The huge group of siblings behind two of Manchester’s best drinks brands are teaming up to open a new bar, with 11 Central set to launch in Salford very soon.
The bar will form part of the new Central Bay site at MediaCityUK and comes from the teams behind Seven Brothers Brewery and the Sisters Distillery.
11 Central will take its name from the fact that all 11 siblings are joining forces to create a new watering hole for Salford.
The bar will have a mix of food, drink, live music, bar games and waterside views across a 2000sq ft terrace.
On the menu you will, of course, find Seven Brothers Brewery bees, brewed just a few miles away near where the McAvoy brothers – Guy, Keith, Luke, Daniel, Nathan, Kit, and Greg – were raised.
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There’ll be a microbrewery on site too so that customers can enjoy exclusive limited-edition beers made just metres from the bar.
The four sisters behind the Sisters Distillery will be bringing their full range of award-winning flavoured gins, plus artisan tonics, to the menu too.
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There’ll be distilling sessions at 11 Central for gin enthusiasts who want to learn the craft of making gin.
Seven Brothers was founded in 2014 after the McAvoy siblings were inspired by their dad’s home-brewing in their cellar at home (how that man had time for inspiring hobbies while raising 11 children is a miracle).
Seven Brothers Brewing Co was founded by seven brothers.
Since then, they’ve gone on to open bars and beer houses at Middlewood Locks and MediaCityUK in Salford, in Ancoats and in Liverpool, as well as at Manchester Airport’s new T2 Departure Lounge.
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Keith McAvoy, CEO of Seven Brothers Brewing Co, said: “We’ve been excited to open our doors at 11 Central since announcing our plans earlier this summer, and we’re proud to add another great venue to our list of beerhouses and bars that give drinkers the chance to experience SEVEN BRO7HERS beer and now SISTERS gin all in one place.
“With this new venue we’re combining a mainstream beer offering alongside craftsmanship from our brewery and gin distilleries and offering an unexpected take on drinks classics, which will hopefully be something that visitors come back to us for time and time again.
“The venue offers more than just drinks and food and is a great entertainment space with music and acts as well as a huge terrace that’s perfect for grabbing the last few bits of sunshine this year!
“We’re also able to offer a gin tasting experience at our new venue, that makes this bar more than just a destination for an after work drink or a place to grab a cocktail, and instead those that want to understand how we create and blend flavours can take the gin experience on site and explore gin with our expert team.”
Stephen Wild, MediaCity Managing Director said: “11 Central is a fantastic addition to our new independent food and drink destination Central Bay and we couldn’t be more proud to see Seven Bro7hers’ successful expansion journey within MediaCity.
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“Starting out with the original tap room just off Broadway, they then launched a thriving beerhouse in the heart of MediaCity and now this wonderful new microbrewery, gin bar and pub concept for the people of Salford to enjoy.”
11 Central will open on Friday 17 November with dancers, live music, magic, and DJs across its launch weekend on the Saturday and Sunday.
They’ll give away 150 free drinks on Friday to the first 150 people to sign up and register their interest at 11central.co.uk.
Everyone who signs up will also be entered in to a competition to win a £50 bar tab, a meal for two and a gin experience for two as part of the 11 Central launch celebrations.
Popular outdoor dining event returns to MediaCity waterfront this summer
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s popular outdoor dining concept is back again this summer, and there’s a proper tasty lineup of traders.
Kargo on the Docks, which is MediaCity‘s al fresco dining pop-up, has taken over the waterfront and gardens once again with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
A handful of Greater Manchester‘s most popular independents have set themselves up Quayside inside those signature re-imagined shipping containers.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours including Caribbean, Lebanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and Pan-Asian dishes.
Loads of local indie food vendors have taken over the Salford Quays waterfront for the summer / Credit: Supplied
Afro Shack – the sister brand to Kargo.MKT favourite House of Habesha – will be serving fusion food combining East African flavours with indulgent American fast food, while new kids on the block Wok Bros will deliver sizzling, wok-tossed Pan-Asian street food and 100% halal dishes inspired by authentic flavours and fresh ingredients.
