The Manchester Gin bar under the arches selling chocolate-topped espresso martinis
In celebration of the big reopening, Three Little Words is serving up an intriguing-looking spring menu - with new additions among the drinks and dishes.
Manchester Gin’s bar and restaurant under the arches is back with a bang.
After months of closure, Three Little Words is flexing its culinary muscles as the team revamp their small plates and cocktail menus for the new season.
The swanky little spot, which is tucked inside the Grade-II listed building between Deansgate and Great Northern, also acts as the sister site to the Spirit of Manchester Distillery – a venue renowned for its ‘gin experiences‘ (where you can make your own bottle to take home).
In celebration of the big reopening, Three Little Words is serving up an intriguing-looking spring menu – with new additions among the drinks and dishes.
The fresh cocktail list includes recipes like the Bonnie & Clyde, a blueberry flavoured vodka-based drink made with house vanilla and honey syrup, and a house twist on a Pina Colada served with rum-soaked toasted pineapple wedge skewer and pineapple leaves
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But our must-try? A salted caramel chocolate-topped espresso martini called (wait for it) 99 Problems (but this drink ain’t one).
Not only does it sound delicious, it perfectly sums up the year (and then some) that Manchester’s hospitality has just had. Made with Manchester Gin’s own signature house blend, amaretto, freshly brewed espresso, dandelion and burdock, it’s then topped with a slab of salted caramel chocolate.
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On the food side of things, new small plates include pork popcorn with juniper and fennel salt, red onion and chilli bhaji with sumac and yoghurt, and asparagus & dolcelatte arancini.
We also really like the look of the new pork belly bon bons, served with apple, maple bacon and lambs lettuce.
Reopen Wednesday through to Sunday, with a live DJ on Friday and Saturday evenings, Three Little Words serves until late with weekend close times of 2.30am.
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Thursdays and Sundays feature live band entertainment, with doors shutting at 1am.
Northern Quarter favourite Pie and Ale has sadly closed down
Danny Jones
Beloved Northern Quarter eatery and pub Pie and Ale has sadly and quietly closed its doors this week in yet another gutting bit of news for the Manc hospitality sector.
Known for its legendary homemade pies, great selections of ales, craft beers and lagers, not to mention a great little pub when it comes to watching live sport, it’s long been considered an NQ institution.
Unfortunately, however, as confirmed by a sign posted in the window, Pie and Ale has now closed for business after more than a decade.
Safe to say, we’re absolutely gutted, as we’re sure everyone else is.
Credit: The Manc Eats
While no official announcement has been made on their social media as yet, which will no doubt receive love and sadness from its loyal following, the sign in the window simply reads: “Pie and Ale has unfortunately ceased trading. Apologies for any inconvenience.”
The local favourite which was always hailed for being great value for money – celebrated especially for its popular pie and a pint for under a tenner deal – also served up great nibbles and light bites as well as dessert specials.
Although the Lever Street spot previously shut down for a short spell back in 2018 due to what they labelled as “unforeseen circumstances” before reopening just two months later, this latest update looks pretty definitive.
Sister-site Bakerie also ceased trading back in April 2019, with husband and wife founders, Alyson Doocey and David Cook, admitting that all independents had been “feeling the squeeze”.
While we have few other details at this stage, it does look like Pie and Ale has indeed closed down for the foreseeable future.
A mainstay on our list of the best pies in Manchester since day dot and just the latest in the list of losses in 2024 so far, they will be sorely missed.
We sincerely hope this is like last time and will keep our fingers crossed that we see the pie pros and expert pourers back in business at some point.
You can get FREE cookies at this ‘munchie exchange’ in Manchester on Saturday
Emily Sergeant
You can get your hands on free cookies in exchange for other unopened snack foods at a popular Manchester park this weekend.
That’s right, this Saturday is 4/20… and if you don’t know what that means, just Google it.
In a bid to mark the global event, Insomnia Cookies has decided to “spark up excitement” with it’s calling its most “blazing” offer yet.
The cult late-night bakery – which has two sites here in Manchester city centre, on Cross Street inside the Royal Exchange and off University Green, as well as a newly-opened shop in Fallowfield – has aptly-named the event the ‘Munchie Exchange’, and is inviting foodie fans down to a popular park in Fallowfield for some freebies.
You can get FREE cookies at this ‘munchie exchange’ in Manchester on Saturday / Credit: The Manc Group | Insomnia Cookies UK
Set to be hosted across “the green green grasses” of Platt Fields Park on Saturday 20 April, the company‘s dedicated pop-up will offer laid-back Mancs the chance to upgrade their snacks with a one-of-a-kind deal.
All 4/20 celebrators will need to do is bring unopened, non-perishable snacks either to the Platt Fields pop-up, or any of the other three Insomnia Cookies stores in Manchester on the day, and exchange them for a freshly-baked warm and delicious cookie – and no, no that kind of cookie.
The munchie trade-up isn’t only a treat for your taste buds either, as every snack collected will be donated to local Manchester foodbanks.
Beyond the exchange, there’ll also be a ‘secret’ 4/20 offer that’s available for one day only too, and it means you can get yourself a box of four classic cookies for only £4.20 when you head to any of the three Insomnia Cookies stores in Manchester and say “I’ve got the munchies” to the cookie crews serving them to redeem.
“We’re all about bringing joy and deliciousness to our fans, and will be serving up in Platt Fields Park for one-day only,” commented Millie Ralston, who is the Senior Marketing Manager at Insomnia Cookies, ahead of this Saturday’s event.
Georgina Pellant -
21st May 2021 
