A new Japanese matcha dessert house has opened in Manchester city centre at the new Circle Square development.
Called Tsujiri, it has moved into Manchester’s newest neighbourhood on Oxford Road. It is the second opening in the city for the brand, which is already established in London and abroad.
When Tsjuri opened its first location here in Chinatown mid-pandemic, it saw foodies flock to its basement shop for a taste of its bright-green matcha basque cheesecakes, ice cream and lattes.
Now, it is expanding with a second underground cafe ten minutes’ walk down the road. Situated under Vita Living North, here you’ll find an array of different Japanese desserts alongside its various bright and colourful teas.
Soft serve matcha ice cream is just one of the tea-based desserts on offer. / Image: Tsujiri
A chef whiskes matcha. / Image: Tsujiri
Focusing on a traditional Japanese dessert menu, including sundaes built using matcha-flavoured ice creams, all matcha used in Tsujiri’s desserts is sourced directly from Japan.
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The company, first born in Kyoto in 1860, is over 150 years old, and still uses the same matcha from its Japanese hometown across its restaurants today.
This vibrant green matcha can be found within most of the new cafe’s menu such as its soft serves, teas and cakes. It is also selling bags of matcha that can be enjoyed at home.
The health benefits of matcha are widely celebrated, from its antioxidants called catechins, which are said to be the key to anti-ageing, to a high amount of substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Consuming matcha daily is also thought to be good for your mental health, with researchers saying that the natural compounds in matcha act on natural serotonin and dopamine systems in the brain. Like we needed another reason to go and get that bright green cheesecake.
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Speaking on the new opening, Nicholas Moo, Co-Owner of Tsujiri said: “We are excited to open our second site in Manchester, we love the Japanese dessert culture and it is becoming an increasingly popular offering across the city, so can’t wait to welcome people in to try it out.
“The location at Circle Square is perfect, because not only does it have a thriving community with its residents and office workers but it is situated very close to the University, meaning the site has a naturally high footfall and we cant wait for people to come in and try it.”
The new Tsujiri site is open now at Circle Square from 12-9.30pm seven days a week.
Food & Drink
A tiny new train station pub has opened at Manchester Oxford Road
Daisy Jackson
A tiny craft beer pub has opened at Manchester Oxford Road, making all those inevitable train cancellations a little sweeter.
The new boozer comes from the same team behind some of the UK’s best train station pubs, who already have bars at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria.
The Oxford Road Tap has plenty of charming nods to its proximity to the great British rail network.
There’s the big red National Rail sign that they’ve restored and turned into a beer tap, an arch over the bar that mimics the shape of the station, and even a departures board so you can work out how many more pints you can squeeze in.
You’ll find plenty of British craft beers behind the bar as well as a great selection of European lagers, plus spirits and wines.
The bar from Bloomsbury Leisure Holdings Limited has taken over the former cycle hub at Manchester Oxford Road.
The small building is directly opposite the entrance to the busy train station on the southern side of the city centre.
The Oxford Road Tap pub is now open in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
This will be the third site for the pub group in Manchester.
They already operate the Piccadilly Tap, that two-storey beer bar on Piccadilly Approach with a heated rooftop space and outdoor patio.
The team are also responsible for the more recently-opened Victoria Tap, which took over the former bin store at Manchester Victoria.
That particular pub has a heated beer garden constructed just inches away from where the trams tootle past and has a departures board where time is measured by pints (got 10 mins til your train leaves? That’s one pint, sir!)
Oslo-born Doug’s Hamburgers is opening in Manchester, serving adult ‘Happier Meals’
Daisy Jackson
Critically acclaimed burger joint Doug’s is heading to Manchester for the first time, serving up grown-up ‘Happier Meals’.
The burger brand started life in Norway but is led by a very northern team – they’re also behind Madre, Medlock Canteen and London’s Breddos tacos.
Doug’s is an Oklahoma-style burger restaurant with a menu of classic burgers made with hand-pressed patties from premium dry-aged beef (it’s the thinly-sliced onions inside each patty that makes it Oklahama style).
A classic cheeseburger is the brand’s signature dish, featuring a smashed patty, onions, cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickles and Doug’s special sauce.
There’ll also be fried chicken sandwiches, hot tenders and fries, plus breakfast buns served all day.
The ‘Happier Meal’ is an adult twist on a fast food favourite – you get a burger, fries, and a martini.
You can get deep-fried pickles with your burger at Doug’s in Manchester.Doug’s Hamburgers is coming to ManchesterCredit: The Manc Group
Doug’s spot in Manchester will be its fourth restaurant.
It’s set to open on Oxford Road above the recently-announced Amber’s nightclub, open seven days a week from 11am until midnight.
The flagship restaurant on Oxford Road is designed by R2A studio and will be opening this December in Circle Square for eat in and take-out.
Doug’s is opening on Friday 20 December and will be handing out free burgers – just head down from 12pm to claim one.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd September 2022 
