Tom Ogden, of Blossoms fame, and his wife Katie are preparing to open the doors to Bohemian Arts Club, a new cocktail bar in Stockport.
The stunning speakeasy has taken shape in a formerly derelict three-storey building on Coopers Brow, transforming a run-down space into a luxury and intimate venue.
While the ground floor is occupied by a new Bohemian hair salon for stylist Katie, the top two floors have been given a stylish makeover, all soft terracotta walls and marble window frames.
Set to open this weekend, the couple’s personalities and tastes are stamped all over Bohemian Arts Club, from the mirror-tiled doors and ceilings to the heart-shaped chairs hand-made by Katie’s mum and dad.
Even the concise 12-strong cocktail menu has been inspired by the people and places who are special to Tom and Katie, like the ‘Feral’, which is a tribute to Katie’s dad, and ‘George’s Marvellous Medicine’, named after their dog.
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The couple met and married in Stockport, so it was a natural choice for their first bar together.
Katie told The Manc: “We’ve been so inspired by all these cool little speakeasies we’ve been to across the world. We love all those bars hidden away down a little alleyway or a secret door.
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“For us, we’ve lived in Stockport all of our lives, and for me it felt like a gap in the market to have a really nice cocktail with a decor that matched.”
Speaking of this weekend’s opening, Tom added: “We feel excited… slash relieved. It’s been a long two years. You go from being really excited and dreaming up this idea, visiting all these other bars for inspiration – and then your life becomes an episode of Grand Designs for ages.
“I’ll be excited to get back to writing songs again after this!”
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The entire space, hidden up a small flight off stairs off the historic cobbled streets of Underbanks, has been designed by Katie. There are marble surfaces, tainted mirrors, plush fabrics and dim lighting.
Alongside the core dozen cocktails is a selection of classics, plus wines and beers, all delivered via table service.
Cocktails at Bohemian Arts Club. Credit: The Manc GroupTom and Katie Ogden outside Bohemian Arts Club in Stockport. Credit: The Manc GroupA selection of Bohemian Arts Club cocktails. Credit: The Manc Group
Tom added: “Katie and I met and married in Stockport, it’s where everything started for the band, it’s our home town; the place means a lot to us.
“There’s something special in the air at The Underbanks; the shops, restaurants and bars opening here have a certain charm about them, as do the people visiting.
“When we found this spot we knew it was perfect for the vision we had in mind and we can’t wait to welcome in guests to our own little gem in the heart of the town that holds such a special place in our hearts.”
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Bohemian Arts Club opens on Saturday 27 May. It will be open 5pm-11.30pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4pm-1.30am on Fridays, 2pm-1.30am on Saturdays, and 2pm-11.30pm on Sundays.
Plans to open a brand-new pub on the site of the Rovers Return
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new pub is set to open in Manchester city centre net month, with treats in store like complimentary bowls of crisps, an outdoor terrace, and a games parlour.
The Stables Tavern is taking shape in the St John’s district, poetically on the same site that was once home to Coronation Street’s iconic Rovers Return pub.
They’re promising this will be a ‘historic tavern reimagined for today’s lover of a proper pint’.
The pub will come from Shiko Group, which is also behind Courts Club, where you can play tennis or basketball followed by court-side pints, and Side Street, a bar-restaurant-events space with a mid-Century interior.
Neighbouring the Bonded Warehouse, The Stables Tavern will join this rapidly blossoming new creative district, just across the yard from Caravan, The Trading Route and Aviva Studios.
Inside, punters will find multiple beer taps with local beers, served with complimentary bowls of crisps as well as a menu of pub snacks like handmade sausage rolls and local pies.
The pub will be split into three sections – an outside terrace, a main bar, and a parlour area at the back of the pub for live entertainment, old school games, and rounds of whiskey.
This might be a new district but it’s a historic area for the city – the same building was a busy watering hole back in the early 19th century for workers, merchants and visitors who made use of the nearby canals and cobbled streets.
It was then the home of the Rovers Return, back when this area was the home of Granada Studios.
Hayley Sammé, Marketing Director, said: “We’re so excited to bring The Stables Tavern back to St John’s. The area’s extensive historical backdrop and burgeoning hospitality scene provides the perfect landscape for a traditional British pub.
“It’s the perfect addition to the existing scene, and we hope it’s going to become a popular spot in our new creative district.”
The Stables Tavern will open at St John’s on Friday 6 June.
‘Classy, clever, confident’ – New Manchester restaurant receives glowing Guardian review
Daisy Jackson
Winsome, one of the newest restaurants on Manchester’s dining scene, has gone and received a seriously glowing review in The Guardian this weekend.
Legendary restaurant criticGrace Dent said that the British bistro ‘may well be my new favourite restaurant’, lauding chef patron Shaun Moffat’s ‘elegant but plentiful modern cooking’.
She said that there’s even a teeny touch of Toby Carvery in their Sunday offering, with meaty and saucy dishes and ‘cartoon-esque XL yorkshire puddings’.
Winsome opened back in March under the steer of three hospitality heavyweights – ex-Edinburgh Castle chef Shaun Moffat, former Schofields head bartender Tom Fastiggi, and Belzan founder Owain Williams.
It’s a beautiful, stripped-back space at the foot of the Whitworth Locke aparthotel and Moffat’s first venture as a chef patron.
Based on this Guardian review, he’s doing a pretty good job so far…
Grace Dent said of Winsome’s nostalgic yet modern menu (featuring dippy eggs and puddings that sound like school dinner puds): “This is Cool Britannia wearing a napkin bib with a side portion of rhubarb jelly and custard for pudding.”
Novelty crockery at Winsome. Credit: The Manc GroupChef patron Shaun Moffat at Winsome. Credit: The Manc GroupDippy egg and asparagus. Credit: The Manc GroupInside WInsome on Princess Street. Credit: The Manc Group
She also wrote that it’s ‘far from a novelty restaurant’ in spite of its animal-shaped crockery.
And Dent added that while there’s an element of fine dining, it’s unpretentious enough that you’re happy to smear it all over the tablecloths and, indeed, yourself.
‘Deeply nostalgic’, ‘forward-thinking fine dining without any of the faff’, is how she described her Winsome experience.
“This is confident, clever cooking that stays just the right side of earnest, or at least as earnest as a chef can be when he also serves up a dessert that is essentially a 1980s school sponge pudding with a scoop of milk ice-cream flecked with multicoloured sprinkles, or hundreds and thousands as they will for ever be known in my heart,” she wrote.
Grace Dent’s Guardian review concluded with: “Winsome may well be my new favourite restaurant, and it’s the new, big, generous beating heart of Manchester hospitality. It’s classy but come-all – bring your gran, bring your baby, no one need feel conspicuous.
“There’s something about the place that makes me want to use it as a canteen, not least out of sheer curiosity as to what Moffat will put on the menu next. Great cooking, and forward-thinking fine dining without any of the faff.
“Bring your appetite and don’t wear pale colours. Aaah, Manchester, you have so much to answer for. Winsome will seriously impact your waistline.”
Winsome said in a post on Instagram: “It doesn’t get much better than that! We’re over the moon, full of pride and could not be more grateful to the team who’ve worked so hard to help us deliver this dream.”
Daisy Jackson -
22nd May 2023 
