Eats

Viral sandwich shop announces closure just weeks after debuting new site

But... the focaccia sandwiches... :(

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 25th September 2024

Micky’s, one of Manchester’s very best sandwich slingers, has announced it it closing its city centre location.

The hugely popular butty bar is loved by the masses for its focaccia sandwiches and its subs, served with extra dips on the side.

Hearts across the city broke when Micky’s was left homeless by the closure of Ply back in June.

But it wasn’t long before it found a new home for its epic sarnies, this time at Ducie Street Warehouse, opening at the end of July.

Now Micky’s has announced that it will be bowing out of there too to ‘take a beat’, suggesting it’s not goodbye forever.

They added that you ‘won’t find a Micky’s anywhere’ after 4 October when it shuts down the Ducie Street butty shop.

It means an end – at least for now – to its butties like the Micky’s Hot Chicken (Panko fried chicken cutlets, fresh red chilli, Monterey Jack cheese, shredded lettuce, hot sauce, onion and garlic parmesan ranch) and the Padrino (roast turkey, sweet Calabrian sausage, gruyere, and herb mayo).

Micky's sandwich shop is closing in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Micky’s sandwich shop is closing in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

Micky’s wrote: “After 4th October we’ll take a beat. Three and a half years of breathless sandwich slinging under our belt now and we want to make sure our next move is the right thing for Micky’s real nice sandwiches (and most importantly our customers) in the long term.

“@duciestreet really did us a solid when we left Ply and needed a kitchen asap, and it’s been a couple of lively months seeing summer off, working a new menu with our subs, and running a series of awesome collab specials with our mates.

“The kitchen space allowed us to do a lot of fun stuff and bring butties to lots of new faces. Jay Rayner even stopped by for a butty a couple weeks ago and that’s a guy who knows what’s up.

“Take a leaf out of his book and get some serious sandwiches in your mouth while ya can x”

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Beloved bowling bar to close after 12 years ahead of major transformation

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Dog Bowl is closing in Manchester to become Wynward Lanes. Credit: The-Vain - Carl Sukonik - @thevainphotos

Dog Bowl, a bowling bar that’s been part of Manchester’s bar scene for 12 years, will be closing for good next month ahead of a major rebrand.

The beloved bowling alley will be shutting down on 16 August to make way for Wynwood Lanes, a new downtown Miami-themed venue.

It’s promising ‘pool-side party vibes’ inspired by Miami’s vibrant Wynwood district, famed for its bold geometric murals, neon lit streets and 24/7 energy – but bowling lanes will remain as part of the venue.

The bar will offer five upgraded bowling lanes, east coast playlists, celebratory smoke machines and upgraded lighting effects that bring every strike to life.

That’s alongside new pool tables, basketball hoops and a coconut shy.

Taking over the kitchens at the Whitworth Street venue will be Kong’s NQ, who’ll be serving up fresh Cuban sandwiches, meat-filled arepas and fried chicken tacos.

Wynwood Lanes will also feature a bottomless brunch menu every Saturday and Sunday from 30 August, with Miami brunch plates and bottomless drinks for 90 minutes and bowling packages available too.

The drinks menu will star cocktails inspired by Miami – think frozen margs, fruity daiquiris, and coladas.

By day, you can expect poolside cocktails, low-fi tunes, and a laid-back atmosphere – with children welcome until 7pm, Sunday to Wednesday.

But then by night, Wynwood Lanes will be all about drinks offers, late night snacks and a late night playlist.

Dog Bowl has been part of Manchester’s nightlife scene since 2013, and was acquired by gaming bar NQ64 in 2018.

Now it’s ready for its next era as Wynwood Lanes.

Dog Bowl is closing in Manchester to become Wynward Lanes. Credit: The-Vain - Carl Sukonik - @thevainphotos
Credit: The-Vain – Carl Sukonik – @thevainphotos
Dog Bowl is closing in Manchester to become Wynward Lanes. Credit: The-Vain - Carl Sukonik - @thevainphotos
Credit: The-Vain – Carl Sukonik – @thevainphotos
Dog Bowl is closing in Manchester to become Wynward Lanes

Matt Robson, Co-founder of Wynwood Lanes, said: “We went and sat in Dog Bowl recently and just realised we weren’t proud of it anymore – (especially the name, we no longer want to compete with pet shops on Google).

“Wynwood Lanes will bring something new to Whitworth Street and we’re buzzing to crack on with it!

“We have a hit list of passions from a trip to Wynwood in Miami and built a space that brings together the things we love – drinking rum and tequila, smashing avo on toast with Cuban coffee for brunch, tacos and fried chicken at night, playing and watching basketball, sharking people at pool and partying late into the night…”

Bowling prices will start at £9 with food and drink add-ons while you bowl available.

Wynwood Lanes will open at 4pm on Friday 22 August.

Read more

Featured image: The-Vain – Carl Sukonik – @thevainphotos

Eats

Inside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A hot choc shake from Hotel Chocolat

Hotel Chocolat has today opened the doors to its first Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester, serving up shakes, hot chocolates, sundaes, and loads more.

Part cafe, part retail space, inside you’ll find everything from molten chocolate fountains to a full range of chocolate boxes, bars and hot chocolate powders.

The popular chocolatier has stores up and down the UK selling its ethically-sourced sweet treats, hitting 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 next.

There are exclusive-to-Manchester-sundaes in store, each one inspired by their most popular chocolates, like a Billionaire’s Shortbread and an Eton Mess.

You can also grab yourself a hot choc shake, with loads of flavours, milks and toppings to choose from.

Hotel Chocolat's new Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Hotel Chocolat’s new Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
The chocolate boxes at Hotel Chocolat
The chocolate boxes at Hotel Chocolat
Inside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Inside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Mix-and-match hot chocolate selection boxes
Mix-and-match hot chocolate selection boxes
Inside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Inside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Exclusive-to-Manchester ice cream sundaes
Exclusive-to-Manchester ice cream sundaes
Croissant with a molten chocolate pot
Croissant with a molten chocolate pot
Inside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Inside the Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Inside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Inside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester

The Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe also has pastries, which you can order with a side of melted chocolate for dipping and drizzling.

As part of the experience inside, there’s a wall of hot chocolate sachets, which you can mix and match to build your own selection box.

And all along the way there’ll be samples, and loads to learn about the chocolate industry.

The Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe has officially opened its doors today on Cross Street in Manchester city centre, just next to the new Joe & The Juice.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

More Eats

The 'Salford Bagel' with smoked salmon

Eats

The old fire station in Salford that’s now home to a bakery, brewery and bar

Lord Mayor helps reopen community kitchen in Blackley

Boroughs

Lord Mayor of Manchester opens crucial new community kitchen in Blackley

Rose wine

Art & Culture

Manchester’s wine festival dedicated to all things rosé is back by popular demand this summer

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches