A new luxury chocolate cafe has opened in Manchester today, bringing a huge range of chocolate milkshakes, iced chocolate, hot chocolates and mochas with it.
Called Knoops, it has taken over a former dry cleaners shop on the corner of Cross Street and South King Street close to the Town Hall.
Offering twenty different styles of hot chocolate and six styles of rich and creamy chocolate milkshakes, on the menu there is a huge range of different percentage chocolates available to choose from – but seating is minimal inside.
With room for just 14 covers in total, it makes for a cosy little chocolate lover’s haven: offering the ultimate drinks personalisation process with a four-step method designed to create your perfect chocolate drink.
Customers can choose their preferred hot or cold drink, followed by their chocolate percentage, then their milk, before finally enhancing their drink with tasty add-ons such as lavender, freshly grated orange zest, matcha, vanilla, and other various herbs and spices.
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The drink is poured out as a smooth hot chocolate, over cold milk and ice for iced chocolate, and can be blended with ice cream for a delicious milkshake.
With twenty different percentages of chocolate to choose from, options will range from a 28% cocoa white chocolate to a 100% extra dark variety with a menu featuring single origin blends from Peru, Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Ecuador, Venezuela, Columbia, The Solomon Islands and Mexico.
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Any and all hot chocolates and iced chocolates using 54 percent chocolate or above can also be made vegan.
To accompany all that liquid chocolate, the new Knoops cafe also features a bakery selling locally-made fresh pastries and cakes with a counter featuring the likes of cannolis, pain au chocolat, marbled cookies, croissants and more.
The brand is led by international chocolatier Jens Knoop, who founded his brand on the original concept of Knoopology: the art of crafting the perfect chocolate drink.
At the heart of the brand is his own passion for chocolate. Jens has had a strong relationship with chocolate since his childhood in rural Germany.
In 2013, he decided to share his passion and opened the first Knoops store in Rye, East Sussex. Having observed that chocolate drinks were so often underloved; an afterthought on café menus or the preserve of high-end chocolatiers, he set about creating a business fully centered on drinking chocolate, both hot and cold.
He started to experiment, making the truly personalised drinks that you can enjoy in Knoops today, and he’s built up an encyclopedic knowledge of the taste profiles of many different chocolates.
Jens has spent the last eight years (about 10,000 hours) perfecting these drinks combining different percentage cocoas, with a range of milks and fruits, roots and spices.
He named this process “Knoopology” – and it’s an ongoing journey, with new flavour combinations still being discovered.
The shop is Knoops’ very first in the north of England, and marks the tenth opening for the fast-growing artisan cafe chain which already has other locations in London, Rye, Brighton, Oxford and Cambridge.
Featured image – The Manc Eats
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Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Scouting For Girls announce two massive anniversary shows, including one in Manchester
Danny Jones
Long-standing indie-pop act Scouting For Girls have just announced two new very special and very big 20th birthday shows, including a stop right here in Manchester.
In fact, their Manc show will be their biggest headline show to date – and by that we mean in the group’s entire history.
Known for the chart-topping ‘Heartbeat’, ‘She’s So Lovely’, ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ and many more, the trio are once again heading up North to roll back the years.
This announcement follows the previous batch of anniversary shows for 15 years since their second album in 2025 and ’26, only this time they’ll be toasting two whole decades of being a band.
Credit: Press shots/Near Wild Heaven Records (supplied)
Heading to Wembley’s OVO Arena and our very own AO Arena, this marks a huge career landmark for the beloved noughties band, who have also just released their latest record.
Dropping their seventh studio LP, These Are The Good Days, on Friday, 27 March, they’re still as busy as ever, both in the studio and when it comes to performing live.
In recent times, they’ve once again become a bit of a festival favourite, as multiple generations know every word to those famous choruses.
And now, 20 years on from signing their first record deal, the lads will be playing those same hits and plenty more for what is set to be one big Scouting for Girls celebration.
They’re even bringing along a fellow throwback outfit with them, in the form of The Hoosiers. Can’t lie, we still listen to ‘Goodbye Mr A’ and the rest of the FIFA 08 soundtrack pretty often.
Writing on social media, the band said: “This is going to be a proper 20th birthday party — ALL of album one, all the favourites, huge sing-alongs, massive nostalgia, and the biggest nights we’ve ever done.
🎸 @Scouting4Girls celebrate their 20th anniversary with a huge Manchester show!
Manchester marks Scouting For Girls’ only confirmed show outside of London in 2027 so far, although we imagine there’ll be plenty of appeal for more dates in no time.
Visiting the city six times since 2020 alone, they clearly still enjoy playing up here, and judging by the reaction from the Audio North team, the love for them hasn’t gone anywhere either.
Scouting For Girls arrive in Manchester on 12 February next year, with the mailing presale window (via their website) going live at 10am on Tuesday, 31 March.
As for general admission tickets, they’ll be available from the same time the following Tuesday, 2 April; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
They’re not the only nostalgic name visiting Greater Manchester for a milestone show either – and you don’t have to wait until next year to see these lads up close and personal:
Georgina Pellant -
21st April 2023 
