Eats

Manchester’s Stranger Things-themed bottomless brunch adds more dates

The event sold out completely last time - and there are just a few tables left for the next one

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 8th August 2022

There’s a new bottomless brunch in Manchester, and it takes inspiration from the hit Netflix tv series Stranger Things.

The popular show, now in its fourth season, has become something of a cult classic amongst its followers, so when Rendition announced last month it would be hosting a one-off ‘upside down’ bottomless brunch event fans clamoured to get tickets.

The event was so in demand it sold out completely last time, so now, Rendition has revealed that it will be bringing back its Stranger Things-themed brunch for another weekend in August .

Bringing the hit TV show to life with themed drinks, 80’s fashion and a solid all-vinyl soundtrack, the specially-exnteded event will take place on Saturday 13 August from 12-4pm.

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Image: Rendition MCR

Fans of the Netflix favourite can step into the world of Stranger Things with Joyce’s fairy lights on the walls, Jonathan’s vinyl collection for the classic tracks and even the Hawkins high 80’s fashion on all members of staff – with customers invited to get involved too.

With a select number of ‘golden tickets’ on offer, those who act fast can 90 minutes of non-stop Stranger Things-themed cocktails and a brunch dish of their choice for just £15 per head.

For those who don’t manage to get their hands on one of these, the brunch will be priced at £30 per person.

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Drinks on offer as part of this specially-extended Stranger Things-themed brunch will include a special Stranger Things-inspired upside-down cocktail.

Read more: Inside Ornella’s, the tiny Tameside pasta kitchen that’s getting everything right

This limited edition cocktail, comprised of Beefeater gin, dry vermouth, grenadine, lemon juice, cranberry and elderflower, will be served literally upside down in a substantial feat of drinks engineering.

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Image: Rendition MCR

Further drinks on offer from Rendition’s theatrical-style cocktail menu, meanwhile, will include Red Hot Fun, made up of Ciroc red berry, cranberry and chilli, and The Dance, which consists of vanilla vodka, strawberry and bubblegum. 

As for food, guests will be able to choose a dish each from the new brunch menu, which features a host of tried and tested favourites including homemade guacamole on toast with red onion and coriander, 8oz rump steak and eggs, eggs benedict and eggs florentine, all paired with bottomless booze. 

Read more: The Hong Kong greasy spoon-style cafe in Prestwich selling milk tea and toast

Diners can currently head to Rendition’s website and sign up to be sent a golden ticket for £15 each, ahead of this Saturday’s brunch. Please note that tables will need to be booked in advance to use the discount. 

Feature image – Rendition MCR

Eats

City-wide celebration of beer – including a beer festival in an old swimming pool – to take over Manchester this weekend

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

One of Manchester’s biggest and best-loved food and drink events is making its big comeback this week, celebrating all things beer right across the city.

Indy Man Beer Con (or IMBC)’s cornerstone event is the beer festival at the historic Victoria Baths, where the old Edwardian swimming pool is filled with bunting and bars.

IMBC was founded by Jonny Heyes of Common & Co fame back in 2012, and now brings together more than 60 brilliant breweries, including Bristol’s Lost and Found and Cheltenham’s Deya.

But the celebrating won’t be confined to Victoria Baths, with a city-wide IMBC Fringe festival also taking over other venues around Manchester.

Takeovers, events and collaborations will seep into bars right through until Sunday evening.

IMBC will be back at Victoria Baths. Credit: Jody Hartley

One of the big ones will be Runaway to Kampus, with Runaway Brewery Tap Room upping sticks and moving into the Bungalow at Kampus for the whole weekend.

The building-on-stilts at the canal-side neighbourhood will host the four-day residency, in conjunction with Nell’s Pizza and other friends of the brewery.

There’ll be fresh beer on tap plus a full selection of bottles (including a few rarities from the cellar).

Elsewhere, the award-winning Salford brewery will land at Chorlton’s beloved The Beagle all weekend, taking over the taps with keg and cask offerings.

IMBC will be back at Victoria Baths. Credit: Jody Hartley
IMBC will be back at Victoria Baths. Credit: Jody Hartley

On Saturday and Sunday, the Drop Project Den will pitch up at Common with a six-tap takeover and a Shifty special pizza from Nell’s.

London’s Drop Project are known for creating fresh, premium beers that push creative boundaries.

Back at IMBC at Victoria Baths, there’ll be tasting areas, snug bars in the Turkish Baths, street food and – obviously – plenty of beer.

Traders on site will include Bundobust, Siop Shop, Tikka Chance on Me, Great North Pie, Dim Sum Su, Wholesome Junkies, Honest Crust, and Triple B.

