Ever since its relaunch in 2022, The Deansgate pub in Manchester has had one of the city’s best rooftop bars.
But the pub’s beautiful two-storey terrace, with views of the Deansgate Square towers, has suddenly been dwarfed by a development next door.
It’s not just a big tower – it’s an L-shaped tower that’s quite literally hugging two sides of the pub.
Your view currently is of its concrete spine, later to be replaced by shiny glass and brick and concrete.
As things stand, The Deansgate can’t even open its rooftop terraces, so close is the construction site to where punters should be nursing a Guinness.
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And when it is able to open, its views of the southern city centre skyline will be completely blocked by the 22-storey, 357-bedroom aparthotel being built at 325 Deansgate.
The tower, from Dean Street Developments, is going to be so tall, it will also be cosying right up to Beetham Tower’s Cloud 23, historically the city’s leading sky bar.
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Fans of the reborn boozer are, understandably, gutted.
The Deansgate’s rooftop terrace last summer. Credit: The Manc GroupHow the same terrace looks now
When photos of the construction site were shared on local Facebook groups, one person commented: “Beautiful character building and bridge dwarfed by the new grey builds. There has been no attempt to blend these tower blocks.”
Another questioned: “Jesus, how did this get through planning due to the implications on the pub next door and one of the nicest beer gardens in town.”
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Someone else said: “Lower Turks Head. Briton’s Protection. The Black Friar, Salford. The Deansgate. The Sir Ralph Abercrombie. I’m certain that there must be more – probably many more – local pubs now dwarfed into insignificance (or soon to be) by the “New Manchester”. There can’t be much more sky left to build over can there?”
Several people have compared The Deansgate to P J Clarke’s in Manhattan, a brick-built pub that still stands unchanged even as gigantic glass structures popped up on all sides.
The view from The Deansgate’s roof terrace has been covered by a new skyscraperThe huge aparthotel is taking shape beside the pub
Of course, even without the rooftop terrace space, The Deansgate has a lot going for it.
There are bars and cosy snugs spreading across three floors, retained features like stained-glass windows and woodwork, and a menu of traditional pub favourites.
The Deansgate isn’t the only pub that’s being bullied by a sharp-edged glass monolith either.
And the Lower Turk’s Head’s beer garden now has a view straight up the side of the tower block nicknamed the ‘Shudehill Shard’.
Amber Leaff, general manager for the Deansgate commented: “The Deansgate continues to operate as normal indoors, with three floors offering visitors plenty of space to enjoy a drink or some classic pub food and we’re delighted to continue to welcome customers through the door.”
You can already see the aparthotel taking shape beside The Deansgate pub
Bangkok Diners Club moves out of Ancoats just months after Michelin Guide win
Daisy Jackson
Bangkok Diners Club, the critically-acclaimed restaurant above the Edinburgh Castle pub, has closed its restaurant space.
The Thai restaurant was added to the Michelin Guide last October, not long after taking over the upstairs of the popular pub.
It also received a rave review in The Guardian from restaurant critic Grace Dent, who said it would be ‘one of Manchester’s hottest dining tickets’.
But now Bangkok Diners Club has decided its time in Ancoats is up, and has closed its beautiful restaurant space with immediate effect.
In an email sent to customers with reservations, they wrote that Bangkok Diners Club ‘sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle’.
Owners and husband-and-wife team Ben and Bo Humpheys aren’t leaving things there though, announcing plans to move into the Exhibition food hall on Peter Street.
Co-owner Ben Humphreys outside Bangkok Diners Club. Credit: The Manc GroupThe food earned them a place in the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
They’ll be joining MoreJoy and pasta concept Anatra in the space, but bidding farewell to their own dedicated restaurant for now.
The email sent to customers reads: “We have just noticed that the system has allowed you to make a reservation during a time that we are closed. We apologise that this has happened.
“Ben and Bo are cooking at Exhibition during 2026 and Bangkok Diners Club sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle.
“Sincerest apologies for all the inconvenience caused.”
Doux Chaton debuts in Manchester: Vietnamese and French cuisine meets the North West
Danny Jones
Regardless of our rivalry, the Scousers have given us a lot: The Beatles, two Premier League football clubs for us to get regularly riled up against, even the Bold Street brand – and now it’s the turn of Doux Chaton, who just landed in Manchester.
Vietnamese food right in the heart of town, but like you’ve never had it before, Doux Chaton is the Southeast Asian spot with a European twist that’s already turning heads.
In fact, despite quietly opening on the main Deansgate strip over the festive period, there was already plenty of passion for this place down the Mersey, as this Liverpool-founded business has developed a foodie favourite following here in the North West.
Run by owners Jimmy and Jennifer Ly, whose parents Ko and Linda moved to the UK back in the 70s, this place might be regionally born and bred, but it’s still deeply rooted in the rich heritage of two ex-pats helping bring some seriously incredible flavours to our shores.
Walking past the old unit on the ground floor of Great Northern Warehouse – during a real ghost town period for the city centre this past Christmas – we saw a team hard at work putting together their first Manc venue.
This was at around 10/11pm from memory, as we saw a man on ladders finishing the hand-lettered sign by lamplight; this is all relevant because, before anything, it’s worth noting that this place from 9am until 9pm all week round.
Yes, as in every single day.
Since they’re still relative newcomers, we’re not entirely sure when they take any time (if, indeed, they do at all), but one thing we can already vouch for is that hard work can well and truly be tasted in the food and drink they put out.
Expanding their traditional Vietnamese menu in Merseyside, Doux Chaton Deansgate has seen them create a whole new selection of sweet treats, doubling not only as a neo-French patisserie but as a platform to showcase both traditional and modern bakes from their home country.
There is a long history of their national cuisine being deeply influenced by the classical culinary culture in France, but when we tell you their bahn mi sandwiches and clever take on a sausage ‘pho’roll were even tastier than their decadent croque monsieur croissant, you know you’re on to something special.
And then there are the bowls of broth and noodles themselves; we tried plenty of pho in and around Greater Manchester, with plenty purporting to be ‘authentic’ – and many of them are – but there can be a question about this first and second generation team.
Taking ‘Mama Hong’s treasured recipes from the streets of Hanoi and elevating them ever so slightly in certain spots, whilst still letting the flavours, textures and smells speak for themselves, it’s comfortably some of the best Viet scran we’ve had in these parts.
The cute little cat in a bowl logo almost feels like the most warm and fitting welcome you could hope for.
Service with a smile, simply fantastic food, a bloody GREAT cup of stylish drip coffee and a big chalkboard where you can even leave your own message, not to mention unrelenting opening hours – this could be our new go-to at any given time of day.
Daisy Jackson -
18th February 2024 
