A famous bartender who’s served everyone from HRH the Queen to The Beckham’s has opened a new bar in Stockport.
The brainchild of former Britain’s Got Talent ‘bar wizard’ Neil Garner, its cocktail list features some intriguing concoctions – including a section dedicated to the great town of Stockport.
From the rum-heavy 192 (which promises to ‘hit you like a bus’) to Blossoms and the Queens of Cale Green, there are plenty of fun nods to Garner’s hometown, as well as classic favourites like frozen margaritas, tiki concoctions and summer punches.
Called Cherry Jam, it has opened on Mealhouse Brow inside a former software superstore that Garner often visited with his brother as a child.
Cherry Jam
Even back then, on afternoons spent poring through new video games for his Amiga, Garner says he thought it was a special place “with loads of personality.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Launched during lockdown, Garner says it was “pretty much paid for” from the money they made on Cherry Jam’s hit DIY cocktail delivery service.
Inside, the venue is split into two key areas: Bar Cherry, which is open to the public, and The Jam, which is available for private hire parties of up to 30 guests.
ADVERTISEMENT
Graffiti art walls, disco balls, street art and neons provide a cool and relaxed aesthetic, whilst a mixture of pop, disco, soul and funk plays over the stereo.
As well as serving up a range of great cocktails, guests can also expect to find a collection of drinks and flavours from Neil’s travels around the world – including some lovely craft beers in pretty cans.
Cherry Jam’s team also create some home-grown and foraged gin infusions which are well worth checking out.
ADVERTISEMENT
After years spent living abroad and setting up various successful venues in London, the former bartender to the stars has already impressed Simon Cowell. Now, he wants to win over his fellow stopfordians.
Speaking on the new opening, Garner said: “I’ve been coming to Stockport market for as long as I can remember. I used to love coming down every Saturday with my Mum, who sadly isn’t with us anymore.
Cherry Jam
“There’s so much positive change afoot, and real energy in the air. It’s great to be a part of it.
Stockport born and bred, he has competed in competitions as a professional flair bartender and was once crowned World Bartending Champion.
Garner then started his very own cocktail company – the Bar Wizards – who were runners-up on the first series of Britain’s Got Talent.
ADVERTISEMENT
He later went on to open a bar in Littleborough with his friend and partner Neil Lowry, but this has since closed – with the pair remaining good friends to this day.
“Stockport has always been in Manchester’s shadow, however with Manchester getting bigger and rents going up, it makes Stockport a natural place for independent bars and restaurants to come and set up,” he said.
“It’s only ten minutes from Manchester, and it has a real personality and vibe of its own. It’s an icon in its own right, and without the constraints of big rents and overheads, it genuinely gives independents a platform to set up and follow their dream and passions.
“I want to take the very best of what I’ve learnt in over 100 countries around the world, and bring it home in Cherry Jam.”
Cherry Jam is open Thursday to Sunday and can be found at 4 Mealhouse Brow, SK1 1JP.
Food & Drink
Aldi is hiring an official chicken nugget taster to send FREE nuggets to
Emily Sergeant
Aldi is in the process of adding to its eclectic team of taste testers, and this time, chicken nuggets are in the hot seat.
The budget supermarket is no stranger to calling on members of the public to try out new products before they get released in store, whether it be recruiting someone to sample all of its different wines, crisps, beers, or even chocolate Easter eggs, but this is the first time Aldi will be hiring an official Chicken Nugget Taster.
One lucky shopper will get the chance to take on their ‘dream job’, receiving a variety of Aldi nuggets for free in exchange for feedback.
That’s right, nugget connoisseurs will receive a selection of Aldi’s best-selling nuggets to sample for free – including the popular Share the Love ‘Love Nuggets’ with Date Ketchup, which are set to return to stores once again from 10 February as part of the Valentine’s range.
Not only that, but the successful applicant will also receive a selection of the supermarket’s classics and well as different takes on the nugget to try out.
Aldi is hiring an official chicken nugget taster to send free nuggets to / Credit: Aldi Corporate
And what’s in it for Aldi? All the supermarket is asking in return is a set of reviews rating the nuggets on their taste, texture, and the crispiness of their coating, to help guide the Buying Team on what products to stock in the future.
“The nation’s love for chicken nuggets is undeniable and we’re seeing a huge appetite for new and exciting flavours,” explained Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK.
“Our shoppers are our most important critics, so launching the role of an official Nugget Taster is the perfect way to ensure our products deliver the quality, taste, and price they deserve.”
Fancy it then? To be in with a chance of landing this tasty job, all you need to do is send a video application stating your name, age, and social media handles, and then say why you love chicken nuggets so much and why you should become Aldi’s first-ever Nugget Taster.
Entries are now open, and you have until 11:59pm on 4 February to apply by emailing [email protected].
Featured Image – Broken Sphere (via Wikimedia Commons)
Food & Drink
Deansgate bar Simmons closes just over a year after opening
Danny Jones
London-born bar brand Simmons has closed their Manchester site just over a year after opening their first Northern location.
They’ve lasted roughly 15 months on one of our busiest nightlife strips.
Opening on Deansgate back in October 2024, Simmons Manchester wasn’t just their first foray here up in this half of the country but their only other venue outside of the capital.
An otherwise well-established and popular chain down south, they have a total of 15 different bars in central London, but things clearly haven’t quite taken off as planned here in Manchester.
Placing a poster in the unit’s shopfront besides the likes of Be At One, Yours, The Moon Under The Water Spoons and the Deansgate branch of Slug and Lettuce, as you can see, the fellow franchise founded over a decade ago said: “After much consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our doors.
“It’s never easy to say goodbye”, they add, “We’re incredibly proud of what the team built here and so grateful to them, as well as everyone who joined us over the past year.
“We’ve had some unforgettable nights. We love Manchester, and we hope to be back under the right conditions.”
They go on to thank everyone for being “part of the journey”, but for now, it looks like the room has closed effective immediately.
Simmons started back in 2012 when founder Nick Campbell opened the first bar below his flat in Kings Cross, and their presence has grown hugely since then. The closing sign was spotted and shared on social media earlier this week.
Offering everything from stylish cocktails to New York-style pizza, live music and even private karaoke booths, the place had plenty going on.
With rising business rates, energy bills and more dovetailing with the continuing cost of living crisis that is still hampering both hospitality and the nightime economy, they are just one of many to unfortunately close their doors of late.
For instance, it was only earlier this month that we saw multiple well-known names shut up shop here in the city centre or elsewhere in Greater Manchester, including another long-standing late-night favourite, Revolution.
It’s a shame for any business to close, and we certainly hope they’ll return someday with a model that can be sustained in the current climate.
Georgina Pellant -
26th May 2021 
