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.
Free Glastonbury-themed festivals with pizza, tequila, and big screens to take place in Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Glastonbury weekend is upon us, and to celebrate the UK’s biggest music festival in all its glory, Nell’s is hosting its own festivals instead.
Hundreds of thousands of people will be making the trek to the fields of Worthy Farm next weekend, as Glastonbury 2025 headliners Olivia Rodrigo, Neil Young, and The 1975 bring the tunes, alongside a list of other talented names too big to even begin starting to reel off – as is always the case with Glastonbury, there’s something for everyone.
But for those of us not lucky enough to have bagged tickets to what is undeniably the biggest event in the British music calendar, not to worry, as Nell’s is where it’s at here in Greater Manchester.
The beloved New York-style pizza specialists – which now has four sites across the region – is turning two of its most popular restaurants into festival hubs next weekend, bringing all the spirit of Glastonbury to Kampus and Altrincham.
Manchester‘s thriving canalside neighbourhood Kampus will become home to the aptly-named Kampus Fest, while over in the Trafford town of Altrincham, Alty Fest will be in full force.
Nell’s is hosting its own FREE Glastonbury-themed festivals at Kampus and in Altrincham / Credit: Supplied
At Kampus, the gardens will be transformed into a city centre festival site for a free three-day party featuring big screens live streaming the full Glastonbury festival throughout, plus a pop-up market, face painting and hair tinsel stations, an outdoor tequila and margarita bar, happy hours, and of course, lots and lots of Nell’s pizza.
Altrincham is bringing you much of the same – the same big screens, the same tasty pizza slices, and the same happy hours, only over two days instead of three.
Family fun is also at the heart of both Kampus Fest and Alty Fest, so you can expect lots of crafting workshops and bunting making, accessory customisation stations, as well as all-day colouring sessions by Born to be Wild Child and Søstrene Grene.
Kampus Fest will take over the gardens at Kampus from Friday 27 – Sunday 29 June, while Alty Fest will take place at Nell’s Altrincham on both Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June.
Both are FREE to attend, so get yourselves down there quick.
Featured Image – Supplied
Eats
Viral Manchester bakery The Flat Baker to open its very first cafe
Daisy Jackson
Hugely popular Manchester bakery The Flat Baker has announced plans to open its very first cafe.
The Brazilian-French bakery has become legendary in the city for its flaky croissants and pistachio-based treats.
For the last few years, it’s been operating out of a hatch in Ancoats, with queues often snaking down Radium Street from early in the morning on weekends.
And now The Flat Baker has announced an exciting next chapter in their journey in Manchester – their very first bakery and cafe.
The team will be taking over a unit on the same street, which will have space to house their baking operations as well as a sitting area to serve brunch and hot food.
They’ve announced that they’ll be retaining their much-loved hatch but expanding to a second site in the heart of Ancoats.
They hope this will drastically reduce any waiting and queue times and allow even more people to sample these incredible bakes.
In a statement shared on Instagram, they wrote: “We have been keeping a secret from you. This corner of Ancoats will never be the same, because it will be our new bakery, cafe and brunch!
“We have been dreaming of it for years – we almost closed a deal with another two locations in the past few years, but it didn’t work out.
“We were about to leave the plan of the new shop aside, we were very frustrated of how things were not working the way we planned it to…
“But everything happens for a reason! Who knew the building next door was just waiting for us…
“The two-storey building has just the right space for our baking operations, plus a sitting area and a space to serve brunch and hot food.
“Don’t worry, we won’t let our tiny hatch go, we will keep both locations. This will allow us a faster service, avoid the waiting times and long queues.
“For now we just want to share this great achievement. Growing a small business when you see many other places shutting is such a challenge. But if you never stop dreaming and work hard for it, the sky is the limit! We can’t wait for the next chapter to come. Matt and Deb x”
The Flat Baker Cafe is expected to open in Ancoats this summer.
Daisy Jackson -
22nd May 2023 
