A gigantic new music, food and drink venue is opening in a former Manchester factory this summer, bringing a whopping 64 different frozen daiquiri combinations and the city’s biggest warehouse kitchen to Back Piccadilly.
Called Diecast, it comes from the team behind popular Swan Street venues Ramona and The Firehouse and will officially launch on Thursday 6 July behind Piccadilly train station.
Lining itself up as a competitor to neighbouring hospitality behemoth venue Escape To Freight Island, next month sees the venue’s first phase ‘The MachineWorks’ AKA ‘Leno Ex Machina’ unveiled after two years of intense anticipation.
Situated between Ducie St and Store St, Diecast will boast one of the biggest frozen drinks menus in the city, with a dedicated daiquiri bar featuring 20 different frozen daiquiri machines as well as classic servings.
As for its giant open warehouse kitchen, pizza fans can expect something a little different as chefs merge ‘the best bits’ of NYC and Neapolitan pizza to create something ‘with a stronger hold, more toppings, and a crispy base.’
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Fresh and zesty Italian small plates, wood fired piadino and Leno burgers will also feature on the menu here.
Classic, artisan and 64 frozen combinations of Daiquiri will pour from 20 frozen daiquiri machines dominating its huge central bar and stage, in a celebration of all things rum, whilst its huge new beer garden is flanked by a perimeter of reconditioned trailer park caravans, or ‘rum caravans’.
Elsewhere, party goers can marvel at Galleria – an immersive vertical stage party performance inside the venue.
Here, a network of vertical stages, stairways and platforms creates one of the biggest immersive, art house, dance parties the city has ever seen.
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Diecast sold out its opening parties in quick time, so now, the team has dropped free early bird tickets for its Thursday, Friday and Saturday night launch events.
Phase one, ‘Leno Ex Machina’. will be the first food and drink concept with a series of free parties in July, across the summer.
Speaking ahead of the launch, owner and director Dan Mullen said: ‘We’ve been dreaming, planning and preparing this project for years.
We’ve done bars, restaurants, clubs and festivals before, but this is something different. It’s hard to describe because it’s multiple experiences under one roof.
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“But no, it’s not a food hall. Manchester has plenty of those. This is an immersive food, drink and clubbing experience on an industrial scale.”
Featured image – Supplied
Eats
Manchester institution Salvi’s announces closure of original city centre restaurant
Danny Jones
One of Manchester’s oldest and most loved Italian restaurants, Salvi’s, has sadly announced that they are closing their original restaurant after more than a decade and a half.
Having served authentic recipes from Naples and been at the forefront of the cuisine in this city for well over 15 years, it can be hard to remember a time before Salvi’s.
With that in mind, we’re gutted to hear that their OG location over in the Corn Exchange is now shutting its doors imminently.
But fret not: it’s not all doom and gloom, as they promise this isn’t the last you’ll see of them.
Often considered the first true Manc-Neapolitan eatery, which turned from a small counter and deli into, at one point, a big and beloved group of local independent restaurants with multiple locations, most people know the name and the sign, and plenty have patronised them since day one.
Sharing an emotional message in the caption of the post above, founder Maurizio Cecco and his wife Claire said: “For sixteen years, Salvi’s has been part of Manchester’s story. We’re incredibly proud of everything we’ve built together.
“As the city changes, independent businesses have to change too. Today will be our last day of trading at Corn Exchange. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey all these years.
“This isn’t the end of our story; it’s the beginning of a new chapter – stay tuned. Grazie Mille.”
Unsurprisingly, the reaction to the news has been bittersweet, with people obviously saddened to hear of this latest closure but also looking back fondly on its past.
One person wrote in the comments: “I remember launching this amazing place all those years ago and have continued to watch you thrive!! Best of luck for the future!” Another added: “Will miss Salvi’s great food, great staff, not forgetting the Italian festival. All the best, Maurizio and family in your new adventure
As mentioned, it’s also worth noting that Maurizio and Claire are also behind the equally famous Festa Italiana, which draws crowds of tens of thousands across a full weekend every single year.
Having been regulars and firm fans of both their first family-owned flagship site and the aforementioned festival for many years, we’re equally gutted to see it go.
But as they made clear, this is not a definite ending for the brand, and it’s safe to say we’ll be eagerly awaiting whatever comes next.
Thanks for the memories and all the incredible food and drink you’ve served us – we hope we hear from you again sometime very soon.
Iconic old Manchester boozer named the best pub in the UK
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most legendary pubs – which happens to be home to its most legendary landlady too – has been named the best in the UK.
The Peveril of the Peak has shot to the top of a list of the 22 Best Pubs in the UK, compiled by Time Out.
The comprehensive list spans the length and breadth of the country looking for the watering holes that nail a ‘convivial atmosphere, charming staff, charismatic decor and, above all, a varied selection of well-kept, well-served drinks’.
And it’s Manchester’s very own Peveril of the Peak, or The Pev, that made it into the number one spot, being labelled by judges as ‘perfect’.
Time Out praised the pub’s ‘dazzling’ tiled exterior, its jukebox and pool table, and its 96-year-old landlady Nancy Swanick, who (along with her family) has overseen the pub for more than 50 years.
The Peveril of the Peak wasn’t the only Manchester pub to make it onto the list of the best in the UK – there was also a nod for another local icon, The Marble Arch, which placed 15th.
Elsewhere in the North West, The Golden Lion in Todmorden, and The Roscoe Head in Liverpool made it onto the list, along with a couple of pubs in Sheffield.
Inside The PevThe Peveril of the Peak pub in Manchester
Speaking of The Pev, Time Out wrote: “The Peveril of the Peak — or the Pev, for short, always — is the kind of pub that’s so perfect, it deserves to serve as the venue for the wetting of your head, your wedding and your wake. And, preferably, as much life between.
“Standing freely on Great Bridgewater Street, the Pev beckons you in with its dazzling green, yellow and brown tiling, retro windows and heavy emerald door. Inside, it’s a ‘proper pub’ and then some: a jukebox, pool table and dartboard are all crammed into a cosy snug, smattered with vintage stools, sticky tables and framed Pub of the Year awards from decades gone by.
“The boozer — rumoured to be both a former brothel and a haunt for ghosts — has been overseen by legendary landlady Nancy Swanick, who still lives above the bar and is now well into her 90s, for over 50 years. Expect a knees-up for the ages when she hits the big 100. Cheers!”
The full list of Time Out’s 22 Best Pubs in the UK 2026
Georgina Pellant -
19th June 2023 
