Food & Drink

Cult Northern Quarter cafe Federal to give out 1,000 free coffees and pastries when it reopens this weekend

Freebie? Yes please.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 14th October 2025

Fancy getting your hands on one of the best cups of coffee in Manchester for free?

Manchester’s number one brunch spot, and the UK’s most popular independent cafe, Federal – which has three locations in the city, as well as soon to open in Leeds – is giving away 1,000 coffees this weekend to mark the reopening of its Northern Quarter site, which has been temporarily closed while undergoing refurbishment.

The Northern Quarter cafe first opened its doors in 2014, and after being open consistently for 10 years and being extremely busy in the process, it was time for a refresh.

The NQ site was known for always having people queuing up to get inside, and with the doors are finally being flung open to welcome customers back this weekend, and with free coffees and pastries on the cards, the queues are set to be resume.

Federal will be giving away free espresso drinks that use its Ozone Federal espresso blend – including lattes, flat whites, cappuccinos, and Batch brew for those who prefer their coffee black.

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Federal is giving out 1,000 free coffees and pastries when it reopens in the NQ this weekend / Credit: The Manc Group

The cafe will also debut new autumn weekly specials, starting with a Biscoff Chai Latte from Sunday 18 October, which is described as being the ‘perfect cup of warm indulgent goodness’ for autumn.

Free Lovingly Artisan pastries will also be up for grabs for those super-early birds each morning.

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Inside the NQ site following the refurbishment, the new interior has all the familiar Fed feels with a relaxed space filled with reclaimed furniture, plenty of greenery, and comfy banquet seating to create that laid-back and down-to-earth charm Federal is famous for.

Timber details and eye-catching signage bring warmth and personality, and tie in beautifully with the delicious menu of fresh food and drinks.

“We haven’t re-invented the wheel, this is all about making customers feel familiar and comfortable whilst improving the flow of the cafe and overall experience,” commented Federal’s Social Media and Marketing Manager, Emily Ribeiro, ahead of the reopening this weekend.

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“We can’t wait to see all our loyal customers again and invite them to come and have a coffee on us and celebrate some of our favourite suppliers, who have supported us from day one.”

Federal’s Northern Quarter cafe, on Nicholas Croft, will officially be reopening this Friday 17 October from 7:30am, and will be giving away free coffees and pastries on each morning of the three-day weekend.

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Opening time will be 8am on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October, with closing time at 4:30pm on Friday and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Featured Image – Supplied

Food & Drink

Didsbury favourite Rustik adjust plans to close after overwhelming support

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rustik West Didsbury closing for good end of the month

Didsbury favourite Rustik recently announced that they would soon be closing, seemingly for good, after more than a decade, but after a fortunate twist of fate, there looks to be a sliver of hope, and like they could be staying open after all.

The beloved neighbourhood cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but the independent Irish eatery confirmed that they were due to shut down permanently by the end of last month.

Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.

To no surprise whatsoever, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution, which has also helped lead to a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Updating their followers via social media on Monday, 13 October, Rustik wrote: “We Need You More Than Ever […] We know it’s been quiet since we closed our doors — and honestly, it’s been a tough time behind the scenes.

“So many of you reached out, checked in, sent kind words, and we’ve felt every bit of that love. Thank you. Truly. When we said goodbye, we weren’t sure what the future looked like. But due to unexpected changes and plans falling through, things have come back around… and now, we’re reopening.

“It’s not easy to say this, but like so many in hospitality right now, it’s tough. We know we’re not alone in this — many small businesses are facing incredibly difficult decisions. But instead of closing the chapter, we’ve decided to give it one more shot. With everything we have.

“So, we’re reopening this Wednesday, 15 October, with a brand new brunch menu and the same Rustik heart you’ve always known. For now, we won’t be open in the evenings — but that might change. What matters most is that our doors will be open again, and we can welcome you back.”

Not only is this obviously brilliant news, but Burton Road favourite is also offering guests a 20% discount off the menu until Halloween (31 Oct) – their way of not only encouraging new customers to come through their doors, but also as a thank you to all their loyal patrons over the years.

Again, the return of late dining and their usual full programme of nighttime events still looks uncertain, but for now, they’ll be “serving coffee and brunch Wednesday to Sunday, 9am–4pm, and hoping to see as many familiar (and new) faces as possible.”

On a personal note, we’ve always loved their cult classic pub quizzes, which were some of the best in Manchester and regularly packed out every week. If you know, you know.

@the.manc Pub quiz and 80p wings – what a sick night!👏🏻😎 #themanc #rustik #didsbury #greatermanchester #westdidsbury #pubquiz ♬ Sunrise – Official Sound Studio

They signed off by adding: “This is a fresh start, but we can’t do it without you. If you’ve ever loved what we do, now is the time we need you most. Your support, your presence, even just sharing this with someone who might pop in – it means everything. With love, gratitude, and a little bit of hope — The Rustik Team.”

This positive turn of events comes just a few weeks after what fans thought was the endgame for the West Dids community cornerstone.

Posting across all of their accounts on 17 September, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.

Expressing their gratitude after the best part of a decade in the south Manchester suburb, they touched upon the post-COVID recovery period, rising business rates, supply chain costs and many of the same challenges that other hospitality venues have cited as reasons for the initial decision.

“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.

We sincerely hope the talk of closing proves to be merely a blip and that this next chapter signals the start of an incredible new era for Rustik, and as for you local foodies, we urge you to meet the further call for support and visit them during this crunch period.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Rustik West Didsbury (via Facebook)

Food & Drink

Legendary Manchester bar Sandinista shuts down after more than a decade

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Sandinista Manchester has closed down

Sandinista, a staple on the Manchester bar scene, has quietly closed its doors.

The bar, just off St Ann’s Square, has been a popular watering hole for more than 13 years, famed for its music playing til the early hours and Latin food menu.

For more than a decade, Sandinista has been a no-frills, unpretentious, laid-back spot for Manchester locals to grab a pint and a shot of tequila or three.

They also served completely silly cocktails, like pints of booze served on fire.

And its in-house kitchen, El Gordos, served a menu of ‘Latin scran for Gringos’ which includes tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and snacks like Cancun cracking, croquettas, and patatas bravas.

The bar now appears to have quietly shut its doors for good, sharing videos of a closing party earlier this week.

They’ve shared no farewell statements (but they weren’t exactly active on social media anyway) and padlocked the doors.

The bar has been sharing Instagram stories of people bidding it farewell, and a member of staff confirmed its closure to the Manchester Evening News.

One person shared: Sandinista. lots of good memories and friends met over the years. Our very own central perk. There really won’t ever be a place in town like it.”

Sandinista Manchester is part of the same group that operates a bar of the same name across in Leeds.

Sandinista described itself as being ‘inspired by a love for music, food, drinks and Latin culture’.

They also said on their website: “Inspired and named after The Clash’s fourth album, Sandinista play an eclectic mix that covers rock, indie, funk, soul, reggae, 80’s and more until 3am, 7 days a week.

“Sandinista’s revolutionary theme is influenced by the political movement in Nicaragua and the Central American flavour is carried throughout the Latin inspired food and drink menu as well as the décor.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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