Iconic Jamaican dishes will also be on offer from Sunrise Caribbean, while Quiero Tacos will bring slow-cooked Birria tacos, cheesy quesadillas, and vibrant rice bowls packed with the spirit of Mexico.
Last but not least, Mediterranean food lovers can expect juicy lamb koftas, golden halloumi, and richly spiced chicken shawarma from Habibs.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours / Credit: Mark Waugh (via Supplied)
As well as the tasty food on offer, as mentioned, Kargo on the Docks also features a range of artwork and installations from local independent talent – with each container adorned with murals from creatives including Fernandes Makes, Kelly Ma, and Caroline Daly, bringing a feel-good summer vibe to the MediaCity Gardens.
Visitors can also enjoy an art trail display through the gardens, featuring structures designed by, A Studio Called Jane, Luke Passey, and Tasha Whittle.
There will also be a range of pop-up events hosted at the venue throughout the summer, with more announcements to be made very soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
Kargo on the Docks is now back at MediaCity from today (9 May) and will be open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm-9pm throughout the summer.
Featured Image – Mark Waugh (via Supplied)
Eats
I went all the way to Paris to test out Big Mamma ahead of Manchester’s most exciting new restaurant opening
Daisy Jackson
Hospitality heavyweights Big Mamma Group are finally heading to Manchester, opening a Circolo Popolare Italian restaurant in the city centre – so we nipped over to Paris to see exactly what’s in store for us.
In the 10 years since launching their very first restaurant, East Mamma in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, the group have spread their wings wide.
There are Big Mamma Group restaurants, under several different names, all over Europe – and although they all belong to the same family, each one is treated like a total individual.
Some have maximalist, kitsch interiors with animal print furniture, gilded ceilings and retro prints of men in Y-fronts; others are more traditional trattorias with exposed brick, terracotta floors and crisp white tablecloths.
These interiors are fun, which is so refreshing in an industry which sometimes takes itself a bit too seriously.
On our tour of Big Mamma restaurants in Paris I came across delightful details like a loo wallpapered in pictures of Rod Stewart, a cocktail menu designed like a retro football sticker book, and an ice cream parlour built into an old train station carriage.
Every corner is packed with whimsy and wonder and there’s a whole team dedicated to sourcing these little touches from antiques fairs, second-hand shops and independent makers, stashing them all in an Aladdin’s Cave of a warehouse. Each restaurant even has its own crockery pattern.
East Mamma, one of Big Mamma’s Paris restaurantsNo Entry cocktail barA Big Mamma speakeasyPink MammaLa Felicita food hallLa Felicita food hall
So yes, the interiors in Manchester will be similarly interesting and lavish.
Big Mamma Group has already confirmed that the huge two-storey Circolo Popolare trattoria will be inspired by a Sardinian Festa, meaning cosy alcoves, more than 8000 bottles of vintage booze, and a vast room inspired by an overgrown Mediterranean courtyard.
As it takes shape in Gary Neville’s £400m St Michael’s development, they’ll be moving in big sharing tables, antique trinkets, reels of twinkling lights and even an Italian wishing well ahead of the big launch next month.
But not enough of us are talking about the food yet – this is a restaurant group that sources its produce from 160 different Italian artisans to ensure that everything you’re eating as authentic and delicious as possible.
Food at Big Mamma
While the menus shift between restaurants you can expect hearty bowls of handmade pasta laced with truffle or tomato or cheese, crispy-soft pizzas layered in creative sauce bases (like zucchini cream or black truffle cream, along with their classic San Marzano DOP tomato sauce), and per iniziare starters like giant burrata balls, melt-in-the-mouth croquettes, and slivers of cured meats – all prepared in an open kitchen run by Campanian-born Alfonso Esposito.
And a show-stopper for Manchester will be an outrageous six-inch lemon meringue pie, with a wibbly wobbly tower of Italian meringue on top.
Circolo Popolare will officially open its doors on 6 June – and before then, there’ll be a very limited soft launch where you can snag yourself 50% off your bill. Sign up HERE, with bookings live on Monday 12 May.
Daisy Jackson -
31st October 2023 
