The Hive – a new neighbourhood restaurant and bar – has reopened at Stretford Mall
After four patient months of sitting tight, the new Stretford eatery finally got to reopen this week - giving the Manchester town a much-needed boost post-lockdown.
But then, well, everyone knows what happened next.
The Hive didn’t get to enjoy the grand curtain-raiser it anticipated, and within days of setting up, it was forced to shut down.
But, after four patient months of sitting tight, they finally got to reopen this week – giving the Manchester suburb a much-needed boost post-lockdown.
More than a year in the making, The Hive has been launched by a group boasting decades of experience in hospitality – and the result is a refreshing change of pace for a region that’s been crying out for brand new bars and experiences.
They’ve chosen to cast a wide net and capture the attention of almost everyone in the area – and perhaps a few people further afield, too.
After taking our seats at the pre-launch event, we catch many of the other guests gazing at the ground.
At first it looks like a bit like they’ve all been reprimanded for refusing to follow the one-way system – but on closer inspection, it becomes clear they’re actually checking out the rows of vinyls embedded into the restaurant floor.
It’s a lovely design touch – giving diners the rare experience of tucking into meals whilst sitting above classic music from decades gone by.
When the rules relax a bit, some of these records will be played overhead, too. And the volume will rise high as the sun goes down.
The breezy ambience at The Hive is reinforced by its exposed brickwork, lovely thick seating (with a vital tipping function to lean back when you’ve hit a wall after devouring a big meal) and the sunny, helpful staff – who manage to keep tabs on the dining area whilst adhering to all the necessary rules and regs.
Big wide windows keep natural light streaming into the venue at all times – helping to light up the vibrant, eye-catching artwork adorning the walls.
As for the grub, the choice is plentiful.
The sharing platter alone has more than half a dozen different deep-fried small bites to tuck into – which we tackled together with relish before moving onto fish burger, chicken kiev and steak mains.
With a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, The Hive has a bit of everything depending on what you fancy.
There’s a few different full English options and butties served at the crack of dawn, with sandwiches, burgers, a nice selection of small plates, desserts and kids menu available right up until 9pm.
Sunday Roasts are also in the mix – with options covering topside beef, lamb leg and roasted vegetable galette.
The Hive is all part of a big plan to get Stretford buzzing again.
The corporate crowd can pop in for a catchup over coffee with a client. Groups can book the private room upstairs and kick back with some beers and sport. And the night owls can congregate for cocktails before floating off into the big city.
It’s a diverse, refreshing addition to Manchester in an uncertain climate – and it could turn out to be a real neighbourhood favourite.
If you fancy taking a peek at the new nest in Stretford, head over to their website and book yourself a table.
Eats
Upcoming Manc food hall House of Social confirms final kitchen ahead of opening
Danny Jones
House of Social, another new food hall in Manchester city centre, has confirmed the latest and last edition ahead of its launch this summer.
The soon-to-open student block and its upcoming culinary offerings will be here before you know, and now, just over a month out from the grand unveiling, the fifth and final foodie resident has been revealed.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s pizza… very pretty-looking pizza.
Courtesy of Dough Religion (DR), a new Manc pizza restaurant, they’ll soon be slinging out stonebaked pies that already have a strong reputation and a very cool backstory in the local area.
Co-conceived by Chef Chris Edwards, who first began his venture during quarantine from the cult lockdown project dubbed ‘The Waltzing Matilda‘ – a floating pizza place serving slices from a cute little canal boat – and Matt Butcher, who created Dough Religion, the brand and idea have grown much bigger.
Teaming up with House of Social’s Jake Atkinson, who is heading up food and drink at the building,
Waltzing Matilda can be found cruising around Greater Manchester, Macclesfield, the Peak Forest Canal, other parts of Cheshire and out into the North West, but now that established, wood-fired spirit Chris set up with his dad, Paul, is being translated into a proper brick-and-mortar venue here in the city centre.
Dough Religion will serve up giant 18-inch pizzas, whole or by the slice, alongside a full lineup of house-made subs, bagels, and a rotating lineup of desserts and bakes.
Those eating at House of Social (HoS) can expect burrata-topped slices, vodka sauce pizza and fried-chicken Caesar hoagies; New York-inspired bakes, showstopping cheesecakes, standout ingredients from the UK and imported from Italy, as well as plenty more.
Its arrival comes after a Mexican and LA street food spot was named as the fourth tenant at HoS.
The House of Social food lineup is looking stacked.
Speaking on the announcement, Edwards said: “This dough’s been years in the making – tested, tweaked, and obsessively perfected. The pizza is a hybrid of Neapolitan softness and New York chew and crisp; we’re focusing on long fermentation and the best flour available to really maximise the dough.
“The boat was magic, but it had its limits. With Dough Religion, we’ve got the space, the kit, and the crew to go all in. This isn’t going to be your traditional pizza place– it’s bold, loud, and built to share.”
With Dough Religion completing things on the kitchen front, House of Social’s hospitality lineup promises plenty of variety and quality. Roll on August, we say.
The team are hoping for it to become a go-to destination for diners throughout Manchester and beyond, with the food hall craze not showing any signs of slowing down. Case and point:
Mancs slam ‘glow down’ of beloved Northern Quarter book shop cafe
Daisy Jackson
One of the Northern Quarter’s cosiest cafes has gone through some big changes – and people aren’t happy about it.
Chapter One has traded for years as a cosy cafe-book shop hybrid, with cosy couches and quiet corners where people often sit and study, work or read.
But in recent months, it’s joined forces with the outdoor food and drink spot, Mala, just next door.
It means that a lot of the cosy couches and peace of Chapter One have been replaced to create one open-plan mega-venue.
As you enter Chapter One now, you’ll find the usual quirky mismatched furniture has been joined by picnic tables and benches, to match the maximalist beer garden Mala outside.
The two venues now seamlessly blend into one another – including the loud music.
And Mancs have got something to say about it.
When we shared a video walk-through of the new layout, one person commented: “Name a bigger glow down. I’ll wait.”
Another said: “I loved chapter one for the calm, space to read on my own or chat with a friend. Not anymore. Farewell chapter one.”
Someone else posted: “I’m so sad they got rid of the library… It used to be special and my absolute favourite place in the city centre.”
And one person wrote: “Completely ruined it. Got rid of the cosy sofas and hidden nooks, just for more tables and music far too loud. Overpriced and lost her charm, it seems :(“
Somebody else said: “Haven’t been since it changed, chapter one used to be a sober safe haven in the city centre to find peace and they’ve got rid of exactly the reason why it was so loved! So sad.”
Over on Reddit, one local posted: “I am so so so disappointed with what they’ve done, why does every after hours social space have to involve an ungodly amount of noise and alcohol these days? It was my favourite place to go to hang out with friends, we’re mostly introverted and like a relaxing place.”
One person posted on TikTok: “Where do we go now Chapter One Books has been absolutely destroyed? I just want my cosy, peaceful coffee shop back where I can read my book and not have to wait half an hour for a drink – I actually cannot understand why they’ve done this.”
The Manc -
29th July 2020 
