Blank Street, a coffee shop that has become a global sensation for its pretty drinks and stylish interiors, will open its doors in Manchester this week.
There are endless locations available for a brand that prides itself on its aesthetics, from the clean new builds of Spinningfields to the edgy cool of the Northern Quarter to the charm of Barton Arcade.
But Blank Street took one look at Manchester and went ‘Oh, what about Piccadilly Gardens?’. Weird choice…
The city’s busiest and most central square hasn’t exactly built up a good reputation over the last decade, with crime and pigeons both rife.
But things may be turning a corner with the addition of new food and drink businesses nearby, from Franco Manca to Bundobust to Popeyes.
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Blank Street is the latest to open here, officially opening to the public on Wednesday 13 December.
It’s just across the way from viral Korean corn dog peddler Bunsik, with both businesses taking on the vacant units built into the infamous Piccadilly ‘wall’.
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Blank Street Coffee at Piccadilly Gardens Manchester
Blank Street isn’t stopping there either – the popular coffee shop already has signage up for a second Manchester site on Cross Street.
The coffee shop chain started off as a humble coffee cart in Brooklyn, but thanks to its stunning pastel-coloured iced lattes soon became a social media sensation.
It’s drawn in loads of famous fans, with chief influencer Molly-Mae Hague herself a loyal customer.
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Blank Street’s incredibly aesthetic green-and-white-fronted stores are found all over London these days, with people always traipsing out the door clutching beautiful swirling coffees, pistachio lattes, and blueberry matchas.
To mark the launch, Blank Street’s new Manchester store will be offering lucky locals an exclusive buy one, get one free deal from 15-17 December on their new winter menu drinks: Candy Cane Cold Brew and Chocolate Orange Mocha.
Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month.
The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather.
And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black.
The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel.
There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.
In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats.
The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering.
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel clubInside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen ClubPot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible.
Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.
“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”
Insomnia Cookies is giving away FREE cookies to anyone with these two names
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s late-night sweet treat spot Insomnia Cookies is dishing out freebies this week… but there’s a catch.
You have to be called one of two specific names to get one.
With the long bank holiday weekend upon us, those in-the-know will also have noticed that this Sunday isn’t just Easter Sunday, it also happens to be 4/20… and that means Insomnia Cookies is back with its ‘blazing’ £4.20 deal, giving you the chance to bag a box of four warm cookies while saving nearly £7 at the same time.
But even better still, if you happen to have either the first or middle name ‘Mary’ or ‘Jane’, then you can also get yourself a warm tasty cookie for free.
To mark both 4/20, and celebrate the launch of its newest strain of mouthwatering cookie, the Mary Jane, anyone called Mary or Jane can pop into either of Insomnia Cookies’ two Manchester city centre sites – Cross Street and University Green – show their valid ID with their name on, and walk alway with a cookie free of charge.
If you want to try the new Mary Jane cookie, then this limited-edition special is made up of a cookies n cream dough base, packed with rainbow sprinkles.
The freebie deal has been running all week, and you have up until 3am on Monday 21 April to take advantage of it.
Customers will be limited to one free cookie per day.
Insomnia Cookies is giving away free cookies to anyone with these two names / Credit: Insomnia Cookies UK
If you aren’t lucky enough to be called one of those two names though, then thankfully you can still make some great savings on a classic four-pack of cookies over the spring bank holiday weekend, and for every four-pack sold, £1 will be donated to Groundwork – a charity helping make Manchester greener for nature and for local people.
“We’re calling for Marys and Janes to join us to live the high life with free cookies all week,” commented Millie Ralston, Head of Marketing at Insomnia Cookies.
Daisy Jackson -
12th December 2023 
