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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
“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.
Bask is BACK – bosses confirm return to ‘golden era’ of popular Stockport spot
Danny Jones
In brilliant news for Stopfordians, Bask is officially coming back, as current boss Jon Fitzpatrick is bringing back one of the key core members of the OG owners and staff, co-founder Benji Taylor.
Very exciting times for the town centre.
While local DJ, musician and entrepreneur, Jon, is the man behind the Irish-American bar and grill reboot under his surname that began in June of 2025, the business has gone on to become more of a morning and afternoon venue in the time since then.
However, with the help of Benji returning after a bit of well-deserved time off and having spent a period working on other ventures, they’re looking to dip back into the evenings as well and make this more of an all-day spot.
Writing a statement in the caption of the post, the duo said, “We couldn’t be more proud to announce that Bask is back, and we are pleased to reveal one of the original crew returns to help our team return it to the golden era.
“Live music, great bands, entertainment all week, and non-stop fun. We’re not a late-night venue like it was recently; we want to keep it mature and [aim] to enhance the experience for our customers.
“Our daytime, sport and relaxed atmosphere won’t change, and our kitchen will actually be open later than it is now! We have many goals, but our main aim is to put credible, exciting live music back on the Stockport map. With Benji and Jon’s experience, it’s gonna be a magical time for Stopfordians.”
We met face-to-face with the prolific pair last week, and they made it clear that their shared vision is simple: marry Fitzpatrick’s steady daytime trade with the initial magic of that very first iteration of Bask.
Get it right, and they could very well create a new all-seasons superpower on the Stockport bar scene, as the brand certainly had a taste of that when they first captured attention with inside that packed-out unit just outside the train station.
Speaking to The Manc, the Bask boys admitted it was a “real shame” how things transpired towards the end of the previous setup, acknowledging that trouble with some problematic punters (especially in the early hours of the morning) effectively “spoiled” what became a weekly pilgrimage for many others.
That’s why, although they’re opening well into the evening and nighttime – with a full schedule of regular events such as live music, stand-up, karaoke, quizzes, darts nights and more already lined-up – they haven’t gone for a late license this time around, as they want to preserve what made it special.
Set to fully re-launch on 1 May from 5pm onwards, we’re expecting them to be off to the races the second the word about the comeback spreads.
Ben and Jon also still believe that in the era post-Bamboo in Hazel Grove closing, Stockport hasn’t really had a well-known and reliable night out, comparable to that kind of experience. Other than here.
Now, Bask isn’t a club, nor was it ever supposed to be; it was a bar that, on its day, was one of the biggest parties in all of Greater Manchester, and although it won’t be ’till two’ this time around, we can’t wait to see the gang get back to their best.
Locals will also be glad to hear that borough favourite Stock Party will also be returning this summer, and you can bet on seeing some familiar native faces taking part.
Glamorous new pan-Asian restaurant Zadie’s to open at Medlock Square
Daisy Jackson
The flagship restaurant for the new Medlock Square development on the Etihad Campus has been revealed.
Zadie’s will be an intimate and glamorous pan-Asian restaurant, offering high-end dining, cocktails which ‘border on the chaotic’, and late-night entertainment.
It will be opening above Medlock Square, a new entertainment destination that’s being constructed alongside the expansion of Manchester City’s homeground and the new The Medlock hotel.
Zadie’s comes from some renowned hospitality heads, including Laura Montana (who created Sexy Fish alongside Richard Caring and also launched Monkey Bar in Manhattan); head chef Paolo Bianchi (Lucky Cat, Alain Ducasse); and Cressida Lawlor, a well-known face on the local bar scene, who’ll step in as head of bars.
The stylish new launch will be designed in collaboration with international hospitality studio Gorgeous Group, which counts Dishoom and Six Senses among its previous collaborations.
Laura said of the project: “I’m delighted to be leading this incredible project – Zadie’s is the culmination of years of work, hundreds of ideas and tiny details I’ve spotted, collected and loved as I’ve travelled and opened operations around the world.
“I’ve moved to Manchester and it feels alive with the kind of energy I’ve not felt in a long time – this is going to be a huge year for us!”
Founder of Gorgeous Group Robbie Bargh said: “What a project for the team and I to be involved in! And to be working in my home town of Manchester too, it’s so exciting.
“We love to bring desire and emotion to restaurants and bars we work on, and this one has mountains of it – Zadie is cool and she’s fun – she’s the girl you want to follow and the girl you want to hang out with – we can’t wait for you to meet her.”
Daisy Jackson -
31st October 2023 
