A new bar and restaurant is set to open in one of the city centre’s most prominent locations, taking over the old Walrus site on High Street.
Disorder promises to be ‘a love letter to Manchester’, featuring a mural of Ian Curtis and a menu of Asian fusion food with a local twist.
The Northern Quarter bar comes from two college friends from Stockport, James Stewart and Sam Koropisz.
The space will take its inspiration from Manchester itself and will spread over two floors.
Disorder’s ground floor will be a restaurant serving Asian-inspired street food and a huge range of lagers and sour beers from around the world – including Mikkler, Verdant, Schöfferhofer and Cloudwater.
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Then on the lower floor it’ll be live music from bands, DJs, rap artists and bar, with a speakeasy dive bar feel.
Jame Stewart and Sam Koropisz outside new bar Disorder. Credit: Edward Jones
The whole space will undergo a massive makeover from its past days, first as Walrus, then briefly as Man With The Fish.
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Huge bifold doors will be added to the front, opening out onto High Street, while cosy Chesterfield sofas will provide space for lounging inside.
Akse-P19 will paint a mural on one wall that will feature the late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis – the bar’s name is also inspired by the band, matching the first track on Unknown Pleasures.
The menu will feature items like Japanese sandos made with black pudding, and cocktails including an Asian-inspired Japanese slipper.
James, operations director, said: “I have over 10 years experience working in hospitality, opening many bars for different people and I’m now realising my ambition of opening my own.
“Our love letter to Manchester pays homage to the past, but is in no way a retro or a theme bar and is taking the bar scene in the city a step forward.
“Nowhere else will have our unique twist on Japanese tapas and we’re creating a lot of cocktails bespoke.
“We will have a number of unique beers and spirits on offer, something to cater for all tastes. Everyone who loves Manchester is welcome!”
Sam, partner in Disorder, added: “James and I bonded over our love of Manchester and discovering new bars. James and I discussed the idea of opening a bar as far back as 2017.
“Since then, Disorder has been our passion and we’ve put so much thought and consideration into every element and ensuring it works together as a whole – we can’t wait to open our doors and invite the city in.
“It will be the perfect way to end dry January and celebrate with us at the end of January 2023.”
Disorder is currently recruiting for managers, bartenders and kitchen staff.
It’s set to open on High Street in late January 2023 – you can follow them on Instagram @disordermcr for updates.
Featured image: Edward Jones
Eats
The Greater Manchester book café serving literary afternoon teas and build-your-own bouquets
Daisy Jackson
If you like your afternoon tea with a side of good books, there’s a Greater Manchester café where you can quite literally have your cake and read it too.
Tucked inside this charming bookish spot, afternoon tea arrives with an unexpected twist. Rather than being presented with the usual three-tiered stand, you’re handed a stack of heavy hardback books.
But don’t start worrying that you’ve accidentally wandered into a very niche library club. The books are hiding something.
Lift the covers in Peony & Parchment – or, more accurately, open the book-shaped boxes – and you’ll discover a full afternoon tea concealed inside.
There are dainty sandwiches to get stuck into, including tiny egg mayo, herby chicken salad, ham and mustard, and cheese and tomato focaccia, alongside a little quiche.
Then comes the scone – classic, fluffy and ready for the obligatory dollop of clotted cream and jam. And, because no afternoon tea should leave you feeling like you’ve been short-changed in the cake department, there are five miniature slices to work through.
Afternoon tea concealed in a stack of booksSome of the other bakes on display
There’s a Victoria sponge with a dreamy vanilla cream, lemon drizzle, rich chocolate cake, a Bakewell slice and a pecan pie, all sourced from a local bakery just across the alleyway.
It’s all served with a pot of tea or coffee, with the option to add a glass of prosecco.
And the bookish theme doesn’t stop at the afternoon tea.
Downstairs you’ll find shelves packed with books, including the intriguing ‘blind books’. Instead of judging a book by its cover, you’ll be given clues and a short summary of what lies inside before taking a gamble on your mystery read.
Downstairs in Peony & Parchment‘Blind books’A role playing village for kids
There’s also plenty here to keep younger visitors entertained, thanks to a children’s area complete with a mini role-playing village.
And if books and cake weren’t enough, there’s another string to this café’s bow.
The Bloom Bar lets you build your own bouquet. Choose the size you want, then wander around selecting your own stems and foliage to create something that’s uniquely yours.
You can build your own bouquetThe Bloom Bar at Peony & Parchment
Of course, you don’t have to be visiting specifically for the afternoon tea. The wider menu includes tapas, full breakfasts and sandwiches, making it just as suitable for a leisurely brunch, lunch or coffee-and-cake stop.
So whether you’re there to discover your next favourite novel, assemble a bouquet, entertain the kids or simply eat your way through five different miniature cakes, this is one café where there are plenty of chapters to explore.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Daisy Jackson -
13th December 2022 
