Manchester’s original dirty burger bar Almost Famous is set to open a new restaurant inside a Withington pub.
With its eyes firmly on the suburbs, the longstanding local burger brand will move into the South Manchester student hot spot this summer – taking over the space vacated by Withington pub The Libertine at the end of 2022.
The Libertine closed just six months after it was opened by the Cottonopolis team inside a historic old bank on the village’s High Street, with bosses citing energy costs as one of the reasons for its departure.
Almost Famous will now move into the newly renovated Grade II-listed building this May, serving up its ever-popular combination of loaded burgers, flaming cocktails and winning fries.
Promising a ‘neighbourhood friendly vibe’ with movie and quiz nights, the new site will launch at the end of the month with a week’s worth of parties and its own special burger ‘The Southside ’, which will be exclusive to the Withington branch.
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Image: Almost Famous
Image: Almost Famous
Owners also plan to launch reach out to local community organisations to create new partnerships with the neighbourhood, which is home to organisations like public art project Withington Walls, and The Christie, which is one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe.
Sharing the news on Instagram in a post that has been liked over 800 times, owner Beau Myers wrote: “ALMOST FAMOUS WITHINGTON. FINALLY we are opening a NEW Almost Famous – we’re moving to the southside suburbs for our latest greatest fantastical burger heaven.
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“NGL last few years have been shit and a struggle for us all so this feels like a real super sherbet dibdab ray of sunshine.
“We’ve got the old Libertine which is the most beautiful listed building (an old bank) right at the top of the high st and we’re decking it out with our usual fun and mischief and a 10ft gorilla.
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“This part of Manchester has always been home for me and like a playground between town and Dids… – kebabs at Abdul’s or Monsoon- the 42bus up and down – the Didsbury dozen – when curry’s in Rusholme were a fiver including a beer – Parklife at Platt Fields – Big Hands – feels good to be going into South Manchester.
“We’ll be open for the end of May so stay tuned and hit us up if you want invites to the opening parties – let’s get back to having all the good times.”
Fans of the burger brand were quick to comment their congratulations, with one person writing: “Amazing news guys , top location. Couldn’t think of a better business to turn it on down there. Can’t wait to come and try. Almost famous have lead the way for so many so its good to hear you are back in the groove . BIG LOVE NS”
Another added: “Congrats mate! I’ll come across for the opening party if I can!”
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A third said: “Fantastic news! I’ve lived in South Mcr pretty much all my life, and loved Almost Famous since the early pop up days in NQ! Amazing that my two loves are finally coming together would love the chance to celebrate at the opening!”
To keep up to date with news surrounding Almost Famous’s new opening later this month, follow the restaurant group on Instagram here.
Featured image – Almost Famous
Eats
Salon Madre – A new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A new tequila bar and pool hall is set to open in Manchester in a couple of weeks, from the same team behind Madre.
The huge new space, Salon Madre, will be serving up the tacos and burritos that have made the Mexican restaurant at Kampus so well-loved.
And all that’s alongside a drinks menu that centres around tequila, including frozen, classic and flavoured margaritas and palomas.
Can’t stomach tequila? There’ll also be wines on draft, Corona and local beers.
The food menu will show off signature dishes like al pastor tacos, with daily rotating specials, plus Gringas, nachos and Madre’s huge burritos.
Salon Madre has taken over a spot just off Kampus’s lush garden that was previously home to a Seven Brothers taproom, right next door to Madre itself.
Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSalon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
As well as all the Mexican food and drink goodness, the bar will have four pool tables and will be screening Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) and American sports.
The dream is to bring the fun and liveliness of a Mexican pool hall to the heart of Manchester, in this beautiful spot right near Piccadilly and Canal Street.
Salon Madre will open on 6 December at Kampus, with bookings for Christmas groups and parties now available.
First look at Stow as beautiful new open-fire restaurant opens in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new restaurant is set to open in Manchester this week, from the same team behind the Northern Quarter’s well-established Trof.
Stow is opening on Bridge Street this Friday, bringing live fire cooking and a seasonal menu, plus plenty of local beers to the mosaic-clad spot in the city centre.
The new Stow site has, at various points over the last few years, been a Grindsmith coffee shop, Thai BBQ Neon Tiger, and Juicebox wine bar.
We’ve had a sneak peek inside today ahead of its official launch later this week, and the Stow team have transformed this place into a cosy, relaxed restaurant space.
There are low pendant lights, white brick walls, and a beautiful tiled bar, in an understated and neutral interior.
As for the food, the entire Stow menu will be cooked over a custom-built grill from Firemade in Somerset, fuelled by wood and charcoal, with a concise menu of meet and fish plus veg-centric sides and snacks sourced from the ‘best produce they can get their hands on’.
Stow will be owned and operated by Matt Nellant and Jamie Pickles from Trof, who want to celebrate the ‘simplicity of great ingredients cooked over open fire with very little faff’.
The wine list will be exclusively French but the beer list will show off local breweries, and cocktails will feature classics with a twist like a Cremant Cocktail.
Inside Stow, a new restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Jame and Matt both come with a proper hospitality pedigree.
Jamie left restaurant management in 2018 to return to his hometown in the Peak District, working in The Devonshire Arms pub in Pilsley before holding a kitchen residency at Saint Francis Provisions in Kinsale, Ireland.
Once back in Manchester, he’s been developing dishes and writing menus for various restaurants, including Trof.
Dishes at Stow are seasonal and cooked over open fire. Credit: The Manc GroupStow is a new restaurant from the team at Trof. Credit: The Manc Group
Matt took over as general manager of Trof and eventually acquired the business from Mission Mars in 2020.
His career started in cocktail bartending but includes management roles for large groups like Living Ventures and Revolution.
Stow will open to the public on 22 November on Bridge Street in Manchester.
Georgina Pellant -
10th May 2023 
