Eats

Enormous Manchester venue set to open (again) after brief rebrand

This has been a wild six months…

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 12th December 2024

A huge, glamorous restaurant and bar space looks set to reopen just months after it closed down and attempted to rebrand. 

SakkuSamba announced back in June that it was closing for a short while to undergo a refurbishment. 

That news came after two years hosting all-you-can-eat sushi dinners and star-studded parties in Spinningfields, like an afterparty with Ne-Yo following his show at the AO Arena. 

They wrote at the time: “Exciting News! We will be closing our doors on June 2nd for an exciting refurbishment and upgrade. We’re sorry to be closing for a little while, but stay tuned for updates over the next couple of weeks as we begin this transition!

“We can’t wait to show you what’s coming next soon!”

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But then SakkuSamba never reopened and the space instead became Raft, essentially Manchester’s most boujie buffet.

Raft had a huge dining room upstairs, a hidden club room, a ‘toilet disco’, 360-degree DJ booths, and a ‘coastal boozer’ on the ground floor.

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The restaurant when it was previously SakkuSamba. Credit: The Manc Group
The restaurant when it was previously SakkuSamba. Credit: The Manc Group
Vs when it was Raft. Credit: The Manc Group
Vs when it was Raft. Credit: The Manc Group

Raft was only open for three months when it was suddenly bolted shut, with a forteiture notice in the window that was apparently linked to a ‘historic dispute’.

And now, in an unexpected twist in events, SakkuSamba has shared that it’s coming back to Manchester.

Keeping up okay? Let’s continue. 

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In the first post since announcing the temporary closure and refurbishment of both of its restaurants (in Manchester and in Bradford), SakkuSamba wrote: “SakkuSamba 2025. Manchester keep your eyes peeled, major announcement coming soon.”

If it follows the same format it took previously, that means a fusion of Brazilian and Japanese cuisine together in a swanky all-you-can-eat setting.

And hopefully it’ll last longer than poor Raft did…

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Northern Quarter craft beer bar Fierce Bar announces sudden closure

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Northern Quarter craft beer bar Fierce Bar announces sudden closure

A much loved independent craft beer bar in the heart of the Northern Quarter is set to close before the end of the year.

Fierce Bar, which opened in Manchester city centre in 2020, has been a firm favourite for Mancs and visitors alike with their range of beers and IPAs.

The Fierce Beer company has established itself as a leading force within the beer community winning ‘Scottish Brewery of the Year in 2021’ and numerous Scottish Beer Awards.

Their wide range of drink flavours pay homage to varieties from the USA and offered people who frequented their Thomas Street site in the Northern Quarter were treated to a refreshing taste of the transatlantic.

The Thomas Street bar had previously been home to 57 Thomas Street, a bar operated by Marble Brewery, which also operates The Marble Arch.

In a post on social media which opens with, “Some sad news…”, the company have stated: “We face continually spiralling costs that unfortunately mean it’s going to be unsustainable to continue operating the venue viably going forward”.

There’s still some hope as beer brand have also announced: “This is not the end for Fierce Beer south of the border though; we’re continuing to keep an eye on the market and aim to get back as soon as we can with a new physical location.”

Anyone wanting to continue the bar’s legacy in Manchester can sport the indie establishment’s range of t-shirts, hats and funky glasses, some of which adorned the walls.

Being a Scottish born and bred brewery, if you’re still after your alcohol fix, you can still visit their two other locations in Edinburgh and Aberdeen next time you’re heading up north.

The last day of trade for Fierce Bar will be 20 December where the founders Dave and Louise will be heading to the Manchester site say a sad goodbye.

As it will be the final night of service ever, the team are urging anyone to pop down for a pint or two to commemorate the Manchester home.

