A new hotly-anticipated ‘tacos and tequila joint’ is opening doors in Withington next week and it’s set to bring the taste of Mexico to South Manchester post-lockdown.
Taking the place of the much-loved neighbourhood hangout Solomons Cafe Bar on Wilmslow Road, Southside Tequila Joint is the brainchild of the original Solomons owners, Rupert Cade and Rick McClean, in partnership with Lyndon Higginson – the well-known proprietor of city centre favourite hotspots Crazy Pedro’s, Bunny Jackson’s and Wolf at the Door.
Southside Tequila Joint will be looking to offer South Manchester residents an alternative to a city centre trip.
After much speculation amongst the community, the Southside rebranding was first announced via the Solomons Cafe Bar Facebook page at the start of May in a post that read: “After 5 years Solomons is being retired.”
“When lockdown ends we’ll be reopening as Southside Tequila Joint.”
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Don’t worry, it’s still going to be the same neighbourhood hang out with the same amazing team… just better everything else. Withington is going to have its very own taco and tequila joint.”
“We can’t wait to show you what we’ve done to the place.”
Southside Tequila Joint is very much a product of lockdown, and in the best way possible.
After lockdown restrictions were first announced in the UK all the way back in March, this presented the owners with the unique opportunity to completely reinvent the Solomons space in a way that they would not have been able to otherwise.
A complete renovation of the premises began shortly after Solomons’ doors closed.
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Those familiar with previous Solomons space will notice upon the reopening of Southside that the bar area has been extended/opened up, additional booth seating has been installed at the back of the venue, it now boats an impressive outdoor seating terrace and it has even been expanded downstairs too, providing more seating and a second bar area.
The kitchen area has also been newly refurbished, ready to serve authentic tacos and tequila to a community that’s been calling out for it.
Southside Tequila Joint is launching on Wednesday 8th July and will be open until 2am every night.
You can call 0161 434 123 and visit their Facebook page here.
The Manc is helping local businesses and venues get back on their feet after lockdown with our #BuzzingToBeBack campaign – offering as much support and exposure for Manchester hospitality as possible.
Read more about what we’re doing for the industry here.
Eats
You can now have dinner in the actual dressing rooms at Co-op Live
Daisy Jackson
Co-op Live has now launched exclusive backstage dining experiences – which means you could be having dinner inside the very dressing rooms that have hosted music megastars.
These new groundbreaking new Backstage Private Dining experiences feature menus curated by Simon Rimmer.
This will be the first time that the arena’s most exclusive artist areas have been open to guests.
There’ll be 10 selected dates from May 2026, where ticket-holders can eat dinner in dressing rooms that were previously occupied by the likes of Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen.
Guests will be able to choose from several packages, from intimate receptions and private three-course dinners inside the dressing rooms, to lavish extras like a Bentley chauffeur-driven arrival, live entertainment, and extended backstage access.
The most premium package will also offer access to Co-op Live’s adidas Originals recording studio.
Proceeds from the Backstage Private Dining will go towards supporting Co-op Live’s official charity partner, the Co-op Foundation, which tackles inequality and supports communities across the UK.
Chef Simon Rimmer commented: “Having worked with Co-op Live for some time, it’s incredibly exciting to now be involved with this unique series of Backstage Private Dining.
“It’s a rare opportunity to further combine the world-class music venue with exceptional food, and I can’t wait to showcase how these experiences can come to life together, creating truly unforgettable evenings for our guests.”
Becci Thomson, Chief Commercial Officer at Co-op Live, said: “From day one, our ambition has been to challenge expectations of what an arena can deliver, and we’re now delighted to introduce a new dimension of premium hospitality at Co-op Live.
“This collaboration unlocks new creative potential within the venue, offering experiences that have not previously been possible. It reflects our commitment to innovation and meaningful impact within the communities we support.”
Designed and delivered in partnership with Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), Founder and CEO Liz Taylor said: “Opportunities like this are rare. Co-op Live is a venue built for scale, spectacle and ambition — and that’s exactly how we are approaching these events.
“Whether it’s an intimate milestone celebration or a brand hosting at the highest level, these will be immersive, one-night-only experiences designed to deliver real impact. We are proud to have been chosen to help shape this next chapter, bringing creativity, precision and bold thinking to a space that demands nothing less.”
Salford industrial estate bakery with incredible cinnamon rolls to open new site
Daisy Jackson
Mayya Bakery, a local ‘hidden gem’ with incredible cinnamon rolls, is set to open a brand-new bakery that will make it significantly less hidden.
Until now, Mayya has been quietly trading from an industrial estate in Salford, where it’s built a great reputation for its bakes despite an off-the-beaten-track-location and relatively little social media fanfare.
It opened its doors in 2024, operated by former primary school teacher Meli and her husband, dentist Oguz.
This is an artisan bakery with a real Turkish flare, with plenty of comfort food like freshly made gözleme (or gozzies for short) and bigger dishes if you fancy sitting in.
Their counters are stuffed with sweet bakes, like their perfect cinnamon rolls, plus loaves, babka, cookies, and homemade cheesecake.
For bigger dishes, you’ll find breakfast dishes like Turkish eggs, Simit (a traditional sesame bagel) breakfasts, and menemen.
The counters at Mayya Bakery’s current locationIncredible cheesecake at Mayya BakerySigns on Chapel Street Salford for the new Mayya Bakery
And now Mayya Bakery has revealed plans to open a new location in a much more prominent spot in town, with signs appearing in the windows of a unit on Chapel Street.
The sign reads: “Everything is homemade – including this picture.”
It also quips: “They called us hidden gem… not hidden anymore.”
Mayya will open on Chapel Street soon – keep an eye on our food and drink Instagram page The Manc Eats for the latest.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd July 2020 
