One of the city’s most popular bars is welcoming the return of its Aperol terrace this summer, and will also giving away hundreds of free drinks to celebrate.
With summer now officially here, and much of the UK set to see soaring temperatures over the next couple of weeks, Spinningfields sun trap The Oast House has decided to revive its much-loved Aperol-themed terrace, and is aiming to transport city visitors from the hustle and bustle of Manchester, to the serenity of an authentic Italian square.
With views overlooking the Spinningfields centre, fans of the Italian tipple can expect the new Piazza Aperol to be home to ample pavement café-style seating, and a double-tier Aperol Spritz Bar too.
It’ll be decorated with orange trees, Fiat 500s in Aperol’s iconic orange, swing seats, and art deco streetlights.
Piazza Aperol will be taking over The Oast House from Wednesday 13 – Sunday 24 July / Credit: The Oast House
Piazza Aperol will be taking over The Oast House from Wednesday 13 – Sunday 24 July, and the venue promises it will truly come to life the moment the working day ends and the evening begins to provide people with the perfect place to grab an impromptu Aperol Spritz with friends.
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking ahead of the terrace’s grand opening, Danny Leach – General Manager of The Oast House – added: “Following the success of last year’s Aperol Spritz & Spiaggia – which truly helped visitors make the most of British summer time come rain or shine – we are thrilled to welcome back Aperol with its Piazza-style experience.
“Our customers love making the most of the longer summer evenings and now with Piazza Aperol, we can spritz up their visit with some Italian fun.”
Piazza Aperol will be be home to ample pavement café-style seating, and a double-tier Aperol Spritz Bar / Credit: The Oast House
And, if sipping on an Aperol Spritz in the sunshine wasn’t the perfect summer plan already as it is, then how does a free one sound?
To celebrate the opening of Piazza Aperol and to usher-in the upcoming heatwave, The Oast House has announced that it will be giving the first 200 customers a free Aperol Spritz from 5pm on Friday 15 July.
ADVERTISEMENT
While walk-ins will be accepted, advanced booking is advised via the Oast House website.
Featured Image – The Oast House
Eats
Family behind Salvi’s launch new concept, weeks after iconic restaurant closure
Daisy Jackson
Just weeks after the closure of its iconic, 16-year-old Italian restaurant in the Corn Exchange, the family behind Salvi’s have revealed a brand-new concept.
And this time, the reins are being handed over to the next generation.
Salvi’s founder Maurizio Cecco has helped to shape Amò, but it’s all the brainchild of his daughter, Sienna.
Sienna will run the business out of a unit up on Deansgate Mews, serving fresh pasta dishes, pizza sandwiches, tubs of tiramisu, and two-for-£10 spritzes.
The deli aspect of the original Salvi’s has been carried over to Amò too – you’ll find shelves almost to the ceiling filled with Italian pasta, wine, olive oils, pistachio spreads, and more.
Sienna has grown up in restaurants, with her parents launching Salvi’s when she was just two years old.
She said she wants the space to be a livelier, fresher version of the Italian restaurant that has been so loved by Mancs for so many years.
Sienna outside AmòFresh pasta dishesInside Amò by Salvi’sTheir viral frozen crema di caffeLemon granitaInside Amò by Salvi’sTiramisu pots
Amò, which is Neapolitan slang for ‘my love’, will have loads of fresh Italian dishes, including arancini, gnocchi, and hearty pasta plates.
At lunchtimes, guests can order from a £10 lunch menu, with dishes changing daily depending on the best produce the kitchen can get – it could be a pizza sandwich with proscuitto and tomato, a spicy pasta, or a gnocchi bake, always served with your choice of soft drink.
With its position on Deansgate Mews, Amò basks in the sunshine at lunchtimes.
And while it’s definitely a different concept to the original Salvi’s, Amò looks set to carry the family’s Italian food legacy into its next generation.
Award-winning Didsbury bakery La Chouquette reveals incredible new site
Daisy Jackson
La Chouquette is one of Greater Manchester’s top bakeries – an award-winner, with queues down the street every weekend for its authentic French pastries and loaves.
And now they’re ready for a new chapter, revealing a major expansion today.
Owners Catrina and Flo have painstakingly expanded the bakery into the unit next door, creating what feels like a true French bakery.
And in the midst of this huge renovation project, they’ve welcomed a tiny new baby boy – quite the summer for the couple.
Catrina and Flo launched La Chouquette in lockdown, and in a time where people could only get their hospitality fix from takeaways, immediately became one of the most popular spots in the region.
Their success has been so great, you’ll still consistently find queues down the street every weekend, for their top sellers like their authentic almond croissants.
Then in October 2024, they grew the business and launched Piqniq, a new deli in Didsbury village, serving freshly-baked baguette sandwiches, breakfast butties, toasties, tiramisu pots and their legendary pastries.
The new-look La Chouquette features beautiful details like mosaic floors, rich blue walls, wooden shelves, and brass light fixtures.
La Chouquette’s best-selling almond croissantsInside the stunning new La Chouquette in DidbsuryNew savoury bakesThe chausson aux pommesThe counter stuffed with artisan French bakesChocolate chip cookies and cinnamon buns
The huge new counter displays more pastries and breads than ever before, like a hearty chausson aux pommes filled with apples that will be perfect for autumn, plus seasonal treats like a rhubarb creme brulee pastry, and homemade quiche.
Speaking at the grand relaunch today, Catrina said: “The layout has changed, it looks so much more chic, it looks like a traditional French bakery. We’re really excited about it.”
As for what’s on the counter, Flo reassured fans that their beloved almond and pistachio croissants remain, but with some new savoury editions, like a truffle croque monsieur made with croissant dough.
La Choquette has reopened today, and will be open seven days a week from 7am until 5pm.