FIRST Street, basically the support act for Manchester’s excellent art hub HOME (there’s no place like etc...), is looking increasingly like a curate’s egg, the jury’s out and there ain’t no stopping it now. Which could apply to any of the seven quarters of the city whose identity seems to be built on bars and eateries.
Take Liquor Store, a popular middle of the road cocktail contender down on Blackfriars Street. It has spawned a sibling in First Street’s Jack Rosenthal Street. We are not sure the great scriptwriter, spouse of Maureen Lipman, would have enjoyed the bought-in spangly acts (above), but the Sixties were his heyday, so maybe he and Maureen would have boogied along.
The music at a press launch night, Neil Young and Blur, I enjoyed, but it did seem determined not to scare the punters. Ditto the pop-up, Hollywood-inspired Star Walk (in situ until October 10) celebrating 20 of Manchester’s most popular icons and the continuing presence of their images upstairs in the bar. Also permanent will be the cocktail creation Made of MCR.
Otherwise the food and drink offering is the inevitable transatlantic model. Here it’s Los Angeles, not New York that’s the inspiration. ToM quite likes the tag they’ve attached, Yancunian; we are less certain about them targeting Manchurians. Surely a Steppe too far!
Which leaves us with the rest of First Street as it attempts to lure the passing trade from beyond Deansgate Locks or the cooler confines of Guerilla and Refuge by Volta further up Whitworth Street.
We are not sure the cineastes and art aficionados of Home are likely to be tempted by Liquor Store or even The Laundrette bar, the Chorlton spin-off (sic) due to arrive in November.
The Gasworks Brewbar (in homage to First Street’s original incarnation as Gaythorn Gasworks) looks a more engaging arrival. It’s essentially Dockyard 3 but adding to the vibe of the MediaCity and LeftBank originals a six barrel brewery and team of on-site brewers. The HOME beer offering, like the food, is run of the mill, so Gasworks could pipe off some of their trade. In addition to their own brews, they’ll continue to champion local brewers such as Shindigger and Brightside, alongside the likes of Brewdog, Goose Island and Left Hand.
The rest of First Street so far? We’ve enjoyed Dave Spanner’s fusion food at INNSide Melia hotel, while Indian Tiffin Room (above) next door is the perfect pre-theatre dining spot. If you can’t get in, there’s always Pizza Express, whose pizzas will face competition from Laundrette’s.
The Liquor Store, 1 Rosenthal Street, Manchester M15 4RA. 0161 834 6239.