A new dive bar inspired by the Deep South has opened doors and is serving up 50p chicken wings to the people of Stockport.
With wooden walls and colourful murals spray-painted throughout, Notion is the brainchild of founder Andy James – who set up his initial musical-themed restaurant and takeaway Ate Days a Week during lockdown, and has now turned the Vernon Street premises into a “grungy late night dive bar with a serious party vibe”.
The venue not only boasts a hearty and affordable food menu alongside a huge range of cocktails, but it’s also said to have the “most extensive back bar in Stockport”.
Over 40 rums and 40 whiskies are available to try out.
The collection includes rare and award-winning bourbons that have been hand-blended all across the world, and Notion is also one of the very first bars in Greater Manchester to serve the premium Indonesian rum, Nusa Cana – which uses nutmeg and clove combined with ginger, coffee, cacao and pineapple to create a delicate and warm rum with a balanced finish.
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The food menu includes buttermilk-brined chicken wings to tuck into for just 50p each, and massive hand-pressed burgers with a range of mouthwatering toppings to chose from.
Notion’s wings are said to be “the best in town – and possibly the best in Greater Manchester” / Credit: Notion
Notion’s owner Andy has worked on the food and drink hospitality scene since he was just 16 years old, honing his craft at some of Manchester’s busiest bars and restaurants including Cane and Grain as Head Chef, Bunny Jacksons, 33 Oldham Street, and most-recently at The Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats running the pub kitchen.
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But it was lockdown that inspired his own business idea – Ate Days a Week.
“The venture took off ridiculously in lockdown which led me to finding the site in Stockport to give it a home,” Andy admitted.
“The venue has an upstairs area, and two further lockdowns later and we finally have Notion – somewhere people can come and party and completely let loose, especially after such a challenging year.
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“The Stockport bar scene right now is the best it has ever been and it’s only going to get better.
“A new wave of independents are coming in, giving it a breath of fresh air and bringing a newfound love of the word ‘hospitality’ to the area.”
Credit: Notion
“I absolutely love how it’s a community and we can work together with other businesses to bring out the best of the area.” Andy added.
“We’ve already got a very strong working relationship with Neil Garner’s Cherry Jam which has recently opened in the marketplace, working together on their bottomless brunch which boasts food from Ate Days a Week.”
He also teased that there are more collaborations coming up, so “watch this space.”
‘Exclusive’ Manchester nightclub shares customer’s eye-watering £88k bill
Daisy Jackson
A nightclub in Manchester has shared a picture of a recent customer’s bill – and to call them a big spender would be underselling it.
The luxury nightclub posted a photo of a bill that racked up to an eye-watering £88k.
Or, to be very specific, £88,589.60.
The flash customer was at The Continental Club, otherwise known as The Conti, an ‘exclusive’ bar and club on South King Street.
The bar is a drastic departure from the former nightlife spot which stood in its place – the building was previously home to South, a legendary underground club famed for its alternative soundtrack.
Now it’s got a new life as a nightlife haunt where, apparently, it’s not uncommon to spend the equivalent of a small terrace house on drinks.
The bar shared the picture of the receipt yesterday, describing it as a ‘record-breaker’.
The Continental Club has claimed that it’s not only the biggest spend in its own walls, but the most expensive bill to have ever taken place in any club in Manchester.
‘Exclusive’ Manchester nightclub shares customer’s eye-watering £88k bill
Curious to see how exactly a person could spend £88k on drinks? Let’s break down some of the more expensive items.
Let’s kick things off with three bottles of Clase Azul Ultra Extra Anejo, a tequila which retails for around £2.5k but set this customer back £9,500 a pop…
Then there’s a couple of magnums of Dom Perignon rose champagne (£2,000 each), a few bottles of Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Champagne (£1,500 each), and a few £950 bottles of Chivas Regal 25 whiskey.
It makes the £850 Grey Goose at the bottom seem like child’s play.
They also slammed at least 48 Red Bulls, according to the bill.
Then on top of that you’ve got a staggering £8k worth of service charge – some very happy staff went home that night, I’d imagine.
The Continental Club wrote: “Some come to sip…others come to set records. The biggest table spend to EVER take place in a club in Manchester.”
V.Goode Pies – Michelin-recommended Manchester restaurant launches new pie shop
Daisy Jackson
A new pie shop has opened in Manchester today – and it comes from the same team behind a Michelin-recommended restaurant.
Chefs Shaun Moffat (of Winsome fame) and Sam Grainger (Madre, Belzan, Doug’s and loads more) have joined forces for V.Goode Pies.
The Oxford Road pie shop promises to serve ‘the kind of pies Manchester’s been waiting for’ that won’t cost the earth.
Shaun and Sam dreamed up the idea following the success of the pie offering at Winsome, which are a highlight of its proudly British menu.
Now open on Oxford Road, you’ll find four core individual pies as well as breakfast pies.
Expect classic flavours like cheese and onion, and meat and potato, but also less common creations like a lasagne pie and a breakfast pie too.
There’ll be the option to have your pie served in a barm, Wigan kebab-style, or have it as it comes after a hefty dunk in a vat of gravy.
Pie dinner trays at V.Goode PiesInside the breakfast pie and the lasagne pie at V.Goode PiesA pie barm at V.Goode PiesShaun Moffat and Sam GraingerTraditional British piesThe full spreadInside V.Goode PiesCredit: The Manc Group
You can also have it served on a classic dinner tray, with mash and mushy peas on the side.
As well as traditional fillings, V. Goode Pies will have more out-there bakes like a lasagne pie, where layers of pasta are packed into a pie crust.
You can also expect rotating specials and collaborations.
V.Goode Pies – or, to use its government name, Valerie Goode’s Pies – is inspired by co-founder Tom Fastiggi’s dinner lady grandmother and pie connoisseur.
V.Goode Pies will take over the old Loaf store on Oxford Road and is set to open on 18 November, with a pop-up also planned at Freight Island this winter.
The pie shop will be open Monday to Saturday, from 8am until they sell out.
Emily Sergeant -
30th June 2021 
