A Manchester boozer famed amongst locals for being the smallest pub in the city has rebranded itself as a ‘husband creche’.
The Circus Tavern on Portland Street – for years emblazoned with the tagline ‘Europe’s smallest bar’ – has taken on a new identity of late.
The bar, first established as a boozer in 1840, is still tiny inside with room for just 18 punters at once.
But the chances are, from now on the majority of drinkers in there will be lonely husbands abandoned ‘under supervision’.
New signs erected outside have begun advertising the minuscule pub as a dedicated ‘husband day care centre,’ with a bright red A-board placed on the street asking passers-by: “Need time to yourself?
“Need time to relax? Need time to go shopping?
“Leave your husband with us! We look after him for you! You only pay for his drinks!”
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
The Grade II listed Great British Tetley pub is one of the city’s quirkiest and most famous, thanks to its tiny two-room layout and record as one of Manchester’s oldest pubs.
Its small quadrant bar at the front manages to serve lager, cider, and John Smiths Smooth, along with one handpump serving Tetley’s Cask, whilst the pub itself is something of a time capsule – with its walls covered in memorabilia and local history.
Owners collect historical images to show how the city has evolved around the Circus Tavern over the years, with a collection dating from the 1800s of Picadilly Gardens.
Further images show Manchester Library in its construction, as well as how Market Street, Manchester Docks, Manchester Canal system, The Apollo, Didsbury Train station, Stockport Bridge, and Portland Street have over the past 200-odd years.
In the back room, meanwhile, the history continues – this time dedicated to football, making it very popular with tourists and bored husbands alike.
Its hallway is decorated with dozens of sporting photos and paraphernalia including photos of famous Manchester United footballers such as George Best, who was a regular at one time.
Popular with football and rugby fans alike, who quickly fill the pub before matches, we think any lonely husband should be well at home here.
As the owners say, they’ll look after him well for you. All they ask in return is that you ‘pay for his drinks.’
Featured image – The Manc Eats
Eats
Hotel Chocolat to open viral chocolate Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Hotel Chocolat is set to open a Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester city centre, and it’ll be absolute paradise for chocolate lovers.
The popular chocolate shop, which has stores across the UK selling delicious chocolate bars, boxes and more, is now preparing to branch out in town.
Hotel Chocolat then hit a new level of fame with its Velvetiser, an invention that creates velvety smooth hot drinks at the touch of a button.
They’ve been so popular, Hotel Chocolat is now opening Velvetiser Cafes across the UK – and Manchester is up next.
If it follows in the footsteps of the Meadowhall cafe in Sheffield, visitors will be able to customise their perfect hot chocolate from thousands of combinations.
There are 18 flavours, different milks, and a whole variety of toppings available.
Then you drink can be served hot, over ice, or as a choc shake.
Colourful hoardings for the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe have now appeared on Cross Street, just next door to the new Joe & The Juice.
A planning application has also been lodged with Manchester City Council.
Drake-backed fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
The huge LA-based fried chicken brand backed by Drake is heading to Manchester for the very first time this summer.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is set to open in the Printworks this August – the first UK branch outside of London and Birmingham.
The cult chicken brand has said that its new venue will feature an ‘industrial design inspired by Manchester’s rave scene’ (if we had a pound every time a new venue used that design style, we’d be as rich as Drake…).
Dave’s Hot Chicken is famed for its signature Nashville-style hot chicken, which is served in seven different spice levels from No Spice to Reaper.
Expect sliders, tenders, ‘next-level’ top-loaded shakes and slushes.
It’s grown so quickly that in 2021, it caught the eye of none other than rapper Drake, who is a ‘significant investor’ in the brand.
The fried chicken spot will be moving into the large corner unit at Printworks, which has previously been Busaba Thai, and Floripa, with 139 covers.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is coming to Manchester
Inside, it will feature towering ceilings, exposed steelwork, and laser lights, claiming to be a ‘full-on sensory trip, where music, light and fried chicken will come together to create a high-voltage experience’.
There will also be custom graffiti inspired by L.A.-based street artists Splatterhaus and Dehm.
Dave’s Hot Chicken still has hour-long queues down in London, several months after opening on Shaftesbury Avenue – next up will be a Birmingham branch in July before Manchester opens later this summer.
And this is just the start of a nationwide expansion.
Jim Attwood, Managing Director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK, said: “Printworks Manchester is the ideal setting for our next UK site – right at the heart of one of the country’s most exciting cities.
“The new restaurant pays homage to Manchester’s legendary warehouse rave scene, with an industrial-inspired design and bold, high-energy atmosphere to match our signature flavours.
“We can’t wait to bring something fresh to this iconic venue and its vibrant mix of entertainment, food and culture.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken will open at Printworks Manchester on 8 August.
Georgina Pellant -
5th July 2023 
