Having just opened a new cafe in Sale this summer hit Stockport sandwich shop Rack has revealed it will opena third location Manchester city centre.
Opening this month, the new location will find the team slinging out their signature sandwiches and grilled cheeses from a stall inside the Arndale Market.
Taking over the now-vacant Panc Foods unit, formerly also home to contemporary Chinese takeaway Salt and Pepper, the new sandwich spot is set to open on 7 August.
Serving up a dedicated grilled sandwich menu, plus staple breakfast butties and regular specials, fans of things in bread will be as well catered to as ever.
Sharing the news with followers online, Rack wrote: “EXCITING NEW STORE ‼️
‘We’re taking over from Panc Foods in the South side of Manchester Arndale’s Street Food Market, once the home of the legendary Salt and Pepper- we are here to satisfy your lunching needs, right in the town centre!
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
‘We’re kicking things off by opening 9:30 – 17:30 from Monday 7th August. Bob on down and say hi! It’s perfect for picking up food on your commute through the centre or a spot of lunch on your day out in Manchester.
“Don’t be late to the party! Be there or be [square].”
The sandwich spot has recently also opened a new cafe in Sale, moving into a characterful and quirky ex-Barbers following a full refurbishment.
With a hidden entrance down a side alley and then up a flight of exterior stairs, on the Sale menu fans can find all their sandwich favourites as well as a new brunch menu.
Highballer – Stockport’s new bar from the brains behind Cherry Jam
Danny Jones
Stockport is riding a real wave of excitement right now, and aside from being dubbed ‘the new Berlin’ a couple of years back, it’s also enjoying a big bar boom right now: case and point, Highballer, which has just been opened by the blokes behind a familiar local name.
Given the experience behind this new venture, we have a feeling this one could finally stick for what has proved to be a tricky unit in the past.
Created by Neil Garner – the man behind charming indie bar champions, Cherry Jam – Highballer is another music-forward venue from a team with experience across both industries.
Looking to carry on where Amp, Dr Feelgood and even Remedy Bar left off before them, Highballer is the latest watering hole to appear inside 11 Market Place following a successful pop-up earlier this year.
No, it’s not the ‘Gary the Gorilla’, sorry – but it does give a nice little nod to Almost Famous. (Credit: Highballer)
With Amp closing at the start of the year, Garner saw the opportunity to step in turn the place into something familiar but new, promising more music, karaoke and bandaoke; a fresh new food menu, darts, pool and even the classic American lawn game, cornhole.
Having already opened earlier this month, toasting the arrival with a bonus Oasis reunion launch party on Friday, 20 June, the crowds are already starting to return. As for Garner, he brings an incredible pedigree to the new project.
A world champion flair bartender boasting 28 years in hospitality, he’s worked in over 100 countries, including time as a Las Vegas performer, not to mention holding a Guinness World Record and coming runner-up on Britain’s Got Talent as the founder-creator of entertainment act, ‘Barwizards’.
During his time down south, he also created the UK’s first adult playground called Roof East in London, which was ultimately sold a decade after winning Britain’s Best Outdoor Experience in 2024.
With his baby and the neighbouring bar Cherry Jam located literally just around the corner and down the brow, the reputation is already there, hence why it was busy from minute one.
Highballer sitting pretty in the shadow of two famous Stockport landmarks. (Credit: Supplied)
Stockport town centre has plenty of new pub and bar openings, from the resurrection of the old White Lion this time last year and the recently debuted Underbank, to fellow newcomer Fitzpatrick’s (formerly Bask), so it’s nice to see yet another one added into the mix.
Before Highballer, Neil spent years behind the scenes at some of the UK’s biggest festivals, running the backstage bars in the mid-noughties for events like Reading and Leeds Festival, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and even Coachella.
In terms of food, he also spent time living in Seoul, where he developed a serious love for Korean, meaning that their collab with Manc favourites BAB was a natural fit.
On the menu you’ll find:
Korean Fried Chicken – crispy and packed with flavour
Loaded Fries – choose between pulled pork or spicy grilled chicken
Cauliflower Bites – crispy and full of spice
Gochujang Mac n’ Cheese – creamy and with a kick
Korean Cheese Corndogs
Korean Grilled Cheese
BAB MCR have come to Stockport to lend their talents to Highballer. (Credit: Supplied)
With ‘power hour’ karaoke sessions, Vimto mojitos named not just after the drink but the giant gorilla bouncer sat outside (great name), not to mention a big terrace to bring those beer garden vibes, they’ve got all the ingredients for an instant hit.
Oh, did we mention there are drink deals all week long? Well, there are. Cheers to that. Speaking to The Manc, Garner kept things short and sweet as he’s confident the product will do the talking, but admitted he’s “buzzing” to be opening another venue in the borough.
Balancing live music, entertainment, and hospitality is a tall order for anyone, but with the expertise behind this place, it stands as much of a fighting chance as everyone else.
It’s been a big couple of weeks for food and drink in Stockport.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd August 2023 
