One of Manchester’s best-loved independent cafes has been ordered to close its popular takeaway coffee cart in Prestwich by the council.
Federal Cafe Bar – known for bringing “Antipodean happiness to Manchester” – has developed a loyal following of customers since opening its first city centre branch in the Northern Quarter in 2014 and its second site on Deansgate in 2019, but due to several lockdowns and ongoing restrictions amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, both sites have been restricted to takeaway-only services.
So, in an attempt to boost trade and bring some staff back from furlough, owner Claudio Ribeiro decided to open a coffee cart in Altrincham Market back in January – and it proved to be a massive hit.
Acting on the popularity of the Altrincham endeavour, Mr Ribero said he wanted to the do the same in his hometown of Prestwich to try and “bring something different” to the area, so he struck a deal with brewers to set up outside local pub The White Horse two weeks ago.
In the two days the cart was there, it went down a treat with locals and walkers alike.
But sadly, Bury Council has since ordered Federal to move on as it says the the coffee cart was operating in a ‘legally prohibited trading zone’, which covers the area between Bury New Road, Fairfax Road and Rectory Lane in Prestwich town centre.
Speaking to the MEN on the short-lived success of the Prestwich cart, Claudio Ribiero said: “The two days we were there, we did really well.
“We sold about 200 coffees each day.
“I was on private land, so I thought it would be fine if I paid a little bit to the pub [but] obviously that was incorrect and I needed to apply for a licence.”
Although Mr Ribero has admitted that he “should have checked” with the council first, he believes they could have done more to work with him and claims that when he asked whether he could apply for a licence to trade in the area, he was told not to bother by council officials.
He also suspects another business may have complained to the council about the coffee cart too.
“It’s a shame because I would like to go back there,” Mr Ribeiro continued.
“I’m not trying to interfere with anybody else, we are just trying to get back to normal and trade in some way [and] I live in Prestwich and pay my council tax to Bury Council.
“We should have checked, but the council could also have tried to understand that things are a little difficult right now.
“If the [Manchester City Council] had the same view, we would never have been able to open last summer [so] why can’t Bury Council do something like that and allow [Prestwich town centre] to be a little more alive?
“I think they need to be a little more open-minded.”
Federal Cafe Bar
In response to Mr Ribero’s comments, a spokesperson for Bury Council said: “We have every sympathy for businesses who have suffered during the coronavirus lockdowns, and will do everything we can to help them through these difficult times.
“This person, however, had unknowingly set up in a legally prohibited trading zone.
“This has covered the central shopping district of Prestwich village since 1997, and is there to protect the interests of local businesses. He can, though, trade outside this zone, as long as he applies for a street trading permit, which would also allow our environmental health officers to ensure that his premises (van) meet food safety standards.
“We have sent him the relevant application forms and have been assisting him with the process.”
Food & Drink
The first new tenant of the old Debenhams department store on Market Street has been confirmed
Danny Jones
The first new resident of the Rylands Building on Market Street in central Manchester has been revealed, and it’s a foodie one.
Set to be the maiden opening inside the old Debenhams department store, which closed after more than three decades back in 2021, Rylands’ debut won’t be for another year or so, but it will soon welcome Mancs with an increasingly popular food hall operator making its way up north.
Simply called Market Place, the ever-growing brand is fast becoming a well-established name, with four venues in the capital already and a fifth coming soon.
Rylands will be their first location outside of London, and with 1,300 sqm of space at their disposal, Market Place Manchester is set to make a significant splash on the high street.
A look at Market Place Peckham.A rough idea of what the Manchester branch could look like.
Developers managed to green-light plans for the Grade II-listed building last November, sharing the first details and glimpses of their vision for the instantly recognisable city centre spot, including a whole new rooftop terrace.
Currently earmarked for a late 2026 launch, the former department store (previously Paulden’s) consisted of seven floors but is now set for a four-storey extension that promises to be a massive and varied retail, leisure and business destination that makes the most of the expansive structure.
Not to be confused with the famous John Rylands Library – a much older, more gothic, historic and hallowed hall over on Deansgate – this task of ‘revitalising a Manchester icon’, to quote property firm AM ALPHA, is a huge undertaking.
In charge of the redevelopment since 2023, the group have been outlining a pretty complete overhaul, with plans to convert the upper floors into premium office space, and the creation of a retail arcade at ground level, on which Market Place Manchester will sit.
This particular Manc corner was a bustling food, drink and shopping complex for the longest time, but has been derelict and covered up by boards for what feels like forever, with urban explorers even roaming the large, abandoned building.
Credit: Supplied
Now, though, the new long-term 15-year lease agreement will see the latest food hall kick off a new era for Rylands, delivering socially focused venues and the range of flavourful, vibrant choices of scran that Market Place have become known for.
With sites in St Paul’s, Vauxhall, Peckham, Harrow and soon Baker Street – as well as their eventual Manchester outpost, of course – the chain is getting bigger and better, meaning its arrival in the North West is an exciting one.
AM ALPHA manager Paul Hodgkiss said in an official statement: “Manchester is a city with a vibrant cultural scene – the perfect environment for forward-thinking concepts like Market Place Food Hall…
“The early commitment to Rylands is no coincidence: it reflects the strength of our strategic and forward-looking approach to development. We are not just creating high-quality space – we are setting new standards for urban mixed-use concepts. Interest from further prospective tenants is strong.”
It was only last week that Greater Manchester’s latest market hall, Campfield Studios, said hello to the general public and with House of Social also opening this summer, among several other similar projects, soon you won’t be able to move for more social hospitality scenes like this:
Drake-backed fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
The huge LA-based fried chicken brand backed by Drake is heading to Manchester for the very first time this summer.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is set to open in the Printworks this August – the first UK branch outside of London and Birmingham.
The cult chicken brand has said that its new venue will feature an ‘industrial design inspired by Manchester’s rave scene’ (if we had a pound every time a new venue used that design style, we’d be as rich as Drake…).
Dave’s Hot Chicken is famed for its signature Nashville-style hot chicken, which is served in seven different spice levels from No Spice to Reaper.
Expect sliders, tenders, ‘next-level’ top-loaded shakes and slushes.
It’s grown so quickly that in 2021, it caught the eye of none other than rapper Drake, who is a ‘significant investor’ in the brand.
The fried chicken spot will be moving into the large corner unit at Printworks, which has previously been Busaba Thai, and Floripa, with 139 covers.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is coming to Manchester
Inside, it will feature towering ceilings, exposed steelwork, and laser lights, claiming to be a ‘full-on sensory trip, where music, light and fried chicken will come together to create a high-voltage experience’.
There will also be custom graffiti inspired by L.A.-based street artists Splatterhaus and Dehm.
Dave’s Hot Chicken still has hour-long queues down in London, several months after opening on Shaftesbury Avenue – next up will be a Birmingham branch in July before Manchester opens later this summer.
And this is just the start of a nationwide expansion.
Jim Attwood, Managing Director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK, said: “Printworks Manchester is the ideal setting for our next UK site – right at the heart of one of the country’s most exciting cities.
“The new restaurant pays homage to Manchester’s legendary warehouse rave scene, with an industrial-inspired design and bold, high-energy atmosphere to match our signature flavours.
“We can’t wait to bring something fresh to this iconic venue and its vibrant mix of entertainment, food and culture.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken will open at Printworks Manchester on 8 August.
Emily Sergeant -
9th March 2021 
