WILDERNESS Trading have taken over the former Folk & Soul venue on Thomas Street, Manchester with the aim to create a completely new and exciting two floor bar and restaurant in the Northern Quarter site that once housed Odd Bar.
The team behind wilderness bar + kitchen are Dan Morris, former group manager of Trof and ops director for Cottonopolis, directors Bart Murphy and Mat Lake of Junkyard Golf Club and Lyndon Higginson, director for Liars Group and Junkyard Golf Club
Director Dan Morris said “We have been working hard on this new concept for some time and believe we have now found the perfect site for us. We plan on opening mid-June and have recruited what we consider to be some of the best young F&B talent in the UK to help us create what we hope will be a great addition to Manchester’s hospitality scene. We will be releasing news and official opening dates closer to the summer.”
The design for the new project will be led by Lyndon Higginson (above) and will tie in with the sister site wilderness record store just off Withington High Street which opened on Record Store Day (April 13 2019).
The store stocks a broad range of vinyl and incorporates a cafe serving freshly made toasties, cakes and pastries alongside a selection of interesting beers and wines as well as its own wilderness gin and tonics.
From June the record store will double in size and launch an events programme that will include acoustic sets, Q&As with artists and Djs, film screening and creative workshops.
Vegan bar Folk & Soul shut in early April. Already work is underway inside and out with the floral green facade painted over. At least one vegan link may remain. There’s been huge acclaim in Withington for their vegan toasties (above).