Read more

Ticket-holders for the main event are advised to download the IMBC app, which will act as a total guide to all the beers on offer and where to find them, and will also send out alerts for pop-ups and more surprises.

Tickets get you access to the festival and a festival class, with tokens inside priced at £25 for 10 or £2.70 each, with each token entitling you to one third of beer at any Indy Man bar.

It’s a completely cashless event, and you’re encouraged to take your own vessel for water as, to minimise waste, there won’t be bottles on sale.

Final tickets are available now at indymanbeercon.co.uk/tickets.

Featured image: Jody Hartley

Eats

The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | October 2022

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

Another month, another round of new openings – and there’s plenty to get stuck into.

Whether you’re into glitzy late-night hang outs, casual dining turnarounds or award-winning burritos, let’s just say there’s something on the list for you this October.

From the brand new Shogun Ramen and Bar, which sees beloved Chorlton restaurant Peck & Yard give it ‘one more shot’ with a ramen and sushi concept, to Mayfair celeb haunt Mnky Hse, keep reading to discover where to put on your list this month.

Shogun Ramen and Bar 

Image: Shogun Ramen and Bar
Image: Shogun Ramen and Bar

Fans and staff alike were heartbroken when Chorlton restaurant Peck & Yard announced it was closing its doors for good in August, so we’re all happy to see the team return under a new guise.

Switching from baskets of fried chicken to steaming bowls of ramen and handrolled sushi, bosses will try something entirely new as they delve into the world of Japanese cuisine.

The concept is something they had originally considered before opening Peck & Yard, and they said that  “with the times we’re in” they thought “why not go back to the original idea and give this one last shot”.

Soft launch 1 October from 5pm, open from 6 October.

Mnky Hse

Image: Mnky Hse
Image: Mnky Hse

Late-night bar and restaurant Mnky Hse (pronounced “monkey house”) is set to be taking over a space in Lloyd House this month.

First opened in Mayfair, London, in 2016, it will be the second UK site for the restaurant and its first in the north of England when it opens its doors this September.

Known for its ‘hidden entrance’, Instagram-friendly interiors, live music, extensive cocktail menu and Latin American dishes, here you’ll find a great range of tacos – both soft and crunchy – alongside a range of sushi, ceviche and grill dishes.

14 October

Tortilla, Oxford Road

Image: Tortilla
Image: Tortilla

Mexican food chain Tortilla has arrived in Manchester, bringing a new burrito shop to the Oxford Road student stretch this month.

Offering a range of award-winning burritos, nachos and tacos, you’ll also find quesadillas, chips and salsa, salad bowls and more on the menu.

Open now

Read more: Full English breakfasts in a loaf of bread are coming to Spinningfields

Federal Cafe Bar, Oxford Road

The most hyped brunch restaurant in the city is opening a third site at the Circle Square development on Oxford Road at the end of this month.

With a later license allowing it to stay open longer and serve cocktails, beers and natural wines into the night, Federal Cafe & Bar will look to host occassional events at its new home

Plans for the new site include a new cafe set up, the addition of a corner shop, as well as a late alcohol license.

TBC

Read more: Federal Cafe & Bar is opening a third restaurant in Manchester city centre

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Fell Bistro, Longridge

Image: Fell Bistro
Image: Fell Bistro

A new arrival in Longridge, Fell Bistro comes from former Masterchef the Professional finalist Oli Martin who previously spent eight years at four AA rosette restaurant Hipping Hall.

With head chef Rikki Hughes, previousl of Tom Kerridge’s Michelin pub The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, heading up the kitchen we expect great things.

The menu offers a selection of classic dishes with their wood fired oven and grill featuring prominently. Elsewhere, find hearty Sunday lunches and light bites.

Open now

Bread and Bowl, Spinningfields

There are carb overloads, and then there is Bread & Bowls‘ Full English breakfast in a hollowed-out loaf.

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First launched in February 2020, these ginormous loaves of sourdough – stuffed with fry-up favourites like high-grade local sausages, crispy streaky bacon, beans, cheese, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and hash browns – became something of a hungover lockdown sensation.

Now, you can find them at the new Spinningfields coffee shop 92 Degrees, housed inside the no.1 Spinningfields building Served between 8am and 4pm every day.

Open now

Bold Street Coffee, Oxford Road

Liverpool-born Bold Street Coffee has just opened its second shop here in the space of a few months.

Moving into the universities territory, the new site is found at University Green just off Oxford Road.

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Serving the same menu as its Cross Street site, head down for egg boxes, signature BSC frys, and hearty bowls of super porridge and granola.

Open now

Feature image – Federal / Tortilla / The Manc Eats

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