A quirky Alice in Wonderland-inspired tearoom in Manchester has been named amongst the ‘most Instagrammable’ cafes in the world.
Richmond Tearooms in Manchester’s Gay Village offers a trip down the rabbit hole with Mad Hatter tea parties hosted by local drag queens, regular burlesque shows and all-out inspired interiors that nod to Lewis Carroll’s iconic tale of a girl, a rabbit and his pocket watch.
From an enchanted forest area where you can dine under the twinkling lights in a woodland-themed room, to the orangery which is the most warming garden even on the rainiest of Manchester days, the tearooms have long been a fixture in Manchester city centre.
Image: Richmond Tearooms
Image: Richmond Tearooms
Initially housed on Richmond Street (hence the name), the tearooms relocated to its current home opposite Sackville Gardens in 2019 – allowing it to double in size and expand on its kitsch interiors with a flower arch at its entrance, melting clocks, a sashed canopy, black and red velvet furnishing and portraits of the King and Queen of hearts.
On the menu you’ll find classic English breakfasts alongside pancakes and avocado toast served until 12pm alongside a selection of Alice in Wonderland-themed afternoon teas starting from just £10.75 for two tea-infused sultana scones, clotted cream, Tiptree preserve, and a pot of loose leaf tea.
Inspired by characters in Lewis Carroll’s novel, choices include Alice, Hatters, Tweedles and Queens-themed afternoon teas, with the most indulgent being the Wonderland champagne afternoon tea – combining crustless sandwiches and mini quiche with an assortment of homemade cakes, scones and loose leaf tea, plus a glass of luxury fizz for £38.90.
Image: Richmond Tearooms
Image: Richmond Tearooms
Elsewhere, find light bites like cheese and onion pie and Alice’s rarebit plus a selection of sandwiches and a two-page menu of different premium tea blends.
There are also children’s afternoon teas on offer from £9.95, as well as a dedicated kids menu featuring the likes of fish and chips, omlette, sausage and beans and a selection of sandwiches.
Add to that a counter bursting with staple cakes like coffee and walnut, Boston cream, carrot, chocolate fudge and ‘lemon dream’, plus a solid cocktail menu, and it’s easy to see why Richmond Tearooms has been a fixture in Manchester city centre for so long now.
Praised for its ‘retro setting’ and ‘vintage China teacups’, according to global travel site Big 7 Travel it doesbn’t get more ‘quintessentially British’ than this.
Ranking at number 43 in the site’s annual list of the 50 Most Instagrammable Cafes in the World for 2023, the tearooms features alongside a rainforest garden of waterfalls in Chiang Mai and the famous hot air balloons of Cappadocia.
Feature image – Richmond Tearooms
Eats
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.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd March 2023 
