Eats

A bar where you can pull your own pint is opening up in Manchester city centre

Genius.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 7th July 2024

In one of the coolest new openings coming to Manchester this month, a bar where you can pull your own pints opens in the city centre on Monday, 7 July.

Oh, and wine – you can pour your own wine too, because we all know how best to measure.

The self-service concept is one that immediately caught our attention, especially as we’ve always fancied our chances of pouring a perfect beer despite having never taken a single step behind a bar in our lives, and it is simply called The Tap House.

Set to span two floors with tons of outside space and a long line of taps for you to choose from, The Tap House will be specialising in local breweries and hard-to-source brews, spotlighting the best of the best from around the region.

self service pints manchester city centre
the tap house mcr
fat franks pizza the tap house mcr

With a total of 24 beers, along with 16 wines from their sister site, Another? over in Nottingham, this ‘two bars become one’ concept is a real first for Manchester and will pioneer the self-service scene in the city.

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Better yet, they’ve secured a pretty exciting name to help line customers’ stomachs whilst they’re pulling their own pints and sipping on their wine of choice, as Fat Frank’s will also be serving up pizza by the slice as the perfect accompaniment.

In a move to rival the almighty Nell’s, you can also order full-sized 22″ pizzas as well if you’re sharing or, you know, just a greedy little menace like the rest of us.

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They’ve also hit a good price point it seems as well, pints ranging from £5.50 upwards, wine starting from £5.80 and a slice of Fat Frank’s Pizza from £4.50.

Here’s how the whole thing works:

@thetaphousemcr THE COUNTDOWN IS ON SEE YOU ON THE 8TH JULY #manchester #explore #journey #vlog #journey #reels #bar #manc ♬ Baianá (Sped Up Version) – Bakermat

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Nice and simple, right?

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The Tap Hosue is set to open to the public on Monday, 8 July and is just the latest in a recent trend of new openings on Circle Square, with North Bar, Federal and viral pasta spot Onda.

Co-owner Tom Benjamin described things perfectly ahead of launch day: “Perfect pints you can pour yourself. Delicious pizza by the slice. Wine you’ll love and adore”, adding, “We’re excited to finally open the doors and see The Tap House concept come to life here at Circle Square.”

You’ll definitely find us down there trying to pull the perfect pint for ourselves and if you’re a wine-lover, it’s worth noting that these guys aren’t the only ones offering self-service in Manchester. Great minds think alike.

Salut – the beautiful Manchester wine bar with its own self-service wine machine
The Tap House might have brought pull-your-own pint method to Manchester, but Salut’s been covering the wine for a decade.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Tap House (supplied)

Eats

Popular outdoor dining event returns to MediaCity waterfront this summer

Emily Sergeant 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.

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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 Daisy Jackson Libertino in Paris

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 restaurants
East Mamma, one of Big Mamma’s Paris restaurants
No Entry cocktail bar
No Entry cocktail bar
A Big Mamma speakeasy
A Big Mamma speakeasy
Pink Mamma
Pink Mamma
La Felicita food hall
La Felicita food hall
La Felicita food hall
La 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
Food at Big Mamma
Food at Big Mamma
Food at Big Mamma
Food at Big Mamma
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.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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