Two of Liverpool’s cult-favourite and beloved independent vegan eateries have announced they are expanding delivery services across Manchester next month.
In what is sure to be music to the ears of the city’s plant-based foodies, vegan junk food restaurant and cocktail bar Down The Hatch and sister eatery – plant-based Chinese chippy Woo Tan Scran – are teaming up and coming to Manchester next month.
It’s certainly not an understatement to say these two restaurants have developed a cult following on the Liverpool food scene since opening doors.
And now it’s Manchester’s turn to see what the fuss is all about.
Down The Hatch – which prides itself on delivering “damn good food” – is inviting everyone to “fill your boots and stuff your faces” without judgement at a vegan junk food restaurant committed to “making sure your belly is full and your hangover is cured, one overflowing plate at a time”, with everything from burgers, loaded fries, ‘home cooked’ classic meals and more making up the menu.
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Down The Hatch x Woo Tan Scran
Woo Tan Scran, on the other hand, is a fully plant-based Chinese chippy – serving up vegan salt and pepper boxes, spring rolls, dumplings, prawn toast and everything else you’ve come to expect from a decent Chinese chippy – that’s gone down a real hit with the locals.
Such a hit in fact that, according to Deliveroo, it was found to be the most-ordered-from takeaway in Liverpool during the last national lockdown.
In what is believed to be due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, both eateries will be opening under ‘Dark Kitchen’ format only from next month.
Similar to a traditional takeaway format, a ‘dark kitchen’ refers to food that is prepared at separate takeaway premises, rather than a restaurant, and sees orders placed online only without the option for the public to enter the premises.
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Further information on delivery radius and Manchester launch dates are expected to be announced soon.
It is also not yet known whether the DTH x WTS Manchester project will seek to expand to a permanent premises in the future, so foodies are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled and fingers crossed for more updates.
You can follow Down The Hatch on Instagram here – as well as the brand new specially-dedicated @DownTheHatchMCR account – and find Woo Tan Scran on Instagram here.
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.
Emily Sergeant -
17th November 2020 
