Beyond host a ‘barrels and baking’ event with Bake O Rama. Each of the four barrel aged Imperial Stouts will be paired with an outrageous dessert.
Sat 20th Jan. Wander Beyond Brewing, 98 North Western Street, Manchester M12 6JL. £20. Tel: 0161 661 3676. www.wanderbeyondbrewing.com
Coming soon: In other beer news Levenshulme will be getting its own bottle and taproom in the form of the Station hop. It hopes to be a cosy and inviting space for Levy beer drinkers, with scope for street food traders in the beer garden in the summer.
Opening soon. Station Hop, 815 Stokport Road, Manchester, M19 3BS. @stationhoplvm
Deal of the week: There is still plenty of January left to enjoy the vast array of offers the city has to throw at you. Mr Coopers at The Midland Hotel are offering 25% off all food and drink this month. So check out their menu of modern and internationally influenced dishes and remember that 25% of justifies a pre-dinner cocktail, right? The offer is available Monday to Friday when booked ahead. See our roundup of great January offers here.
Mr Cooper’s, The Midland Hotel, Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS. Tel: 0161 2354781. www.mrcoopers.co.uk
- Words:
- Olivia Rye
- Published on:
- Tue 16 Jan 2018
