The Ivy made a big song and dance about their grand reopening on July 4. Literally.
Days before the hospitality lockdown lifted, a video popped up online starring Ivy staff – dressed in their signature forest green waistcoats – grooving through Spinningfields to an ecstatic soundtrack with huge smiles stitched to their faces.
Talk about coming back with a bang.
Of course, anyone who’s been to The Ivy before will recognise that this is right on brand.
Flourish is their thing – and it’s what’s made a seat at the venue one of the most sought-after spots in the city.
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Sure enough, queues are already forming outside when we arrive for a mid-week meal, and after being beckoned down the walkway by a pair of hat-tipping doormen, I find myself mumbling something about the surprising size of the interior.
A nearby waiter smiles, nods and shuts his eyes. He’s heard this all before.
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“Yes – it looks smaller from the outside,” he chuckles.
“But there’s so much more in here than people think.”
He’s right. In every sense.
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Just like the woody plant which bears its name, The Ivy is long, high, winding; fitted with labyrinthian corridors, twisting staircases and a roaming rooftop terrace.
It’s a luxurious world of its own – like stepping into a meticulously-crafted hedge maze on a manor estate.
One cocktail too many and you risk getting lost in there forever. But that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
There’s no better time to escape the outside world than right now, and with four floors of chandeliers, marble surfaces, greenery and artwork (some it insect-themed), The Ivy has more plush interiors to explore than a royal residence.
It’s a triumph of landscape architecture.
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The staff are also play a key part in reinforcing the mystical garden setting; with the gatekeepers sporting Luigi-like outfits whilst the waiters wear flower-patterned jackets.
There’s a lot of them, and they’re a charming, chatty bunch, too – making an arrival at The Ivy feel more like checking into a hotel than booking a meal.
Before tucking in, we’re taken on a quick tour of the low-lit, luxurious multi-level jungle venue – with our waiter then walking us through some dish recommendations and offering helpful ideas on which wine to pair with each.
En route to our table, we apologetically weave around two people posing for snaps on the stairs. There’s a lot of that. The Ivy is the kind of place guests get dressed up for; with the decor guaranteeing picturesque images that send ‘likes’ soaring on social media.
But that’s not to say the restaurant is just for the younger corporate crowd. A quick glance around reveals a wide range of visitors across many demographics, including couples, groups and older families.
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The red tape for the restaurant was cut in late 2018 – bringing the illustrious Ivy brand (which is the eatery of choice among celebs in the Big Smoke) to Manchester.
Construction began just as Spinningfields had settled into its groove, with owners scattering the seeds across Hardman Square and temporarily reverting the patch of land into a building site for several months.
Even the office workers stuck with views of cranes from their windows for months would probably tell you it was worth it.
The Ivy has been absolutely booming ever since.
With longer opening hours than your average venue, there’s breakfast and afternoon set menus all available at The Ivy – as well as a suitably mammoth ‘a la carte’ at nighttime.
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With more than a dozen different starters, mains and desserts to choose from, you won’t have difficulty finding something you’ll like – including prime cuts of meat, flavourful seafood and freshly-prepped vegetables.
Some dishes are accompanied by a bit of wizardry performed on behalf of the waiter (including a ring of blue fire for the apple tart).
Presentation is pretty perfect, and the food itself is good – but what keeps people returning to this garden of Eden is the magnificent, opulent setting and the dwellers within.
As you may have already guessed, a bit of wiggle room in the bank account is required for a multi-course meal at The Ivy. But the experience is a memorable one.
There’s nothing else in the city quite like it.
Eats
Didsbury favourite Rustik has confirmed its will sadly be closing this month
Danny Jones
West Didsbury favourite Rustik has sadly announced it will be closing for food after a decade at the end of this month.
The beloved Burton cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but now the independent Irish eatery has confirmed that the business will be shutting down permanently in less than a fortnight.
Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.
Unsurprisingly, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution.
Posting across all of their accounts, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single one of you who walked through our doors and supported us along the way. We poured everything we had — our time, our energy, our lives into making Rustik a space for everyone. And what a ride it’s been.
“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.
“To our amazing staff, past and present: thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and the love you brought every single day. You helped build something truly special, and we’ll never be able to thank you enough.
“To the incredible musicians who filled our space with life — keep doing what you do. The noise complaints? 100% worth the unforgettable nights.”
The team go on to detail that the official closing date is Tuesday, 30 September, reiterating that it is “business running as usual until then” and urging fans to “come down, grab your last Rustik fix, and raise a glass with us one final time.”
Signing off with an emotional farewell, they add: “Lastly, a message close to our hearts: please support your local cafes, bars, and independents. Hospitality is tough right now, and they need your support more than ever.
“Thank you for the most incredible decade of our lives. It’s over and out from us.”
It goes without saying that we’re gutted to see Rustik go and know how much it meant not only to the Burton Road community, but also to the Didsbury community, Chorlton and many other Greater Manchester natives.
A ‘saucy’ new Korean fried chicken restaurant is opening in the Gay Village
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new Korean fried chicken restaurant and cocktail bar is set to open on Canal Street this week.
CLUK is promising some big deals and amazing giveaways to celebrate its launch in Manchester, including free food and prize draws.
The newcomer in the heart of the city will specialise in Korean-style crispy fried chicken, but also warming ramen bowls, and salt & pepper classics.
Signature dishes will include Korean cheese-powder fried chicken, and Cheese Volcano Chicken.
CLUK will also serve dishes like kimchi cheese loaded fries, salt & pepper chicken, and huge sharing platters.
You can customise your Korean fried chicken order by size, choosing between wings and boneless and picking a flavour out of honey garlic, sweet and spicy, honey mustard, and honey and sour.
They promise it’ll all be ‘saucy, crunchy, and seriously addictive’.
That’s all washed down with ice-cold beers and creative cocktails, like martinis, spritzes and sours.
CLUK is now open in the Gay Village in ManchesterA spread of CLUK dishesInside CLUK ManchesterFried chicken with Korean cheese powderInside CLUK Manchester
The CLUK team are hoping to create a fun late-night dining option for this buzzing corner of the city centre.
To celebrate its launch on Thursday 18 September, CLUK have announced a whole heap of promotions.
This includes free chicken bao for the first 50 guests to visit during the first five days.
Over the two week launch period, visitors can spin the wheel whenever you spend £12 – spend £24 and spin twice.
And there are big prizes available – the top prize is a £100 gift card or £50 cash, with other prizes including free drinks, food and a £3 voucher as a consolation prize.
Plus, anyone who buys a gift card and tops it up with £100 will receive a free beer or cider.
When those two weeks are up, CLUK will run a £1,000 prize draw.