IT seems that everywhere you look around Manchester centre another monumental edifice is stirring to transform itself into a food and drink ‘destination’. From the Mackie Mayor Building to London Road Fire Station; from the Palace Hotel to No1 Spinningfields big plans are afoot, while who knows if the Corn Exchange can squeeze in an extra chain or three to compete the set?
So why should we greet the council go-ahead for BEAT STREET’s arrival in the Great Northern’s Deansgate Mews (sic) with such enthusiasm? Well, Chris Legh, Lyndon Higginson and James Murphy, the folk behind the `Friday Food Fights’ have genuinely earned this more permanent base, billed as a ‘crazy mashed-up food and drink street’.
Not just for nine months’ patiently cajoling Manchester’s planning officers to make the dream come true but for bringing some genuine fun to the city’s food and drink scene. We admire their chutzpah too in choosing a site that almost defines “tumbleweed blowing down”. and are trying to imagine this 9,000 sq ft outdoor alleyway running parallel with Deansgate coming alive with a bar and street food market featuring seven ‘micro-diners’, three bars, an outside grill and an all-weather roof terrace, open from 11am to 3am daily.
All this is going to happen before July. A full list if traders is still to be announced. Whether the winners of unit slots announced on this nine months ago are still earmarked to kickstart the project TOM just doesn’t know. Or if there will be the proposed Caribbean jerk joint a British-only craft beer bar and a ‘late-night drinking den’ on the drag.