The home of the now-famous 22” pizza pies and slices is opening a new restaurant at the corner site of Manchester’s newest city centre garden neighbourhood.
Serving up its much-loved and best selling Original Cheese, Do You ‘Roni Honey?, and Vegan Deluxe pizzas to hungry Mancunians, Nell’s at KAMPUS will feature a restaurant where you can make bookings for groups of all sizes, a bar, and also stand-alone ‘Slice Bar’, so people can pop in for a quick slice on-the-go all day and late into the evening.
Of course, while the best-sellers are on the menu, there’s also some new additions to the new restaurant site, including a range of snacks and signature cocktails to join the pizza line up.
Famous for the attention-to-detail in the dough, and not content with just repurposing the 48-hour dough used for their pizza, Nell’s founder Jonny Heyes went back to the mixer and developed a new focaccia-style dough, baked and topped with either Nell’s signature marinara, extra garlic and basil or with rocket, burrata and crushed pepper.
The home of the now-famous 22” pizza pies and slices is coming to KAMPUS / Credit: Instagram (@nellspizza)
Nell’s new location at KAMPUS will keep its title as one of the best beer slinger in the city with 17 lines pouring a selection of house beers, rotating specials from visiting breweries, and some local favourites, as well as a wine list that’s made up entirely of wines you just want to drink, in large glasses, all night.
The Nell’s team has even developed a new cocktail menu for the KAMPUS opening too, with three signature cocktails – Nell’s Sbagliato, Nell’s Spritz, and Nell’s Sour.
And if you’re really looking to get the full Nell’s experience, then make sure to keep Sunday free in your diary, as Sundays will be all about bottomless slices, bottomless drinks, and DJs, as part of the launch of ‘Sunday Pizza Social’.
Bookings for this can be made online or in house, with tables for large groups available.
Nell’s NY Pizza & Bar opens at KAMPUS on Friday 5 November / Credit: KAMPUS
Nell’s at KAMPUS takes the place of Cornerstone – the pub which owners Jonny and Charlotte Heyes had planned initially for this space – and to give a little more insight into the change of plan, Jonny said: “We decided to make a change from our original concept for KAMPUS – it wasn’t an easy decision, but we felt like so much had changed since we began this project at Kampus and Cornerstone started to feel like a ‘pre-COVID’ idea, which of course it was.
“KAMPUS had been intended as the first ever Nell’s, but in fact we’re already now operating at two sites.
“So much of our focus over the last year has been on Nell’s, so we thought it didn’t make sense to have it playing second fiddle to Cornerstone.
“Now felt like the right time for Nell’s to step out of the shadows and have a place of her own.”
Beloved bowling bar to close after 12 years ahead of major transformation
Daisy Jackson
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.
Credit: The-Vain – Carl Sukonik – @thevainphotosCredit: The-Vain – Carl Sukonik – @thevainphotosDog 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.
Featured image: The-Vain – Carl Sukonik – @thevainphotos
Eats
Inside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
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 ManchesterThe chocolate boxes at Hotel ChocolatInside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in ManchesterMix-and-match hot chocolate selection boxesInside the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe in ManchesterExclusive-to-Manchester ice cream sundaesCroissant with a molten chocolate potInside the Velvetiser Cafe in ManchesterInside 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.
Emily Sergeant -
20th October 2021 
