Hidden away in a village of shipping containers on the outskirts of Ancoats is one of Manchester’s most gorgeous new drinking experiences.
The natural progression from an at-home wine delivery service started during lockdown, the new bar takes the name ‘Le Social’ to a whole new meaning.
It’s truly impossible to spend an evening here without being drawn into conversation with those around you, and that’s exactly the point.
With room for just six covers inside (nine at a push), it’s wonderfully intimate.
Image: The Manc Eats
The walls are lined with beautiful bottles of wine, in fact, there’s probably more room dedicated to the wine than the guests – but that only adds to its charm.
Tucked away behind a muslin curtain, owner Jerome bustles in the kitchen preparing small plates which, just like the majority of the wine list, are created using responsibly sourced ingredients from French, Spanish and Italian producers.
The first bottle, Le Social sparkling, is a wine hand-selected by Jerome from a vineyard high up in the mountains just inland of Barcelona. Very dry with lots of acidity, technically it’s a cava but as he says it’s a “high spec” one.
With no sugar added, it’s very fresh and floral, sitting somewhere between Champagne and prosecco.
Le Social Sparkling is technically a cava, but sits somewhere on the scale between a prosecco and Champagne. / Image: The Manc Eats
There’s a great story about the label, designed by Jerome’s friend – an artist and Go-Go dancer for Manchester’s queer block party for all, Homoelectric, called Tony Sanchez.
Showing us the design, he tells us: “During lockdown, he was clearly missing cuddles very much so he was drawing lots of erotic drawings […] I really liked what he was doing and I picked the more PG 13 one, which is just a nice innocent cuddle between a few different people”.
Their heads are replaced with flowers, and the colours – mostly red, yellow and black – echo the artist’s own Spanish background, as well as the heritage of the wine, but there also nods to time spent in Japan through the calligraphy.
Jerome adds that he intends to showcase more of Tony’s work in an exhibition later this year, at which point the PG 18 illustrations will also be revealed – drawing a collective laugh from our little groups of twos and threes.
A selection of cheese sourced from local Manchester cheese celebrity, the Crafty Cheese Man, and bread from Ancoats’ Companio Bakery. / Image: The Manc Eats
Served with crisps, also from Catalonia, plump green olives and salted almonds, Jerome tells us that the idea behind the pairings is designed to mirror how it’s done in France or Italy.
Borrowing on the tradition of aperitif or aperitivo, where typically you might meet with friends after work for a few drinks, order a few nibbles (or, as is the case abroad, receive them complimentary), all the plates are small but delicious. Perfect for picking at.
As we progress through the wine list, more plates appear.
Grilled artichoke halves are served with an easy-drinking Muscadet from Jerome’s hometown, and as it’s poured, we hear how in his village you’ll often tip out of the rave in the morning down to the market to drink this in shots along with oysters until you feel revived and ready to go again.
Olive oil is in plentiful supply. First in the crisps, then on the artichokes, then with aubergine fillets – served alongside a gorgeous French Divay.
Aubergine fillets in olive oil come served alongside a / Image: The Manc Eats An orange Pinos Gris 2021 wine from Fleet, South Gippsland, Australia. / Image: The Manc Eats
Next, an orange wine with tuna fillets (served in yes, more oil) – made in the red wine skin-on style, using white grapes to create a beautiful peachy colour. It all goes down a treat.
Taking a break for a cigarette, we wander out into the shipping container village and realise just how much of a secret this place really feels.
Despite being just a ten to fifteen-minute walk from the city, it’s very dark and quiet, with the exception of a lone drummer practicing nearby in another container.
Festoon lights line the courtyard, and there’s a little picnic bench table on which we enjoy wine as we shorten our lifespans.
In the summer he hopes to extend more outside, telling us the patch gets the sunlight throughout most of the day. We expect by then this spot will be heaving with outside tables all drinking and laughing, but for now it feels very under the radar.
A great place to come to impress a date or any lover of fine wine. Jerome is the only retailer in Manchester dedicated to sourcing high-quality organic wines – albeit not everything on the list is so.
He also sets great store by parity in his producers, proudly telling us that at least half the list is created by female winemakers or couples.
New to the scene, visiting Le Social feels like being let into a beautiful secret.
Open on Saturdays only between the hours of 2 and 10pm, expect an ever-changing menu of natural wines, deli boards and continental plates.
Booking is essential due to the size of the space. You can message Jerome through the Le Social website here.
Eats
Indian street food spot serving foot-long naan wraps announces closure
Daisy Jackson
A lunchtime takeaway spot known for its foot-long naan wraps has announced its closure in Manchester.
Rola Wala, which only opened 18 months ago in the heart of Deansgate, said it’s ‘walking away proud’ from its venture in the city.
Rola Wala is a hugely popular lunch spot in Leeds and chose Manchester for its second location last November.
On the menu are filling rice bowls, curries and wraps, as well as build-your-own naan rolls filled with authentically spiced Indian fillings.
The brand was founded by Mark Wright (no, not that one) as a street food stall in London and quickly expanded.
But its Manchester location is soon to be no more, closing for good at the end of this year.
They wrote: “Manchester, it’s been real. We’re walking away proud — and already working on what’s next.
Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
“Something that fits who we are, and where we’re going. Thank you for the love, the queues, and the fire.
“This isn’t goodbye. It’s just the start of something new.”
They added that the Leeds Rola Wala is open and trading as normal.
They finished their statement with: “Manchester – Closing Friday 27th @11pm – See you in store for one last Rola this week xxx”
One person commented on the Rola Wala post on Instagram: “Nooooo. I only got to try recently. Devastated as it was so good.”
Another said: “Always in awe of your dignity, Mark. Wishing you the best for the next steps forward.”
Highballer – Stockport’s new bar from the brains behind Cherry Jam
Danny Jones
Stockport is riding a real wave of excitement right now, and aside from being dubbed ‘the new Berlin’ a couple of years back, it’s also enjoying a big bar boom right now: case and point, Highballer, which has just been opened by the blokes behind a familiar local name.
Given the experience behind this new venture, we have a feeling this one could finally stick for what has proved to be a tricky unit in the past.
Created by Neil Garner – the man behind charming indie bar champions, Cherry Jam – Highballer is another music-forward venue from a team with experience across both industries.
Looking to carry on where Amp, Dr Feelgood and even Remedy Bar left off before them, Highballer is the latest watering hole to appear inside 11 Market Place following a successful pop-up earlier this year.
No, it’s not the ‘Gary the Gorilla’, sorry – but it does give a nice little nod to Almost Famous. (Credit: Highballer)
With Amp closing at the start of the year, Garner saw the opportunity to step in turn the place into something familiar but new, promising more music, karaoke and bandaoke; a fresh new food menu, darts, pool and even the classic American lawn game, cornhole.
Having already opened earlier this month, toasting the arrival with a bonus Oasis reunion launch party on Friday, 20 June, the crowds are already starting to return. As for Garner, he brings an incredible pedigree to the new project.
A world champion flair bartender boasting 28 years in hospitality, he’s worked in over 100 countries, including time as a Las Vegas performer, not to mention holding a Guinness World Record and coming runner-up on Britain’s Got Talent as the founder-creator of entertainment act, ‘Barwizards’.
During his time down south, he also created the UK’s first adult playground called Roof East in London, which was ultimately sold a decade after winning Britain’s Best Outdoor Experience in 2024.
With his baby and the neighbouring bar Cherry Jam located literally just around the corner and down the brow, the reputation is already there, hence why it was busy from minute one.
Highballer sitting pretty in the shadow of two famous Stockport landmarks. (Credit: Supplied)
Stockport town centre has plenty of new pub and bar openings, from the resurrection of the old White Lion this time last year and the recently debuted Underbank, to fellow newcomer Fitzpatrick’s (formerly Bask), so it’s nice to see yet another one added into the mix.
Before Highballer, Neil spent years behind the scenes at some of the UK’s biggest festivals, running the backstage bars in the mid-noughties for events like Reading and Leeds Festival, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and even Coachella.
In terms of food, he also spent time living in Seoul, where he developed a serious love for Korean, meaning that their collab with Manc favourites BAB was a natural fit.
On the menu you’ll find:
Korean Fried Chicken – crispy and packed with flavour
Loaded Fries – choose between pulled pork or spicy grilled chicken
Cauliflower Bites – crispy and full of spice
Gochujang Mac n’ Cheese – creamy and with a kick
Korean Cheese Corndogs
Korean Grilled Cheese
BAB MCR have come to Stockport to lend their talents to Highballer. (Credit: Supplied)
With ‘power hour’ karaoke sessions, Vimto mojitos named not just after the drink but the giant gorilla bouncer sat outside (great name), not to mention a big terrace to bring those beer garden vibes, they’ve got all the ingredients for an instant hit.
Oh, did we mention there are drink deals all week long? Well, there are. Cheers to that. Speaking to The Manc, Garner kept things short and sweet as he’s confident the product will do the talking, but admitted he’s “buzzing” to be opening another venue in the borough.
Balancing live music, entertainment, and hospitality is a tall order for anyone, but with the expertise behind this place, it stands as much of a fighting chance as everyone else.
It’s been a big couple of weeks for food and drink in Stockport.
Georgina Pellant -
4th February 2022 
