A new cocktail bar has opened in Manchester this week, transforming a disused bank vault into a sleek underground drinking den.
Appropriately named Sterling, it comes from multi award-winning Bury brothers Joe and Daniel Schofield and is accessed by its own entrance on Norfolk Street, just behind the city’s busiest shopping district.
Found beneath Gary Neville’s Stock Exchange Hotel, inside it all feels rather glamorous. Floor-to-ceiling wood panelling sets the tone, with low, low lighting making it acceptable to guzzle fiendishly strong cocktails no matter the hour.
Inside, time stands still. There is no signal or natural light, just a list of dangerously smashable cocktails, and a handful of small plates to carry you through to dinner. At one point, I emerge outside for a cigarette and am startled to discover it’s still light outside.
The Fuji-San cocktail at Sterling. / Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Breezy servers float by to take our order, refill water, and check back on drinks (all exquisite). Rocking up at 5pm on the dot, the tequila-based Fuji-San, a refreshing mix of Silver Patron, cucumber, shiso and lime, makes for a refreshing sharpener.
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The cocktail list here is split into two, with Sterling’s tried-and-tested classics on the left, and a list of house signatures on the right.
Elsewhere, there’s a fantastic wine list curated by leading expert James Brandwood, and a tempting bar snack menu, developed by Lush by Tom Kerridge, the two-Michelin starred chef responsible for the acclaimed Bull & Bear restaurant upstairs.
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Sterling is the next Manchester chapter for the award-winning trio – the third bar in the city from the Schofield brothers who recently won Bar of the Year and Best New Bar for their first opening in the city, Schofield’s Bar, at the Class Bar Awards 2022.
The team have unrivalled experience from across the globe winning International Bartender of the Year and working in some of the world’s most applauded bars, including Little Red Door, The American Bar at the Savoy, Singapore’s Tippling Club and Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney.
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Joe Schofield said “We have been planning this new bar for a long time and the doors are now open. Stock Exchange Hotel is a particularly meaningful venue for us as our mother used to work at the Stock Exchange.
“Our grandmother also learnt to swim in the old pool at the basement in our original Schofield’s Bar location. As we continue to evolve our operations in Manchester, it’s warming to have a connection to the past, as that very much reflects our approach to our offering.”
Gary Neville, owner of the Stock Exchange Hotel said: “From the moment I walked into Schofield’s Bar some 8 or 9 months ago and met Joe and Daniel I felt like I was walking into an international quality destination but with a local feel and an understanding of the spirit of Manchester.
“We spoke about how we had grown up in Bury and the times we had there! I genuinely can’t wait now for Sterling to open in Stock Exchange Hotel and develop this partnership with the Schofield brothers.”
Popeyes is giving away 10,000 FREE hash browns in Manchester
Thomas Melia
Louisiana fried chicken chain Popeyes is set to giveaway 10,000 free hash browns across its Manchester locations.
Manchester may be known for rain, but this time, it’s not those little murky raindrops that will be falling into our hands, instead it’s the holy grail of the carb world – hash browns.
Once the madness of Parklife this weekend has been and gone, I don’t think anyone could’ve come up with a better solution for a two-day, dance-ridden, drink-fuelled weekender, than a lorry load of free Popeyes cajun hash browns.
Popeyes is known for serving up lots of tasty treats, including a range of signature sauces like ‘Bold BBQ’, ‘Garlic Parm’, and ‘Buffalo’.
Popeyes is giving away 10,000 FREE hash browns in Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group
Alongside putting Louisiana on the map thanks to its delicious chicken varieties, Popeyes is also known for its spice-infused sides, which are famously covered in cajun seasoning, and the hash brown is one of the best of them.
Popeyes’ cajun hash browns are taking centre stage across Parklife weekend, as from Saturday 14 June through to Monday 16 June, 10,000 of these glorious golden treats will be given away for free as Manchester celebrates its biggest festival.
“We know Parklife is one of the biggest weekends in the Manchester calendar,” commented Dave Hoskins, who is the Head of Food at Popeyes UK, “and being just down the road from the action, we wanted to help festivalgoers start their day right”.
Whether their cajun hash browns are your go-to breakfast feast, or you’re after your first taste of the Popeyes menu, then make to visit any of the two Manchester Popeyes sites, download thee app, and get there before 10am.
Anyone after sampling these breakfast breadwinners can do so by downloading Popeyes official app and registering for an account by 11:59pm on Friday 13 June 2025 HERE.
Featured Images – Publicity Picture (via Laurence Howe)
City Centre
The Manchester restaurant that serves pizza with scissors is now giving FREE haircuts
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s newest scissor-themed pizzeria will be giving out free haircuts this Father’s Day… genuinely.
We know it sounds a little strange, especially as we unusually described the restaurant as ‘scissor-themed’, but stay with us on this one.
One of Manchester‘s most exciting new openings so far this year, Forbici, has aptly announced that it’ll be treating dads who dine with them to free haircuts on Father’s Day this Sunday.
Forbici – which literally translates to ‘scissors’ in Italian… get it now? – opened its doors in the heart of the city centre last month, and is already making waves in Manchester’s foodie scene thanks to the fact it serves up every pizza with a pair of scissors.
Forbici is giving out free haircuts to dads who dine there on Father’s Day / Credit: The Manc Group
The restaurant specialises in authentic Neapolitan pizza made by master bakers and fermentors, using ingredients straight from Naples, but what makes this place a little different to the norm is that, staying true to tradition, each pizza is served in quarters and snipped with pizza scissors right at the table.
Given that scissors are such an integral part of Forbici, now it provides you with a bit more context as to why its latest Father’s Day collaboration is so clever.
Forbici has teamed up with respected Manchester-based barbershop, Urban Gent, to give any dad who dines in at on Father’s Day the chance to walk away with more than just a full belly, as they’ll also receive a voucher for a free professional haircut.
After enjoying a signature Neapolitan-inspired pizza from Forbici’s curated menu this Sunday, dads will be able to redeem their stylish surprise when settling the bill.
The voucher – covering the cost of a standard ‘haircut’ service – will be valid for a full month between 15 June to 15 July 2025, giving dads plenty of time to book a trim.
Georgina Pellant -
21st September 2022 
