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.
The Greater Manchester book café serving literary afternoon teas and build-your-own bouquets
Daisy Jackson
If you like your afternoon tea with a side of good books, there’s a Greater Manchester café where you can quite literally have your cake and read it too.
Tucked inside this charming bookish spot, afternoon tea arrives with an unexpected twist. Rather than being presented with the usual three-tiered stand, you’re handed a stack of heavy hardback books.
But don’t start worrying that you’ve accidentally wandered into a very niche library club. The books are hiding something.
Lift the covers in Peony & Parchment – or, more accurately, open the book-shaped boxes – and you’ll discover a full afternoon tea concealed inside.
There are dainty sandwiches to get stuck into, including tiny egg mayo, herby chicken salad, ham and mustard, and cheese and tomato focaccia, alongside a little quiche.
Then comes the scone – classic, fluffy and ready for the obligatory dollop of clotted cream and jam. And, because no afternoon tea should leave you feeling like you’ve been short-changed in the cake department, there are five miniature slices to work through.
Afternoon tea concealed in a stack of booksSome of the other bakes on display
There’s a Victoria sponge with a dreamy vanilla cream, lemon drizzle, rich chocolate cake, a Bakewell slice and a pecan pie, all sourced from a local bakery just across the alleyway.
It’s all served with a pot of tea or coffee, with the option to add a glass of prosecco.
And the bookish theme doesn’t stop at the afternoon tea.
Downstairs you’ll find shelves packed with books, including the intriguing ‘blind books’. Instead of judging a book by its cover, you’ll be given clues and a short summary of what lies inside before taking a gamble on your mystery read.
Downstairs in Peony & Parchment‘Blind books’A role playing village for kids
There’s also plenty here to keep younger visitors entertained, thanks to a children’s area complete with a mini role-playing village.
And if books and cake weren’t enough, there’s another string to this café’s bow.
The Bloom Bar lets you build your own bouquet. Choose the size you want, then wander around selecting your own stems and foliage to create something that’s uniquely yours.
You can build your own bouquetThe Bloom Bar at Peony & Parchment
Of course, you don’t have to be visiting specifically for the afternoon tea. The wider menu includes tapas, full breakfasts and sandwiches, making it just as suitable for a leisurely brunch, lunch or coffee-and-cake stop.
So whether you’re there to discover your next favourite novel, assemble a bouquet, entertain the kids or simply eat your way through five different miniature cakes, this is one café where there are plenty of chapters to explore.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd February 2022 
