Peter Street’s Haunt MCR offers cocktails, wine, coffee and finger food ‘from sun up to sun down’

Having opened in June on Peter Street (opposite the Midland hotel), Haunt MCR has made clever use of the spot formerly occupied by yet another coffee shop chain (Caffè Nero in this case). The independently operated cafe and bar aims to satisfy customer demand ‘from sun up to sun down’ with a menu that covers coffee, cocktails, wine and stuzzichini (informal finger food). When we visited early one Thursday evening, we enjoyed its dedicated aperitivo menu (5pm-6pm Mon-Thu), sampling a Citrus Spritz (featuring Bepe Tosolini’s Limoncello) and Rovo Spritz (with Crème de mûre blackberry liqueur), both £6, plus a comprehensive cheeseboard (£10.50) mighty enough to defeat two hungry eaters. Haunt MCR occupies one corner of the Grade II-listed St George’s House, which was built in 1911 on the site of the Peterloo Massacre and was previously home to Manchester’s YMCA (complete with swimming pool on the roof and a running track on the top floor). The ‘haunt’ refers to Hannah Beswick, better known as the Manchester Mummy, whose mummified body was unearthed during the demolition of the previous building on the spot. Thankfully, there’s nothing remotely ghostly about this fresh new venture.

@Haunt.MCR