This week hidden Manchester cocktail bar Speak In Code was announced as one of the very best in the UK, rankingat an impressive number 10at the Top 50 UK Bars awards.
The prestigious list, released annually, has put the small Manchester bar on the map in a whole new way – and suffice to say, the team is absolutely thrilled.
Seemingly still in shock, they released a statement to their followers on social media yesterday saying they were “completely speechless”.
Clearly overjoyed with the huge accolade, they continued: “We’re still processing this even today like, is this real?”
It’s been a difficult time for the tiny cocktail bar, which has struggled throughout the Covid pandemic with constantly having to shut and then reopen as their small team tried to keep the operation running.
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Last summer, just as they reopened and launched their new menu, three out of their team of five was hit hard with Covid and the bar was forced to close again.
Still, if anything this proves that good things really do come to those who wait – with the team absolutely overjoyed to have made the Top 50 list, after receiving the news at the beginning of the year.
“No matter what the position was, we felt nothing but happiness and gratitude to just be in the same room as some of the best bars on the planet, let alone stand amongst them on this list.”
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Image: Speak In Code
Saying that making it to number ten was “beyond our wildest dreams”, they continued “we’re just a small team of people who are super passionate about flavour exploration and hip hop”
“You all know the love we have for you guys who’ve seen us go on a difficult journey and been there to support and show us the love back, and we really do this for you.
“We’re even more motivated to get back to it and keep improving what we do. Big thank you to everyone who has supported us.”
The bar also shouted out their fellow Mancs who took home awards or made it into the shortlist, as well as nodding to the many bars north of London that received recognition this year.
Image: Speak In Code
Whilst London did dominate half of the list, there were still a large number of northern drinking spots included this year.
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In Manchester, Schofield’s Bar made it into the top 20 – ranking at number 16 – whilst Three Little Words, the bar and restaurant from Manchester Gin, took home the Bar Team of the Year award.
Newcomer Mecanica also got an honourable mention, shortlisted for the Best Newcomer award.
In total, ten of the Top 50 Cocktail Bars this year are found in the north of England.
Over in Leeds, four bars made the list with Jake’s Bar & Still Room, Roland’s, Below Stairs and Hedonist all getting a well-dseerved mention.
Further afield, Liverpool’s Present Company, Sheffield’s Public and Newcastle’s Mother Mercy are also featured, with four more – Bramble Bar & Lounge, Panda and Sons, The Absent Ear and Hay Palu – getting a shout out up in Scotland.
The full statement from Speak In Code read: “Wow! What a 24 hours it’s been…
“We started off the year with the news that we’d been voted into the official @50cocktailbars top 50 in the UK.
“No matter what the position was, we felt nothing but happiness and gratitude to just be in the same room as some of the best bars on the planet, let alone stand amongst them on this list.
“Then something happened beyond our wildest dreams. We were announce as No.10 on that list of the top 50 in the UK. I mean, we’re all completely speechless, we’re still processing this even today like, is this real?
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“You all know the love we have for you guys who’ve seen us go on a difficult journey and been there to support and show us the love back, and we really do this for you.
“We’ve always said, first and foremost we’re just a small team of people who are super passionate about flavour exploration and hip hop… If you dig that too then it’s a vibe.
“We’re even more motivated to get back to it and keep improving what we do. Big thank you to everyone who has supported us.
Northern Quarter craft beer bar Fierce Bar announces sudden closure
Thomas Melia
A much loved independent craft beer bar in the heart of the Northern Quarter is set to close before the end of the year.
Fierce Bar, which opened in Manchester city centre in 2020, has been a firm favourite for Mancs and visitors alike with their range of beers and IPAs.
The Fierce Beer company has established itself as a leading force within the beer community winning ‘Scottish Brewery of the Year in 2021’ and numerous Scottish Beer Awards.
Their wide range of drink flavours pay homage to varieties from the USA and offered people who frequented their Thomas Street site in the Northern Quarter were treated to a refreshing taste of the transatlantic.
The Thomas Street bar had previously been home to 57 Thomas Street, a bar operated by Marble Brewery, which also operates The Marble Arch.
In a post on social media which opens with, “Some sad news…”, the company have stated: “We face continually spiralling costs that unfortunately mean it’s going to be unsustainable to continue operating the venue viably going forward”.
