We know the new year has just landed, but already we’ve plenty of new restaurant and bar openings to look forward to in Manchester.
Following on from the opening of a new Jane Eyre restaurant and bar in Chorlton in December, this January we see a few more additions in the suburb – including a cosy new neighbourhood cocktail bar from the Tariff & Dale team and the arrival of delicious vegan dumplings at 99 Reasons.
Elsewhere there are several new taprooms to look forward to, a new bar and kitchen in the Northern Quarter, stuffed bao at Circle Square, plus the promise of more new openings around the corner in the form of Higher Ground, Treehouse Hotel and more in early 2023.
Keep reading to see where to put on your list this month.
97, Chorlton
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Image: 97
Image: 97
A cosy new neighbourhood cocktail bar from the team behind The Lead Station and Tariff & Dale, 97 is expected to open on Chorlton’s Beech Road at the end of January.
With room for just 35 covers, drinks will combine innovation and progressive mixology with legendary classics, offering signature serves alongside timeless classics with a twist.
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TBC
Desert Island Dumplings, Chorlton
Having just completed a residency at Ancoats General Store, vegan eatery Desert Island Dumplings has revealed plans to take over the kitchen at 99 Reasons Chorlton this January.
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With a tempting salt and pepper margarita dumpling sharer on the cards, for those thinking they might do dry January this is enough to make you cancel your vow (or so we hear).
Open now
Disorder, Northern Quarter
Image: Disorder
The burger is made with beef and black pudding, the team call it ‘the Manc-hi topped with Japanese mustard mayo and apple Sause’ / Image: Disorder
Opened by Stockport friends Sam and James inside the old Walrus venue (more recently Man With The Fish), Disorder is tipped to open at 78 – 88 High Street at the end of January.
Its ground floor will host an eatery with Asian-inspired street food alongside lagers and sour beers from around the world, whilst below ground the bar will offer more of a speakeasy, dive bar feel with live music from bands, DJs and rap artists.
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On the menu, Japanese sandos will be given a twist with the addition of black pudding whilst cocktails include an Asian-inspired Japanese slipper.
When popular taproom Beer Nouveau announced its closure in 2022 drinkers were sad to see it go indeed, so we expect many will be delighted to hear the space is being brought back to life under new ownership.
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Now set to be known as Temperance Street Brewery & Tap, owner Katie Sutton – who also works full time in the NHS but fell in love with beer thanks to encouragement from her CAMRA stalwart father Dave Hannan – will initially open the bar on Fridays and Saturdays with support from Matt Gibson of Temperance Street Cider.
Open now
North Taproom
Image: North Taproom
Image: Little Bao Boy
With eighteen different keg lines, one cask, plus cocktails on tap and stuffed bao from Leeds favourite Little Bao Boy, we’re very excited for the arrival of North Taproom in Manchester.
Opening at Circle Square this month, North Taproom will see popular beers from its core line poured alongside an ever-changing line-up of beers, wines, cocktails, ciders, and spirits.
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North Taproom will feature 24 draught lines, including eighteen lines of keg beer and one cask, all pouring North’s ever-evolving range of classic beers, specials and collabs with seating for 100 inside and 30 outside.
TBC
Feature image – North Taproom
Eats
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Burger King is giving away free burgers to new drivers today
Emily Sergeant
Burger King will be giving away burgers to drivers who have recently passed their tests for free of charge today.
In case it wasn’t on your radar, tomorrow (Thursday 24 July) is actually National Drive-Thru Day, and in a bid to properly celebrate this unofficial holiday, Burger King has decided to hand out a bunch of freebies to newbies today.
The fast food chain is asking all new drivers to “buckle up”, head on down to their nearest Burger King drive-thru, and help themselves to a free burger.
All newly-qualified drivers will be able to take their pick from either the Whopper or Chicken Royale without parting ways with a penny, and all they’ll need to do the claim their freebie is simply show off their learner’s ‘L Plates’ to the staff at their local Burger King restaurant.
/ Credit: Burger King UK (via Instagram) | Supplied
Hundreds of Burger King drive-thrus across the UK are taking part in the one-day promotion – including several across in Greater Manchester.
Although it might seem a little too good to be true, there’s a reason Burger King has chosen to dish out the freebies, and that’s because the company says it knows that one of the first activities newly-qualified drivers like do once they’ve passed their test is make a pit stop at a drive-thru with their mates to show off their new wheels and skills.
Sometimes though, navigating a drive-thru for the first time can be tricky, and this leaves new drivers feeling a bit like a rabbit in the headlights.
Luckily with this one-day Burger King offer, new drivers’ first drive-thru trip couldn’t be any easier.
The offer is available nationwide today (Wednesday 24 July) at Burger King drive-thru lanes only, while stock lasts, and newly qualified drivers must verbally mention “BK Plates” at the drive-thru lane to unlock their free burger.