Popular taproom and Manchester brewery Beer Nouveau has left fans shocked after making the announcement that it is closing down and putting its taproom and brewing equipment on sale.
A longstanding gem of the city’s craft beer scene, the Temperance Street brewery tap has been a favourite haunt of local beer lovers for the best part of seven years – but now founder Steven Dunkley has said it’s time to wind things up.
Taking to social media to explain his decision, a tweet from the brewery tap account starts off by saying that “it’s not really a surprise given everything that’s happening”, before going on to explain how they will be winding up Beer Nouveau “for the time being”.
Revealing that they will be putting both the brewing equipment and the taproom itself up for sale, the post from Beer Nouveau continued:
“This isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly, we’ve worked hard for over 8 years to build up what we believe to be a great space for great beers, and especially great customers.
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“We’ll be around a while yet while we look for a buyer that will hopefully keep it all going, it’s got great potential.
“I’m sure there’s loads of questions, and probably even more gossip, and if you know me you’ll know I’ll happily answer all of them honestly. But for now, that’s all.
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“Unless you fancy buying yourself a brewery…”
Comments have flooded in thick and fast, with one person saying “Gutted for you folks.. Hope you find some nice buyers & best wishes for the future. You’ll always be one of our favourite Twitter accounts ever.”
Another reply said: “Urgh this sucks and I am so so sorry to hear it. You’re on my list to come visit so hopefully I can before you sell. Sending love and loads of good luck wishes to you all xxx”
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Image: Beer Nouveau
Image: Beer Nouveau
A third added: “So many great memories Steve. 2018 street party, pre-Crimbo Crawl, Various guest spot Saturdays, to name but a few. And just a nice spot for a beer. My favourite tap space in town by far. Thanks for the good times and I hope whatever the next move is a great one.”
A fourth said: “Really saddened to hear this Steve. All the best and hope you find a buyer who’ll be willing to continue your legacy.”
The Ardwick brewery taproom was first opened in October 2015, a year after founder Steve Dunkley plunged into the world of beer making using a £350 set-up in his Prestwich garage.
Having been in the pub trade since 1992, in 2014 he decided to go out on a limb and create his own styles of beer – plunging into the world of “traditional” 1970s recipes to resurrect old-school beers like Bass, Highgate dark mild, and Flowers IPA.
Soon enough his 40-litre garage set up evolved into a 1200-litre professional brewery, followed a year later by the now infamous taproom.
Here, as well as making his own styles of beer, Steve quietly nurtured a new generation of upcoming beer and cider makers – allowing emerging brewers like Temperance Street Brewing, The Steelfish Brewing Co. and the Doomed Brewing Project to keep overheads low whilst experimenting with new products.
However, now all that looks set to come to an end as the business prepares to close its doors for good – unless they find a buyer, that is. We’re keeping our fingers crossed. After all, we’ve said goodbye to too many good places already this year. We don’t want to bid farewell to any more.
Feature image – Beer Nouveau
Eats
You can get half-price fish and chips for just £3.49 at all Morrisons cafes today
Emily Sergeant
Morrisons is giving hungry customers the chance to tuck into a hearty helping of fish and chips at half the price for just one day only today.
And it’s all to suitably celebrate National Fish and Chip Day.
A popular annual event in the British foodie calendar, National Fish and Chip Day falls on Friday 2 June this year, and to mark the special occasion, Morrisons has slashed the price of its usual chippy offering at hundreds of its in-store cafes nationwide.
The major supermarket has more than 400 cafes inside stores right across the UK, and the half-price food offer is believed to be available at all of them.
You can get half-price fish and chips for just £3.49 at all Morrisons cafes today / Credit: Morrisons
Adults can enjoy Fish, Chips and Peas for just £3.49, while the children‘s Mini Fish, Chips and Peas meal has also been reduced to £2.74.
Not a bad bargain at all, right?
The only catch is though, you’ll need to be signed-up to the supermarket‘s loyalty scheme and scan your Morrisons More card at the cafe checkout if you want to claim the half price offer.
There’s more than 400 in-store cafes at Morrisons stores across the UK / Credit: Ian Stratton (via Morrisons)
Morrisons’ half-price fish and chips offer also comes after it relaunched its popular ‘Ask for Henry’ initiative towards the end of April after a successful run when it was first introduced amid the rising cost of living crisis in 2022.
‘Ask for Henry’ saw the retailer team up with Heinz for scheme that’s aimed at helping those struggling with their finances get themselves a free hot meal.
Morrisons’ kids meal deal is also running at all cafes this May half term too.
Featured Image – Morrisons
Eats
First look inside Gordon Ramsay’s new Manchester restaurant Lucky Cat
Georgina Pellant
This week, Gordon Ramsay opens his Asian-inspired restaurant on Manchester’s King Street – moving into the stunning old Art Deco bank that once housed Jamie’s Italian.
Spanning three floors with opulent private dining vaults in its basement, the new Manchester location promises to be a dining experience like no other with jaw-dropping decor to match.
Capturing the essence of the original Mayfair eatery in the very heart of the city in a truly iconic building, the restaurant is only the second Lucky Cat to open worldwide – cementing Manchester’s reputation as a leading destination for food, drink, and entertainment.
Taking over the former bank, Lucky Cat Manchester pays homage to the building’s heritage by embracing its gorgeous period features while offering locals a ‘brand new’ dining experience.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
With wood panneled private bars and dining spaces tucked away for special events, Lucky Cat’s menu fuses the vibrant atmosphere of 1930s Tokyo jazz kissas and drinking dens with a world-class dining experience.
Promising fine wines and cocktails, live DJs and a real party atmosphere, it is already a destination on the London scene – and now it looks set to achieve the same reputation here in Manchester.
The new Manchester location hopes to immerse guests in the extraordinary culinary narrative from Gordon Ramsay and Lucky Cat Executive Head Chef Andre Camilo, who have crafted each dish with sharing and excellence in mind.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Diners are invited to ’embark on a gastronomic journey of culinary icons’, digging into the likes of sublime black cod, sumptuous sirloin weeping tiger and the legendary Lucky Cat Duck Bao.
The team has taken the very best of its Mayfair menu heroes and added some new dishes to offer ‘a dining experience like no other’, encouraging guests to ‘journey onward to the ocean’s depths’ with sublime sushi and raw dishes, from sumptuous tuna tartar to mouth-watering dragon rolls.
An innovative cocktail list, meanwhile, includes the one-of-a-kind Lucky Negroni, where the gin in your drink is determined by a captivating game of chance.
With three dice hidden inside a mysterious box, the numbers rolled will unlock the perfect combination of gins, vermouths, and bitters destined for your drink. With a staggering 216 possible combinations, your Lucky Negroni is a personalised, exhilarating experience, crafted by fate itself.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Speaking on the new opening, the celebrity chef said: “Lucky Cat is more than just a restaurant; it’s an extraordinary encounter. We’re ready to dazzle Manchester’s vibrant culinary scene with a gastronomic spectacle that will leave you craving more!”