Food & Drink

Popular Manchester pub The Freemount to close its doors… and move into another iconic spot down the road

It's been empty for eight years.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 5th March 2025

Popular Northern Quarter pub The Freemount has announced it’s closing its doors – but not for good.

The beloved Oldham Street pub, which recently had a facelift and added a huge Guinness mural to its frontage, is having to bow out of its current location after being ‘unable to renew the lease’.

It’s been a staple of the Northern Quarter since it opened in 2017 thanks to its nightly live music, but will officially shut the doors for the last time on Sunday 9 March (with a massive closing party, naturally).

The Freemount will now be picking up all its pints and party atmosphere and heading down the road, ready to bring back an iconic spot that’s been empty for eight years.

It’s set to take over the legendary old Dry Bar unit further down Oldham Street, which was opened by Factory Records label boss Tony Wilson in 1989 and frequented by famous music faces like Liam Gallagher, Ian Brown and Peter Hook.

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The Freemount will be moving into the old Dry Bar site
The Freemount will be moving into the old Dry Bar site. Credit: The Manc Group

Dry Bar shut down in 2017 after an impressive 28 years, many of which it acted as the epicentre of Manchester’s music scene.

The Freemount is hopping across the road and reopening there on 14 March at 5pm, with extended opening hours and even more live music.

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There’ll be exposed brick interiors, multiple beer taps, and plenty of Guinness.

The Freemount will throw a closing party in its current home on Sunday 9 March.

Inside the new The Freemount pub in Manchester

The new The Freemount pub
The new The Freemount pub
The new The Freemount pub
The new The Freemount pub
The new The Freemount pub
The new The Freemount pub. Credit: The Manc Group

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Food & Drink

The Speak In Code team ‘Double Down’ on their cocktail making craft with new basement bar

Danny Jones Danny Jones Speak in Code open new basement bar Double Down in Manchester

Just over on Jackson’s Row, an often overlooked side street in Manchester city centre, cult favourite late-night drinking spot and cocktail connoisseurs, Speak In Code, have just launched a new basement bar called Double Down, and it’s already living up to its title.

Taking that moniker seriously, not just in name but by nature, Double Down is an entirely new concept that is centred around just a few core but simple pillars: really good drinks, great service, and strictly “no gimmicks”; they save all that for behind the curtain.

Oh, and hip-hop – they love great, old school hip-hop, and it really does add to the overall levels of chill.

There’s a lot of focus and decades of expertise that go into this place, but fortunately, they’ve done all the work for you, and far ahead of time, meaning you don’t have to think; you can just drink.

double down manchester
dbl dwn mcr
If you’ve been to SiC, it’ll feel familiar, but they’re taking things a step further (Credit: The Manc Group)

In here, cocktails aren’t just treated like part of the menu or even ‘an art’, as so many places claim these days: this is pure science and craftsmanship approached with the utmost calm and precision, and it shows in the whole experience.

From freezing and carefully cutting their own ice with a rather large state-of-the-art machine and batching their own mixes served on tap – you heard us right – to perfecting aromatics and distillates with chemistry set-ups that Heisenberg would be proud of, we were blown away by the attention to detail.

They’re even training up an ex-alum from another award-winning bar in Manchester to specifically become their ice expert, with each different type of cube, ball, oblong, crush, etc. adding its own effect.

Seriously, it’s the real deal in here…

For instance, all of their various and equally delicious mixes are kept at different pressures and temperatures on separate taps. It takes 28 hours in the full cycle, but just six seconds to pour, saving everyone time so they can crack on with the good times.

We’ve seen the ‘pornstar martini on draught’-type approach before, but nothing quite like this.

new cocktail bar by sic manchester
speak in code sister site double down
There’s a whole workshop with chemistry flasks and beakers behind creating these. (Credit: The Manc)

As well as monitoring the gauges on a regular cycle like clockwork and preparing literal gallons’ worth of the stuff in advance, they’ve also got single lines for everything (yes, even the Guinness), so not a drop is anything less than perfection.

