An Australian-inspired eatery is opening at Kampus in Manchester, bringing flavourful salad bowls, soups and smoothies to the garden neighbourhood.
Bondi Bowls will open its first permanent base this summer, offering healthy choices to residents and visitors alike.
A Manchester success story, Bondi Bowls first began life as a delivery-only service during the pandemic before taking on residencies at street food markets Hatch and Freight Island.
Set up by founder Jamie Tones, a chef who has worked in kitchens around the world, the menu takes inspiration from his time in Sydney with a selection of different açaí and poké bowls.
When it opens later this year, diners will find an all-day brunch offering from morning to night with global flavour inspirations from the likes of India, Mexico, and Australasia.
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Bondi Bowls at Kampus will be a laid-back, contemporary space designed by renowned studio No Chintz, where people can hang out for coffee and food, or grab plant-based food to go (with the option to add non-vegan extras).
Image: Bondi Bowls
Image: Bondi Bowls
Speaking on the new opening, Bondi Bowls founder Jamie Tones said: “We always hear people in the city complaining about the lack of options when it comes to healthy food they can grab quickly. Australia does that really well, with healthy fast food that has real vibrancy and personality that you don’t really get here in the UK.
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“We’re taking that inspiration from Bondi Beach and bringing it to life in the heart of Manchester at Kampus – with super nutritious bowls that pack a real flavour punch. It’s the absolute antithesis of the sad supermarket salad people reach for when they’re trying to make good food choices. Everything on the menu is plant-based, with the option to add extras like meat and fish to cater for everyone.
“Kampus is a real foodie neighbourhood that totally fits with the Bondi Bowls vibe. Laid back, green, friendly – we can’t wait to open this year and start serving people craving something new.”
Jamie’s labour of love is the latest indie signing for the Kampus rental neighbourhood, which continues to add names to it its line-up of independent operators. Bondi Bowls will set up shop just off the lush communal garden, with its nearest neighbour being Pollen Bakery.
They’ll join fellow food indy operators Nell’s Pizza, Yum Cha, the Beeswing wine bar and kitchen, Great North Pie and the recently-opened Madre among others.
Featured image – Bondi Bowls
Eats
Inside Voyeur, a mysterious new post-punk 80s-inspired cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
A brand new cocktail bar is set to open in Manchester this week, with dark and mysterious interiors, 80s inspiration, and a raunchy theme.
Voyeur is opening in the heart of the Northern Quarter, and here it’s all about modern drinks in a post-punk 80s setting.
The walls are decorated with beautiful voyeurism photography from the 80s, including artists like David Hockney, Nick Taggart, and Malerie Marder.
Even the menus celebrate the artistic side of voyeurism, with drinks presented within a book of photography.
Those drinks include creative twists on drinks dating back more than a century, from the Kaleidescope of Lies (a two-in one cocktail inspired by a pina colada, with a strawberry daiquiri foam top) to The Voyeur (made with coriander-infused tequila for a savoury punch).
There’ll be monthly themed specials, kicking off with The Breakfast Club, where seasonal drinks take inspiration from Lucky Charms cereal, chai latte and an acai bowl.
Cocktails inspired by The Breakfast Club at VoyeurCocktails at Voyeur in the Northern QuarterInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barVoyeur on Oldham StreetThe cocktail menu is presented as a photography book
The dark space is lit by marble table lamps and a glittering green disco ball (and not much else), perfect for an evening spent sipping cocktails into the early hours.
Between Thursdays and Sundays, Voyeur will have DJs spinning vinyls.
Voyeur is opening this week on Oldham Street and will be open from 5pm to 2am between Tuesday and Sunday.
A brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop in a former Manc food spot
Thomas Melia
Sweet lovers and dessert connoisseurs alike, a brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop is opening in Manchester city centre this month.
Titled ‘Baby Mayhem’, this sweet-filled shop has been teasing its arrival for the past month with videos showcasing everything from new instalments to their graffiti-style logo.
This brand-new opening will be located on Radium Street, not too far away from Chinese superstar Wing Yip and fellow sweet treat specialists, Flat Baker, right in the heart of Ancoats.
The interior has been given a very nice and bright facelift too, going from an all white four-walled site to a bold and distinctive baby pink-covered site.
Manchester seems to have quite the sweet tooth at the moment, as it was only last month that our Northern Quarter was christened by cake gods, Get Baked.
As for this new dessert shop, they’re starting from scratch, with a temporary wooden window frame with their branding spray-painted onto it fitted ahead of their soft launch later this week.
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the much-loved Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria shop, and it really is out with the old, in with the new, as the familiar neon ‘No Lasagne’ sign has been traded for a sweeter read of ‘Fresh Donuts’.
It may be Yank spelling, but this still feels Manc through and through.
Case and point: all their signage, stamps and stencils have been done by local laser cutting service and neighbours, Drawn By The Light – also on Radium Street.
Enough salt, let’s have a serious amount of sugar. (Credit: Baby Mayhem via Instagram)
Baby Mayhem are taking sweet treats to the complete extreme, serving up everyone’s beloved combo of coffees and cakes, while also creating our soon-to-be-favourite indulgence: doughnut sandwiches. 10/10, no notes – genius.
There really are no complaints here; what’s not to love?
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the former Lazy Tony’s site, 23 Radium Street in Ancoats, and will be serving up their sweet treats for all to try from this Saturday, 26 April.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd August 2023 
