In 'My Top 10' we grill local industry experts on their favourite foodie spots in Manchester. Where do brewers go for a pint? Where to chefs go for dinner? We wanted to find out.
This week, we met up with Mark Flanagan of coffee house Pot Kettle Black. Better known for his career as a professional rugby league player, Mark set up PKB alongside fellow St Helens player Jon Wilkin.
Together, they've created a hub in the Barton Arcade combining great coffee, with fitness (they host morning yoga and workout classes) and a chance to let your hair down (Friday beer pong sessions can get rather messy).
Over to Mark.
1. Top Bar
I like going to the Northern Quarter, I like the street that Kosmonaut is on. It’s chilled out, its not pretentious, it reminds me a bit of New York. And downstairs they have beer pong and table tennis. I love table tennis, I’m like a big kid.
2. Top Pub
The Eagle Inn. Me and Jon stumbled upon it and spent about three hours on the juke box. We go back quite a lot because Jon read that Elbow - the band - drink in there. So we walked in once, shouting "Elbow, Elbow!" asking the bar staff if Elbow were in. They said no, but we’ve been back about five or six times looking for Elbow. We’ve still not found them.
3. Top Restaurant
I would say Hawksmoor – I went there a couple of times recently and really liked it.
4. Top spot for Everyday Eats
Barburrito. I’m a bit of a regular in there, they all know me. I just pack as much on it as I can. Double pork, with everything. And I like it when you get to the end cause they always struggle to put it together and they always end up splitting it. Once, they were really very efficient with the folding, and I told her. She looked at me like I was a bit weird.
4. Top Newcomer
Salut Wines, I like it there. I’ve been a couple of times and I like the experience. I’m a bit naïve when it comes to wine, I’m getting better but its just nice to try lots of different ones and work out different tastes.
5. Top Brewery
I’ve had some nice beer from Seven Bro7hers – I really like that.
6. Top Café
I’d say - apart from Pot Kettle Black – I like Grindsmith and North Tea Power. It's good how the independent coffee vibe in Manchester is growing a little bit and there so much room for it to grow even further. The more the merrier.
7. Top Street Food Trader
I did have a chicken schnitzel burger – Mumma Schnitzel – I’ve had a few of them in my time. I think I doubled up - I had one, then about five minutes later I had another one.
8. Hidden Gem
I really like Don Marco – the Italian up near Dimitri’s. It’s not that much of a hidden gem, but the food is brilliant.
I’ll big up Noone’s, our suppliers. They’re dead nice people, I’ll give Deborah a shout out – she’s the one who looks after us. If we ever need anything we’re like ‘Debs, we need some whipped cream,’ – and she’s like, ‘I’ll be there in five minutes.’
Visit Pot Kettle Black at 14, Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BW.