We know the new year has just landed, but already we’ve plenty of new restaurant and bar openings to look forward to in Manchester.
Following on from the opening of a new Jane Eyre restaurant and bar in Chorlton in December, this January we see a few more additions in the suburb – including a cosy new neighbourhood cocktail bar from the Tariff & Dale team and the arrival of delicious vegan dumplings at 99 Reasons.
Elsewhere there are several new taprooms to look forward to, a new bar and kitchen in the Northern Quarter, stuffed bao at Circle Square, plus the promise of more new openings around the corner in the form of Higher Ground, Treehouse Hotel and more in early 2023.
Keep reading to see where to put on your list this month.
97, Chorlton
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Image: 97
Image: 97
A cosy new neighbourhood cocktail bar from the team behind The Lead Station and Tariff & Dale, 97 is expected to open on Chorlton’s Beech Road at the end of January.
With room for just 35 covers, drinks will combine innovation and progressive mixology with legendary classics, offering signature serves alongside timeless classics with a twist.
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TBC
Desert Island Dumplings, Chorlton
Having just completed a residency at Ancoats General Store, vegan eatery Desert Island Dumplings has revealed plans to take over the kitchen at 99 Reasons Chorlton this January.
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With a tempting salt and pepper margarita dumpling sharer on the cards, for those thinking they might do dry January this is enough to make you cancel your vow (or so we hear).
Open now
Disorder, Northern Quarter
Image: Disorder
The burger is made with beef and black pudding, the team call it ‘the Manc-hi topped with Japanese mustard mayo and apple Sause’ / Image: Disorder
Opened by Stockport friends Sam and James inside the old Walrus venue (more recently Man With The Fish), Disorder is tipped to open at 78 – 88 High Street at the end of January.
Its ground floor will host an eatery with Asian-inspired street food alongside lagers and sour beers from around the world, whilst below ground the bar will offer more of a speakeasy, dive bar feel with live music from bands, DJs and rap artists.
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On the menu, Japanese sandos will be given a twist with the addition of black pudding whilst cocktails include an Asian-inspired Japanese slipper.
When popular taproom Beer Nouveau announced its closure in 2022 drinkers were sad to see it go indeed, so we expect many will be delighted to hear the space is being brought back to life under new ownership.
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Now set to be known as Temperance Street Brewery & Tap, owner Katie Sutton – who also works full time in the NHS but fell in love with beer thanks to encouragement from her CAMRA stalwart father Dave Hannan – will initially open the bar on Fridays and Saturdays with support from Matt Gibson of Temperance Street Cider.
Open now
North Taproom
Image: North Taproom
Image: Little Bao Boy
With eighteen different keg lines, one cask, plus cocktails on tap and stuffed bao from Leeds favourite Little Bao Boy, we’re very excited for the arrival of North Taproom in Manchester.
Opening at Circle Square this month, North Taproom will see popular beers from its core line poured alongside an ever-changing line-up of beers, wines, cocktails, ciders, and spirits.
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North Taproom will feature 24 draught lines, including eighteen lines of keg beer and one cask, all pouring North’s ever-evolving range of classic beers, specials and collabs with seating for 100 inside and 30 outside.
TBC
Feature image – North Taproom
Eats
The Cut and Craft are hosting a bottomless Boxing Day brunch this year
Danny Jones
This holiday season, The Cut and Craft are hosting an extra lavish take on their usual bottomless brunch on Boxing Day.
Suddenly, we’re looking forward to 26 December maybe even more than our mam’s Christmas dinner…
Yes, the much-loved steak and seafood restaurant is already well-known for one of the best bottomless brunches in Manchester, not to mention evening meals, but they always elevate things even further over the festive period.
Promising top ingredients, the best booze labels you could ask for, as well as stunning service in an even more stunning room, you can’t go wrong if you’re looking to make the most of your toasts this Boxing Day – and don’t worry, vegetarians: there are some great options for you, too.
Typically held over a long weekend, The Cut and Craft bank holiday bottomless brunch will be held for the last time this year on the final Friday of 2025. You couldn’t ask for more perfect timing than that.
The group have transformed the beautiful room in the heart of the city into what they’ve dubbed “a scene straight out of Miracle on 34th Street.