They still, of course, have very gifted bartenders making things in front of you for those who love watching magicians at work, but these batched drinks are designed not only to maximise flavour but also the amount of time you spend with your people, sipping your bevs and enjoying the truly charming room.

It’s also more than capable of turning the party levels up when called upon; the hope is that the capacity will soon jump up above 140, plus they’re already gearing up to replace some of the tables and chairs with extra comfy booths, bank seating and other 1970s-influenced flourishes.

Best of all, although this is a super stylish and laid-back, mid-century modern space, with low-lit vibes – not to mention the utmost lo-fi soundtrack you’ll find in town – you’re invited to take as much interest in the full process as you like.

They don’t just love this stuff; they live for it, and to repeat a phrase that the team themselves have taken to using, your job is simple: “Don’t think, just drink.”

underground bars in manchester
well underneath bar in manchester
new cocktails bar manchester
You’ll have to visit for yourself and walk over ‘The Well’. (Credit: The Manc)

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

Food & Drink

An app that can get you 50% off at top local restaurants has arrived in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The EatClub app has launched in Manchester

An app that unlocks exclusive restaurant deals in top local spots has officially arrived in Manchester.

EatClub has launched into our city with some big local restaurant names included, like Maki & Ramen, Noi Quattro, and Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar.

The rapidly-growing dining app is backed by Marco Pierre White and has been picking up pace across the UK since launching in London last year.

EatClub is bringing next-level, exclusive dining deals to Mancs, while helping our local restaurants make the most of quieter times.

Participating restaurants and bars can offer smart, real-time pricing during off-peak hours, which can mean up to 50% off deals appear for diners.

As a customer, that means you can save big by dining when it’s quieter, knowing you’re filling vital tables for your favourite businesses.

EatClub has been designed by restaurateurs who understand the realities of running busy venues.

Ciaooo
Ciaooo
Salvi's
Salvi’s
KAJI
KAJI

You’ll find local favourites, hidden gems, and much-loved brands on the app, which handles the entire discount process discreetly in-app.

Once you’ve downloaded EatClub, you unlock an EatClub Pay digital card to add to your phone wallet – then select your chosen offer before you arrive, dine, and pay your bill with the EatClub Pay card to apply your discount.

Wondering where you might get to eat for less in Manchester? Restaurants already signed up to EatClub include Italian favourites like Ciaooo, The Pasta Factory, Noi Quattro; South Asian restaurants like Maki & Raman and Soul & Surf; and stylish spots like TYGA Restaurant & Bar, On The Hush, and Avan Lounge Restaurant & Shisha Bar.

You’ll also find refined restaurants like KAJI, plus Doux Chaton, Fress, Chai Latte, Stan-M1, Arnero, and Napoleons Restaurant on EatClub in Manchester.

The Pasta Factory
The Pasta Factory
Maki & Ramen
Maki & Ramen
Doux Chaton
Doux Chaton

Based on data from London, EatClub users increase their dining frequency by 70%, while restaurants see up to a 10x uplift in targeted off-peak windows, equating to roughly a 12% annual revenue lift.

Originally founded in Australia by hospitality insiders including CEO Pan Koutlakis and legendary chef Marco Pierre White, EatClub is now expanding across the UK, following a $27 million AUD (£14m+) oversubscribed Pre-Series B funding round led by Marbruck, with continued support from EVP and CoAct.

Pan Koutlakis, CEO and co-founder of EatClub, said: “Manchester has such incredible energy when it comes to hospitality and we’re so excited to be working with a fantastic range of venues from day one.

“EatClub is all about making it easier for people to dine out more often, discover new favourites and enjoy great value, all in a way that feels effortless.”

EatClub is available to download now, with loads of Manchester restaurnats already signed up – download and find out more HERE.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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