However, following an announcement on social media last week, founder Karl Considine and his team saw out their final service on Saturday, 27 July.
Explaining the reason behind shutting down following their pop-up current residency ending on LoveFrom’s Instagram page, they explained: “We have sadly had to make the very difficult decision to close immediately due to our financial situation.”
Going on to frame the closure in a more optimistic light, the statement goes on to reflect they are: “Gutted that it has come to this but also super proud of how amazing this year has been for us and this is genuinely just the start of our next chapter so look out!”
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Considine also went on to thank Kampus themselves, as well as property develops HBD and Capital and Centric for the opportunity to take over the space, not to mention a special mention to “Nell’s for all the neighbourly support” and, of course, his “amazing team for being 10/10 on the bar.”
However, as mentioned above, the brand has no intention of taking this disappointment lying down, adding, “We won’t be saying ‘goodbye’, we’ll be saying ‘see you soon!'”.
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LoveFrom was similarly defiant in responding to trolls reacting to the news that they were closing, reiterating: “You do you huns, our pop-up closure doesn’t mean the end of our journey, it just punctuates the next chapter […] In the words of Cinderella, have courage and be kind.”
The 39-year-old also hinted that “We are already cooking up cool plans and will obvs be the first to let you know”, so don’t say your tearful farewells just yet.
Sober social spaces continue to spread across Manchester city centre and remain an important outlet for people who still want to go out and enjoy themselves without the pressure of drinking.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/LoveFrom (via Instagram)
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.