It’s a shame to see such a well-used city centre social space shutting its doors, however Fierce Beer loyalists fear not as their online website is still very much alive and thriving here.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image: The Manc Group

Eats

Six By Nico launches tasting menu inspired by Christmas dinner

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Six By Nico launches tasting menu inspired by Christmas dinner

Everyone’s favourite affordable tasting menu restaurant, Six By Nico, has announced its first-ever festive Sunday roast menu. 

The beloved restaurant group, which now has two locations in Manchester, is famed for serving creative and interesting tasting menus, but at a much more accessible price than other fine dining establishments – just £44 a head. 

Then you can add on extra snacks, perfectly-paired wine flights, and even matching cocktails. 

At Six By Nico, the inspiration is always changing, whether the menus bring a sense of nostalgia, memories of a much-loved book or film, or whisk you away across the globe with dishes inspired by another country’s cuisine. 

Previous menus have included The Chippy Tea, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. 

Six By Nico switches up its six-course tasting menus every six weeks, keeping customers coming back time and time again for the next adventurous experience. 

And one of the best things is the flexibility that these tasting menus have, catering for vegans, veggies, pescatarians and more. You can even mix and match courses across tasting menus to suit your mood and dietary requirements. 

Inside one of Six By Nico's two Manchester restaurants
Inside one of Six By Nico's two Manchester restaurants
Inside one of Six By Nico’s two Manchester restaurants. Credit: The Manc Group

The next menu that has had us clicking ‘book’ at the speed of light is Six By Nico’s first-ever Festive Sunday Roast menu, with six courses and a cocktail pairing. 

The new Six By Nico tasting menu features all the flavours of Christmas Day, presented in creative and exciting ways. 

For example, your evening will begin with ‘Pigs in Blankets’ (pork pressé, Sauerkraut, burnt onion and grain mustard), as well as a Brussels Sprouts-inspired course that used barbecue hispi cabbage, aged ewe’s cheese, pickled mushrooms and black garlic emulsion. 

For the main event it’s the Three Bird Roast – duck, chicken and turkey ballotine, liver parfait, honey glazed carrot and Madeira jus.

And you’d be remiss not to add the Ultimate Yorkshire Pudding on as an extra, made with pork and sage stuffing and sauce charcuterie. 

Chocolate Profiteroles, Tahitian vanilla Choux au Craquelin, chocolate Cremeux, buttermilk sorbet and dulce de leche on the Six By Nico festive roast menu. Credit: Supplied
Chocolate Profiteroles on the Six By Nico festive roast menu. Credit: Supplied
Six By Nico's Christmas dinner-inspired tasting menu features Baked Brie De Meaux, homemade mince pie and Peckhams pear
The Six By Nico Christmas dinner-inspired tasting menu features Baked Brie De Meaux, homemade mince pie and Peckhams pear
Another dish on the Six By Nico Christmas dinner-inspired festive menu
Another dish on the Six By Nico Christmas dinner-inspired festive menu

Course five is Baked Brie De Meaux, homemade mince pie and Peckhams pear, then to finish Six By Nico has Chocolate Profiteroles, Tahitian vanilla Choux au Craquelin, chocolate Cremeux, buttermilk sorbet and dulce de leche.  

In a second brand-first, Six by Nico Manchester has created a perfectly matched cocktail pairing to accompany the six-course tasting menu (£40pp) which includes six cocktails including an Apple and Dill Martini. 

It’s just another example of the way Six By Nico keeps pushing the game forward. 

Andrew Temple, Chief Creative Officer, spoke of the menu’s festive twist: “The response to our Sunday Roast menu has been incredible, and we wanted to capture that excitement in a way that complements the holiday season.

“Extending the Sunday Roast with a festive version not only celebrates the British classic but adds a layer of excitement in the build up to the Festive season. 

“We’re looking forward to sharing this seasonal reimagining with our guests, bringing them both the comfort and joy of the festive period.”

The Festive Sunday Roast is £44 per person, with an additional wine pairing available for £30, or a matched cocktail pairing for £40. It’s available to book every Sunday from 24 November until 5 January HERE. 

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Featured image: Supplied

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