Massive queues formed up the street this weekend as fans flocked to the newly-reopened Northern Quarter brunch favourite 19 Cafe Bar.
This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot has become an absolute go-to over the years for all-day breakfasts and naughty pancakes, thanks in part to its chocolate bar-laden menu.
It has been closed for several weeks whilst undergoing a refurbishment but reopened its doors on Saturday with a brand new look.
Tucked away on Lever Street in the shadow of Piccadilly’s bus stops, if it wasn’t for the huge queues stretching down the road this weekend it would be very easy to walk on by.
The cafe is worth seeking out though, with its Biscoff and Kinder Bueno pancakes both big draws amongst its fans.
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Image: 19 Cafe Bar
Image: 19 Cafe Bar
Loaded with the likes of Biscoff crumb and spread, banana, ice cream and salted caramel sauce, or homemade Kinder sauce, Bueno, chocolate sauce, roasted hazelnuts and vanilla ice cream, if you’re in the mood for a treat this is where to find it.
There are healthier pancake options too and a strong list of brunch cocktails available from the bar, with pornstar and espresso martinis, Aperol spritz, bloody marys and mimosas all on offer from 9am.
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On the drinks front, you’ll find special hot drinks like gingerbread lattes and Terry’s hot chocolate served alongside proper builder’s brews, chai lattes, hot Biscoff, coffees and more.
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Image: 19 Cafe Bar
Image: 19 Cafe Bar
Elsewhere on the menu, you’ll find traditional English and Irish fry ups, a bacon and black pudding benedict, salmon and avocado bagels, indulgent French toasts and loaded breakfast brioche buns.
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Extras are available to add on from £1.50, with options like fried eggs, toast, Bury black pudding, smoked salmon, hollandaise and halloumi all on offer.
The cafe is reopened now with a brand new look, serving its hit all-day breakfast menu from 9am to 5pm seven days a week.
Feature image – 19 Cafe Bar
Eats
Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month.
The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather.
And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black.
The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel.
There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.
In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats.
The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering.
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel clubInside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen ClubPot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible.
Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.
“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”
Insomnia Cookies is giving away FREE cookies to anyone with these two names
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s late-night sweet treat spot Insomnia Cookies is dishing out freebies this week… but there’s a catch.
You have to be called one of two specific names to get one.
With the long bank holiday weekend upon us, those in-the-know will also have noticed that this Sunday isn’t just Easter Sunday, it also happens to be 4/20… and that means Insomnia Cookies is back with its ‘blazing’ £4.20 deal, giving you the chance to bag a box of four warm cookies while saving nearly £7 at the same time.
But even better still, if you happen to have either the first or middle name ‘Mary’ or ‘Jane’, then you can also get yourself a warm tasty cookie for free.
To mark both 4/20, and celebrate the launch of its newest strain of mouthwatering cookie, the Mary Jane, anyone called Mary or Jane can pop into either of Insomnia Cookies’ two Manchester city centre sites – Cross Street and University Green – show their valid ID with their name on, and walk alway with a cookie free of charge.
If you want to try the new Mary Jane cookie, then this limited-edition special is made up of a cookies n cream dough base, packed with rainbow sprinkles.
The freebie deal has been running all week, and you have up until 3am on Monday 21 April to take advantage of it.
Customers will be limited to one free cookie per day.
Insomnia Cookies is giving away free cookies to anyone with these two names / Credit: Insomnia Cookies UK
If you aren’t lucky enough to be called one of those two names though, then thankfully you can still make some great savings on a classic four-pack of cookies over the spring bank holiday weekend, and for every four-pack sold, £1 will be donated to Groundwork – a charity helping make Manchester greener for nature and for local people.
“We’re calling for Marys and Janes to join us to live the high life with free cookies all week,” commented Millie Ralston, Head of Marketing at Insomnia Cookies.
Georgina Pellant -
13th March 2023 
