When it comes to bottomless brunching, Manchester really has got it down to a fine art. There really is something for every occasion, whether you want pies and pints or poached eggs and fizz.
One new bottomless brunch to throw its hat into the ring comes from Gusto, the popular Italian chain first founded in 2005 by Jeremy Roberts and the late Tim Bacon, from Living Ventures Group.
Known for its affordable Italian elegance, the restaurant group has just introduced a new Italian-inspired bottomless brunch with unlimited limoncello sangria, sourdough pizzas and refined pasta dishes.
Priced at £37 per person, for that diners will be treated to two delicious Italian courses alongside 90 minutes of non-stop cocktails and prosecco.
Running on Fridays and Saturdays between midday and 3pm, the new deal is inspired by the tastes of Italy and starts with the restaurant’s signature Dough Petals served with garlic butter.
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Image: Gusto
Image: Gusto
This is followed by a choice between classic brunch favourites and more authentic Italian plates.
Find brunch mainstays like smashed avocado on toast topped with spring greens, poached egg or smoked salmon on the menu here alongside the likes of wood-fired sourdough pizzas with toppings like pepperoni salsiccia or margherita.
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Further menu choices at the new Gaucho bottomless include the likes of jerusalem artichoke and truffle ravioli, D.O.P. San Marzano tomato orzotto, or a simple but flavoursome rigatoni arrabiata.
There is also the opportunity to upgrade to a Gusto burger – British chuck steak, caramelised onion, pecorino cheese, tomato, lettuce, relish and gherkin with skin-on fries or a house salad – for an extra £2.
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To wash it all down, you’ll find a selection of cocktails such as Aperol spritz, passionfruit spritz, limoncello sangria, and prosecco all available, with a non-alcoholic option also on offer for those off the sauce.
Image: Gusto
Image: Gusto
Kat Schofield, Head of Marketing at Gusto said, “We’re excited to bring our unique take on bottomless brunch to Manchester!
“Italians treasure time around the table with friends and family – best spent over lovingly prepared food and drinks, and our new bottomless brunch offers the ideal opportunity to do just that.”
‘Hidden’ Manchester cocktail bar shuts down after only six months
Daisy Jackson
A cocktail bar in Manchester city centre that opened only last December has reportedly closed down, with its final service today.
Ego Death, a ‘hidden’ speakeasy-style bar in the Northern Quarter, told CLASS magazine that they were told by backers that they would have to close.
It opened under the steer of acclaimed bartender Cressida Lawlor, co-founded by Beau Myers, who also founded the original Almost Famous.
The bar is beneath newcomer smash burger joint Super Awesome Deluxe and accessed through an unmarked door within the takeaway.
Shortly after Super Awesome Deluxe opened, Almost Famous went through a high-profile closure of all of its restaurants this year, later bought out and reopened by D2.
And now just six months after launch, Ego Death looks set to be closing for good.
Cressida told CLASS: “The team here is wildly talented so the goal now is to get them into jobs so they can pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads.
“No one wants Ego Death to die and I think we’ve made enough of a stir in the six months that we’ve been open to find a new site and investment.
“Our last day is going to be Sunday, so anyone who can get here for one final party should come down.”
She later added on Instagram: “Truly gutting but there is always light in any form of darkness. Come see us this Sunday for the final service as we go through a true ego death.”
Ego Death came from the same team behind Socio Rehab (which if you remember it from 2004 was a bit of a local institution) and had a cocktail menu inspired by the speakeasy bars of New York City.
Behind the bar the stars were bourbon and champagne, plus cocktails inspired by the Big Apple – including one named after Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones.
Beau Myers, co-founder at Ego Death said at the time of its opening: “It’s been 20 years since we opened Socio Rehab so it seems pretty poignant to be opening another amazing cocktail bar. We changed the landscape of cocktail bar culture then and that’s something we’re trying to do again.
“We’ve partnered with Cressida Lawlor to make this dream happen. She’s a total firecracker and reminds me a lot of myself 20 years ago, she’s the future of cocktails and bartending and has that maverick spirit.
“Together we’ve created Ego Death, hidden in a basement behind an unmarked door at the back of a burger shop will be this cocktail haven. An underground escape throwing out the best classic cocktails, bourbon, and champagne from top level bartenders.”
This Manchester bar serves a bottomless cheese fondue with endless beer and wine
Georgina Pellant
There’s a bar in Manchester serving a bottomless cheese fondue with endless wine and beer, and it honestly sounds like the perfect treat.
While it might scream cosy winter night in, with a huge outdoor terrace, The Mews is also a firm favourite during the summer months.
Add in a board of melt-in-the-mouth charcuterie, springy pieces of garlic sourdough and a host of crunchy cheese biscuits, and you’ve got yourself the ideal afternoon if you ask us.
But there’s more. Alongside all that cheese and meat and bread, included in the price of The Mews’ bottomless fondue, cheese lovers can also enjoy 90 minutes of non-stop drinks.
Bottomless cheese fondue at The Mews on Deansgate in Manchester. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Costing £37.50 each, included in the deal is a huge pot of melted Italian Fontina cheese served with homemade garlic croutons, sourdough crackers, and slices of British charcuterie.
You’ll also get to enjoy an hour and a half of endless pints of house pilsner and carafes of red or white wine to enjoy alongside.
Serving up to six people, the bottomless cheese fondue is available only when you pre-book, so make sure to get in touch ahead of your visit to let The Mews know that you’re coming.
If you’re not on the sauce, you can opt for the cheese fondue alone. Without the booze, it’s quite a bit cheaper at £25 for one, and £2.50 on top for any additional people who want to get stuck in.
Housed up on Deansgate Mews, just behind the main hustle and bustle of Deansgate, there’s plenty of space inside as well as a large, secluded terrace that is quite the suntrap (when the Manchester sun is shining).
Georgina Pellant -
29th June 2023 