Adorned with grand wreaths, the reliable warmth of twinkling fairy lights, stockings hanging in front of the fire in ‘The Gossip Room’, plus Santa guarding the wine cellar, the only thing more inviting than the space is the menu.
Besides the usual 90 minutes of non-stop Moët & Chandon champagne, as well as DJs, live entertainment and dancers, the food offerings include flat iron steak and chips served on a hot stone with a grilled tomato and signature salt.
If you prefer something to steer away from the red meat/have already had plenty over Christmas, you can go for grilled seabass with Duchess potatoes, gremolata, hazelnut and cauliflower sauce, OR opt for the halloumi fajitas packed with roasted peppers and onions, guacamole, salsa and chive sour cream.
You can even load these up even further with the addition of free-range British chicken breast, rump steak (if you change your mind on the day), and even king prawns.
We’re almost drooling just thinking about all this – as are our mates from The Hoot after confirming the same promotion is available at their equally gorgeous sites over in Leeds.
Veggie options are Cut & Craft’s ‘Redefine Flank Steak & Chips’ (tender flank-style cut of plant-based steak), or spicy cauliflower wings, served with broad beans, English garden peas, buckwheat, baby gem, baby spinach, broccoli couscous, toasted cashews, pistachio crumb, and maple-mustard dressing.
Once again, all of this can be tweaked here and there by the exceptional waiting staff; for instance, if you’d rather wine than champers, you can always swap the bubbly for Whispering Angel Rosé, which will be served straight from their limitless fountain.
Guests who fancy visiting Cut and Craft for Boxing Day 2025 can choose between a bar table with unlimited Whispering Angel drinks only from just £55, or go all out with a restaurant table and a dish from the set brunch menu starting from £75.
The full Moët fizz upgrade package will set you back £100, if you’re really looking to indulge yourself this year, and who could blame you? It’s a long, old winter, after all.
If you’re interested in securing your seat at 38-42 Mosley St, bookings are available from 1pm onwards, and you can reserve your table right HERE.
Three Manchester pubs are officially serving some of the best Guinness in the UK
Daisy Jackson
Guinness has released the first edition of its Harp Guide, which has highlighted the best pubs around the UK to grab a pint of the black stuff – and three are here in Manchester.
The iconic Irish brewery has singled out just 35 British pubs that are serving worthy pints of Guinness stout.
Of the three in Manchester that made the list, one is a legendary Irish pub in the city centre, while the other two are neighbours out in the suburbs.
Up first is – unsurprisingly – Mulligans of Deansgate, an authentic Irish pub in the heart of Manchester city centre that’s been a popular watering hole for Mancs for more than a century, selling more than 13,000 pints a week.
The pub expanded last year and now has two spaces – its traditional, den-like ground floor, and its much larger live music space with vaulted ceilings upstairs.
Pádraig Brady, owner of Mulligans, said: “Being recognised in the inaugural Guinness Harp Guide is a real privilege.
“It’s no secret that every pub gets the same kegs of Guinness delivered, but what makes the difference is everything that happens after that.
“The right equipment, correct cellar procedures and conditions, staff who know how to pour it perfectly, the atmosphere, the daily live music – it all matters. We’ve always focused on doing things consistently, and being the sole Manchester city centre pub in the guide is testament to that consistency.”
Mulligans in Manchester is in the Guinness Harp Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
Next in the Harp Guide is Kennedy’s in Didsbury, a pub which has only been open since August following the success of its original location in Altrincham.
The pub recently welcomed Yard & Coop into its kitchens too, so you can get a traditional Irish spice bag with your Guinness.
Kennedy’s said: “We are super excited to announce that we, amongst 34 other bars across GB, have been selected for the Offical Guinness Harp Guide 2026.
“Not only is this an exceptional achievement within the Guinness community, but it’s an accolade that represents everything we work towards here at Kennedy’s Irish Bar.
“The Guinness Harp Guide celebrates those few bars that capture the warmth, character, and vibrancy that makes enjoying a Guinness so special, and of course, those that serve beautiful Guinness’.”
Completing the list is The Station pub, also in Didsbury, a cosy local favourite and key stop on the legendary Didsbury Dozen pub crawl.
This popular Irish pub has sports, live music three nights a week and a serious love of Guinness – and now it’s officially one of Britain’s best spots to drink it.
These are officially the spots to head if you’re a discerning Guinness fan.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd January 2023 
