by Ruth Allan
Leeds' BBQ heroes, Red's True Barbecue, have been cooking up an authentic, US BBQ storm in the corner of Albert Square since moving into Manchester city centre in February this year. Having conquered even the most BBQ resistant among us, they're celebrating with late opening and live music in the bar from Thursday 22 May.
As well as tucking into pit burgers, buckets of ribs and barbecued chicken with smoky BBQ beans and butter-slathered chargrilled corn, Red's fans have their own space to enjoy cocktails, ice cold beers and a whole lot more. House cocktail is a special recipe Iced Tea. It's one of the best in town - and this is a town where we take our cocktails seriously.
Throw in beers from tastemakers like Anchor, Brooklyn and Goose Island - plus award-winning local ales from Saltaire, Ilkley, Freedom and more on tap - and the odds are high that Red's bar is going to be as much of a revelation as its cooking. They even serve 'growlers', six pint pitchers of Brooklyn lager to share. Shots of single malts, Patron, aged rum and bourbon complement the cocktail menu whose highlights include Bourbon Cask Smoked Manhattan, a Jamaican Mojito and Red's secret blend Whiskey Sour.
See you at the bar.
Red's True Barbecue, 22 Lloyd Street, Albert Square, M2 5WA. Late night bar with live music, Thu-Sat 9.30pm-2am, www.truebarbecue.com