Train commuters having their days completely ruined by cancellations, delays and strikes – there is a teeny tiny glimmer of light now open at Victoria Station, and it serves pints.
The Victoria Tap is a new beer bar that’s completely transformed a corner of the station that was previously home to a bin store.
The new craft beer bar has also built a small beer garden on its far side, where trams slide past within inches of the boundary wall.
On the wall inside is a departures board that advises how many pints you can fit in before your train leaves.
And those pints start from just £4.10 each – practically unheard of in Manchester these days.
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Northern breweries on the taps at Victoria Tap include Brew York, Blackjack and Runaway, plus a good selection of European beers from the likes of kostritzer, Bitburger and Schremser.
The beer garden at Victoria Tap in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupThe beer selection at Victoria Tap
Inside the space itself there are huge arched windows looking out onto Victoria Station‘s concourse, with matching arched mirrors opposite them.
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There’s traditional parquet floors underfoot and a dark green bar running almost the whole length of the micropub.
The Victoria Tap be a familiar presence for those of us who commute from Piccadilly, where Piccadilly Tap has been providing pre- and post-train pints for years.
It’s has been a long time coming (much like the 09.35 Northern service to Leeds), having first been announced in 2019.
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Inside Victoria Tap in ManchesterIt’s opened in a former bin store at Victoria Station
It officially opened its doors at last on Friday and has already been busy all weekend with excited punters.
The owners of the pub have said they want to provide something different to the average train station pub, with cheaper drinks than your average and a huge range of drinks to have in or take away.
The Victoria Tap is open now at Manchester Victoria station.
His post has generated a fair bit of reaction already, with one person replying: “Ridiculous advice! Loss of a table for 4 ! Empty tables for 2! Over ordered and over staffed, this stupidly from someone who should know better must corrected. Every customer counts in this day and age.”
Someone else wrote: “The amount of people booking 2 venues this year and cancelling is on the increase too!! We are now taking deposits for groups over 6 to try and eliminate this! When space is an issue booking more than you need is not fair on the venues!!”
Another commented: “A table of 3 is actually sat on a table for four. So you’re denying the business of 50% of its potential turnover. Do not do this.”
Sacha Lord – Night Time Economy Adviser to Greater Manchester.
CREDIT – Darren Robinson Photography
Petit Paris, a charming deli and wine bar in Manchester, announces sudden closure
Daisy Jackson
Petit Paris, a lovely little wine bar and deli in the heart of Manchester, has announced its shock closure.
The cosy spot on King Street shared the news ‘with big sadness’ over the weekend, writing: “Petit Paris, c’est fini”.
The French deli was loved for its incredible selection of wines, as well as its huge cheese boards and sandwiches you could order.
In summer, it had plenty of seating outside on the beautiful cobbled King Street where you could sit and people-watch with a glass of rose in hand.
Petit Paris wrote in a statement shared on Instagram: “Brexit and current climate for independent businesses didn’t encourage us to continue the adventure.”
The local business is still up for a Manchester Food and Drink Award, where it’s nominated for Food and Drink Retailer of the Year.
Petit Paris’s full statement reads: “Petit Paris c’est fini….
Inside the Petit Paris French deli in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupPetit Paris in Manchester was a prime people-watching spot. Credit: The Manc GroupOysters and wine at Petit Paris. Credit: The Manc Group
“It is with big sadness that we have to announce the closure of our lovely deli in Manchester. It’s been 2 incredible years and we our grateful for all the support our customer showed us and our amazing staff that worked hard everyday!
“Thank you to all local social media that provide us great visibility and put us with the best in town.
“Brexit and current climate for independent businesses didn’t encourage us to continue the adventure.
“If you want to support one more time go on and vote for us at the Manchester food & drink festival for 2024.
“Please keep supporting small independent businesses! Merci.”
Daisy Jackson -
16th October 2023 
