One of Manchester’s most popular neighbourhood hangouts is introducing a brand new outdoor terrace area when it reopens next month.
With an “irreversible” roadmap for lifting lockdown now in place, Ducie Street Warehouse has announced that its new “collective space” will be opening up on the ground floor of the Grade II-listed former Victorian warehouse that it occupies.
This new “urban South-facing terrace” is said to be perfect for all day dining and drinking.
Set to open daily from 12th April, at the earliest, “for that first sip of tea, to that last cocktail”, the new heated and covered terrace will serve a preview selection of dishes from the new ‘All Day Dining’ food menu designed for sharing, which includes signature Focaccia Romania flatbreads, small sharers, large plates and more, as well as an extensive selection of drinks.
And then, on Monday 17th May, the “true vision of the entire building will come alive”, when everything will be open and its indoor experience will be revealed.
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Visitors can expect an offering of food, drink, entertainment, resident DJs and a collection of curated takeovers across sounds, inspired arts and cultural pop-ups, with the first collaboration – ’20k and a Dead Sheep’ – bringing a new retail pop-up space and DJ takeover every weekend, from Saturday 17th April until the end of May.
“The outdoor terrace is the first part of the new beginning of Ducie Street Warehouse and will really set the scene for our new direction.” Mark Clinton – F&B Ops Director at Ducie Street Warehouse – said.
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“The welcoming, vibe of this amazing building will start to be felt from April when we launch the terrace, and more so from May when we launch the indoor curation projects and reveal the plans and changes we’ve made to this iconic space.
“This is a place like no other in Manchester, a place to embrace and make it what you will – and we just can’t wait to finally, share it with the city”.
On top of that, Native Manchester – the UK’s largest aparthotel, attached to Ducie Street Warehouse – will also reopen on 12th April for all stays, be it leisure or business, making it one of the only places in Manchester to offer leisure staycations from April.
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Native’s large, self-contained luxury apartments offer a “truly home from home” stay.
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DUCIE STREET WAREHOUSE Terrace will open on Monday 12th April.
Monday – Thursday: 11am – 10pm
Friday: 11am – 11pm
Saturday: 9am – 11pm
Sunday: 9am – 10pm
Bookings will go live soon, so keep an eye on Twitter and Instagram for more details.
Food & Drink
The Manchester restaurants and bars shortlisted for the MFDF Awards 2026
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards – better known as the MFDF Awards – have revealed the shortlist of local restaurants, bars, cafes, chefs, and more that are up for the city’s ultimate accolade.
Dozens of outstanding local businesses are nominated across 17 categories, covering everything from food trucks to Michelin Star chefs.
The winners will be revealed at the MFDF Awards ceremony on Monday 25 January, which this year will be held at Medlock Square’s City Hall for the first time.
Sponsored once again by Therme Manchester, the MFDF Awards celebrate the outstanding talent in Manchester’s hospitality scene.
Categories have been chosen to showcase new openings, talented chefs and producers, neighbourhood favourites, top restaurants, great pubs, and plenty more.
The shortlist has been selected from a list of submissions by the MFDF Awards judging panel, made up of leading food and drink critics, writers and industry experts.
As well as the public vote, judges will mystery shop venues in a number of categories and will score venues based on their experiences. The mystery shopping and public voting period will end at midnight on 11 January 2027 when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores and the winner of each category will be chosen.
The awards are now open to public vote on the MFDF website HERE.
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director of the MFDF Awards, said: “We’re proud to reveal this year’s MFDF Awards shortlists and shine a spotlight on the very best of Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene.
“The awards celebrate the incredible talent, creativity and diversity that make our region a world-class food and drink destination. We’re encouraging everyone to get behind the nominees by voting for your favourites, visiting the shortlisted venues and showing your support for our brilliant hospitality industry.
“We’re also looking forward to bringing the industry together on 25 January 2027 for a fantastic night of celebration and to crown this year’s winners.”
The Community Food and Drink Project of the Year, sponsored by Therme Manchester, is being decided through a separate judging process. The award celebrates initiatives making a positive difference to communities across Greater Manchester, from tackling food poverty and promoting sustainability to improving access to healthy food and bringing communities together.
The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement will also be presented on the night to recognise an outstanding contribution to Greater Manchester’s food and drink industry, with no public shortlist for the category.
The Manchester restaurants and bars on the MFDF 2026 shortlist
1. Affordable Eats Venue of the Year (Sponsored by Therme Manchester)
Sips n Dips in LevenshulmeNoodle Alley in ChinatownCredit: The Manc Group
Al Madina – 76 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M14 5AL
Noodle Alley – 56A Faulkner Street, Manchester M1 4FH
Sips & Dips – 994 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WN
Que Huong Viet – 76–78 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5EB
Kabana – 52 Back Turner Street, Manchester M4 1FR
Bahn Mi 782 – 782 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2DR
Zaytoni’s – 12 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JQ
Cafe San Juan – 27 St Petersgate, Stockport, Manchester SK1 1EB
Previous winner – Double Zero
2. Takeaway of the Year
Kool Runnings – 118 Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M15 4AN
Rita’s Reign – Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LY
Chicken Run – 6 Yarburgh St, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 7FJ
Viet Deli – 22 Blackfriars Street, Manchester M3 5BQ
Levenshulme Bakery – 842 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3AW
The Post Box Shawarma – 543 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9PP
Manchester dessert hatch receives two-star review for ‘smiling too much’
Daisy Jackson
A dessert hatch in Manchester city centre has spoken out after receiving a two-star review – in which the main criticism was that they ‘smiled too much’.
Layr, a tiny tiramisu spot in Ancoats, has publicly addressed the review, which said the staff’s friendliness was ‘almost creepy’.
The reviewer wrote: “Came today, had alright tiramisu but the staff were smiling too much it was almost creepy. Also felt interrogated, just wanted to get my tiramisu and leave, don’t think ill be back.”
Layr – which was also the victim of ‘hostile hate messages’ earlier this year – has now shared a response to the new two-star review.
They’ve said that while they will always take feedback on board, they refuse to change ‘the warmth & smiles you’re greeted with’.
Layr posted: “We absolutely recognise, and know that every customer experience matters. We never want anyone to feel uncomfortable visiting us, and always take every bit of feedback on board.
“Smiling is just who we are. Layr was built to feel warm, welcoming, and to be a memorable part of your day, week or month. We all need that little pick-me-up no matter what.
“Our amazing team all work incredibly hard, GENUINELY enjoy meeting so many of you and hearing about your day.
“If being too friendly gets us two stars, we can live with that.
“We’ll always choose warmth, no matter what. Great tiramisu matters, so does good people and amazing energy.
“A message to our team. Please don’t stop smiling. Ever.”
Emily Sergeant -
15th March 2021 
