Spring has brought with it a flurry of new restaurant openings, so we thought it might be useful to write a round up to make sure Taste of Manchester readers are kept up to date. A couple of venues have also changed location recently, and some have encountered delays.
So many new places to visit, so little time…. Here’s a roundup of Manchester’s latest food and drink news.
Five of Manchester’s Latest Openings
Image:Louis Cannelle
Pong and Puck, Great Northern Warehouse, Manchester, M3 4EN
Shuffle your way to group games and quirky retro cocktails at Great Northern Warehouse’s latest opening. Playing old school tunes from the 80s and 90s, Pong & Puck welcomes guests to play, drink and party with beer pong, prosecco board, shuffleboard and table tennis.
Expect an eclectic, casual setting, complete with wall murals, graffiti features and neon lights. The drinks list features retro-inspired cocktails or giant beer towers to share, either in Pong & Puck’s indoor areas or undercover, heated outdoor terrace.
Shuffle your way down to Pong & Puck on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 3 - 7pm for happy hour with 2-4-1 cocktails on selected cocktails, plus £4 pints of beer and £30 magnums of Prosecco. Pong & Puck is dog friendly too.
See the packages on offer and book online at www.pongandpuck.co.uk
----------
Ornela’s Kitchen, 10 Manchester Rd, Denton, Manchester M34 3LE
Italian chef Ornella Cancila (former head chef at Pollen Bakery) took over the kitchen at Howard's Neighbourhood Bar in Denton over lockdown and soon gained a loyal following for her handmade pasta dishes using local seasonal ingredients. She has now opened her own deli, pasta and takeaway shop in the neighbourhood serving freshly made favourites such as arancini, lasagne, fresh penne and tagliatelle with full flavoured sauces, parmigiana, deli sandwiches and her most popular dish, lobster ravioli. She also offers sweet treats such as filled cannoli and tiramisu.
Walk-ins, bookings and collections welcome. Closed Tuesdays.
------------
Lucky Mama’s, 565 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton, Manchester M21 8AE
Greater Manchester also has a new fresh pasta joint as the former pasta and pizza truck has recently settled into its new bricks and mortar home. Lucky Mama’s Mamadou Dhiam and Gaby Santos, who started their business in Eccles, serving fresh pasta and sauces from their eye-catching airstream kitchen trailer at festivals and events, are now the proud owners of a pink pasta palace in Chorlton. Expect fresh Roman-style pizza, Veneto-style pasta, focaccia sandwiches as well as coffee and a range of desserts including sweet dough balls and filled cannoli.
--------
Station South, 975-977 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3NP
After four years in the making, Levenshulme’s destination cycle café, bar and bike repair shop is finally ready to open. It also has a great public space for co-working and hosting community events and exhibitions as well as an urban garden.
Renovation of the Victorian building on the Fallowfield Loop is the result of a successful crowdfunding effort and locals have stepped in to offer practical support by helping to fix, mend and donate.
Teas and coffee will be available in the café and bar as well as local craft beers. The food menu will include salads and sandwiches as well as heartier meals and seasonal specials.
-------
Bistro Marc at Winter’s, 23-27 Little Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1LA
Classically trained French Chef Marc Molé, who was born and raised in Paris, is on the brink of opening his new Stockport bistro. They actually had a soft launch at the end of March but have decided to wait a couple of weeks to iron out some teething issues. Marc and his team will offer home cooked French dishes in Stockport's iconic Winter’s Grade II listed building on Little Underbank from 9th April (but double check before you book in case of further delays). An a la carte menu will be available as well as a great value daily fixed menu. Expect comforting classics such as boeuf Bourgignon, Normany chicken and Provence style sea bass.
-----
Some places are moving
The popular Asian food stall which serves delicious ‘Chinese inspired British food’ was recently forced to vacate its home at Manchester’s Arndale Market where they’ve been for the past three years. The council had requested they fork out for an expensive new extraction system or they would not renew their lease on health and safety grounds. Until they find their own place, Black Dog Ballroom on nearby Church Street in the Northern Quarter has stepped in, offering the use of their kitchen. So if you’re missing your big boy boxes and your fix of crispy chicken, they’re open every day (except Mondays 2pm-9pm. They’re also available on Deliveroo.
-----
Butcher’s Quarter, Deansgate
The popular city centre butcher opened its second site at Great Northern Warehouse in July 2021. The artisan butchers shop also incorporated a cheesemonger, a deli area and a tasting room for visitors to enjoy tasting platters along with a glass or two of wine. It was in great company in Deansgate Mews which has nurtured a range of independent operators such as Holy Grain Sourdough, Dormouse Chocolates, 3 hands deli and new neighbourhood bistro Another Hand. However, it was not to be, and Butcher’s Quarter issued a statement on Instagram saying ‘The team at BQ have made the difficult decision to solely trade from Butcher’s Quarter Tib Street and our new site BQ Farm and Fish. We thank you for all the support over the past year & look forward to welcoming you to our sister sites.’
They added that they will still be hosting supperclubs and events at their venues in Monton (BQ Farm and Fish is a collaboration with Wandering Palate) and Tib St in the Northern Quarter.
Mark Schofield, Centre Director for The Great Northern, has kept the door open in case BQ want to return, saying: “We wish Butcher’s Quarter the very best for their future. We are keeping in close contact with the team at Butcher’s Quarter, as they may well return to Great Northern Warehouse in the future, which we look forward to.
“We have eight fantastic businesses on Deansgate Mews, who continue to operate with great success and are looking forward to welcoming customers old and new, especially with the lighter summer nights approaching.”
And finally….
Over in West Yorkshire, The Moorcock in Sowerby Bridge has announced that it will close in January 2023. The popular gastropub has been open for five years receiving rave reviews from national critics along with awards and accolades in that time. In a lengthy statement on the pub’s website, co-owner Aimee Turford said the upcoming break in their lease gave them the opportunity for a lot of reflection. Aimee and The Moorcock’s co-owner, chef Alisdair Brooke-Taylor, cited supply issues, personal issues and a looming recession as reasons to take a break. She also took the opportunity to thank their wonderful team and wanted to make sure staff and customers had the opportunity to make necessary adjustments. So, you have ten months to get booked in and experience this wonderful venue.