There’s still some hope as beer brand have also announced: “This is not the end for Fierce Beer south of the border though; we’re continuing to keep an eye on the market and aim to get back as soon as we can with a new physical location.”
Anyone wanting to continue the bar’s legacy in Manchester can sport the indie establishment’s range of t-shirts, hats and funky glasses, some of which adorned the walls.
Being a Scottish born and bred brewery, if you’re still after your alcohol fix, you can still visit their two other locations in Edinburgh and Aberdeen next time you’re heading up north.
The last day of trade for Fierce Bar will be 20 December where the founders Dave and Louise will be heading to the Manchester site say a sad goodbye.
As it will be the final night of service ever, the team are urging anyone to pop down for a pint or two to commemorate the Manchester home.
It’s a shame to see such a well-used city centre social space shutting its doors, however Fierce Beer loyalists fear not as their online website is still very much alive and thriving here.
Six By Nico launches tasting menu inspired by Christmas dinner
Daisy Jackson
Everyone’s favourite affordable tasting menu restaurant, Six By Nico, has announced its first-ever festive Sunday roast menu.
The beloved restaurant group, which now has two locations in Manchester, is famed for serving creative and interesting tasting menus, but at a much more accessible price than other fine dining establishments – just £44 a head.
Then you can add on extra snacks, perfectly-paired wine flights, and even matching cocktails.
At Six By Nico, the inspiration is always changing, whether the menus bring a sense of nostalgia, memories of a much-loved book or film, or whisk you away across the globe with dishes inspired by another country’s cuisine.
Previous menus have included The Chippy Tea, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
Six By Nico switches up its six-course tasting menus every six weeks, keeping customers coming back time and time again for the next adventurous experience.
And one of the best things is the flexibility that these tasting menus have, catering for vegans, veggies, pescatarians and more. You can even mix and match courses across tasting menus to suit your mood and dietary requirements.
Inside one of Six By Nico’s two Manchester restaurants. Credit: The Manc Group
The next menu that has had us clicking ‘book’ at the speed of light is Six By Nico’s first-ever Festive Sunday Roast menu, with six courses and a cocktail pairing.
The new Six By Nico tasting menu features all the flavours of Christmas Day, presented in creative and exciting ways.
For example, your evening will begin with ‘Pigs in Blankets’ (pork pressé, Sauerkraut, burnt onion and grain mustard), as well as a Brussels Sprouts-inspired course that used barbecue hispi cabbage, aged ewe’s cheese, pickled mushrooms and black garlic emulsion.
For the main event it’s the Three Bird Roast – duck, chicken and turkey ballotine, liver parfait, honey glazed carrot and Madeira jus.
And you’d be remiss not to add the Ultimate Yorkshire Pudding on as an extra, made with pork and sage stuffing and sauce charcuterie.
Chocolate Profiteroles on the Six By Nico festive roast menu. Credit: SuppliedThe Six By Nico Christmas dinner-inspired tasting menu features Baked Brie De Meaux, homemade mince pie and Peckhams pearAnother dish on the Six By Nico Christmas dinner-inspired festive menu
Course five is Baked Brie De Meaux, homemade mince pie and Peckhams pear, then to finish Six By Nico has Chocolate Profiteroles, Tahitian vanilla Choux au Craquelin, chocolate Cremeux, buttermilk sorbet and dulce de leche.
In a second brand-first, Six by Nico Manchester has created a perfectly matched cocktail pairing to accompany the six-course tasting menu (£40pp) which includes six cocktails including an Apple and Dill Martini.
It’s just another example of the way Six By Nico keeps pushing the game forward.
Andrew Temple, Chief Creative Officer, spoke of the menu’s festive twist: “The response to our Sunday Roast menu has been incredible, and we wanted to capture that excitement in a way that complements the holiday season.
“Extending the Sunday Roast with a festive version not only celebrates the British classic but adds a layer of excitement in the build up to the Festive season.
“We’re looking forward to sharing this seasonal reimagining with our guests, bringing them both the comfort and joy of the festive period.”
The Festive Sunday Roast is £44 per person, with an additional wine pairing available for £30, or a matched cocktail pairing for £40. It’s available to book every Sunday from 24 November until 5 January HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd February 2022 
