Being this close to Christmas you might think that the new Manchester bar and restaurant openings would start slowing down a bit – but you’d be wrong.
This week we’ve got a whole host of new places to shout about – including three new openings from operators outside of Manchester.
From a new video game bar with its own signature Pokemon cocktail to Christmas-themed bar Miracle on Cross Street and new sports bar BOX, there really is something for everyone.
Add in a new winter pop-up at KAMPUS from Bread Flower and some very special festive kebabs, and we think you’ll be mighty pleased with this week’s list of new Manchester bars and restaurants.
Keep reading to discover the new food and drink spots to hit up in the city this week.
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Image: The Manc Group
Pixel Bar
Ok, so technically this one opened last week – but it’s so cool we couldn’t leave it off our list. First launched in Leeds two years ago in a basement on George Street, Pixel Bar has a fully themed drinks menu inspired by games like Pokemon and Super Mario.
Think 18 different gaming-themed cocktails, plus consoles, arcade games, high-spec PCs, and a downstairs club room playing early 00s pop punk until the early hours on the weekends.
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Find it at 10 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1DH.
Image: Miracle on Cross Street
Miracle on Cross Street
Another brand new opening that just launched, this Christmassy winter wonderland has it all: mulled wine, espresso-ho-ho-ho martinis, pigs in blankets and mac and cheese – plus a giant, snow-covered Christmas tree and twinkling fairy lights galore.
Originally hailing from Liverpool, alongside festive food and drinks Miracle on Cross Street will also host a series of Christmas movie nights this month. You can walk in, but tickets are recommended. These come with a complimentary drinks voucher, Christmas hat, candy cane, Miracle on Cross Street pin, and mince pie (vegan options available).
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Open Wednesday to Sunday. Find it on Cross Street.
BOX bar in Leeds, part of the Arc inspirations group that also owns Banyan and Manahatta, is opening in Manchester this weekend / Image: BOX
BOX
Already well established in Leeds, sports bar BOX – part of the Arc inspirations group that also owns Banyan and Manahatta – will open on Deansgate this week, bringing us pornstar and espresso martinis on tap, fresh Budvar straight from the Czech Republic, and giant cocktail steins.
As for food, the thing to try here is the pizza – over in Leeds, they are legendary for it. But if that doesn’t take your fancy, there’s more to choose from like handmade burgers and kebabs.
Open from Saturday 27 November. Find it at 125 Deansgate, Deansgate, Manchester M3 3ND.
Image: Bread Flower
Bread Flower at KAMPUS
More of a pop-up than a full-blown new opening, Bread Flower will be opening a cafe inside KAMPUS throughout the festive period offering up a variety of bagel and floral delights.
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On the ‘Bread’ side, think open-topped bagel sandwiches, bagel french toast, salt beef bagel sandwiches, and bags of sourdough bagels to takeaway – plus a special Hannukah inspired supper club in collaboration with Le Social Wine.
As for the flower side? Winter centerpieces, wreaths, and bouquets will be available to pre-order, helping to make your home beautiful for the season, whilst small hand-tied bunches can be picked up on spontaneous visits.
Opens from Thursday 25 November. Find it at KAMPUS, Aytoun St, Manchester M1 3GL
Image: The Manc Group
Kongs Chicken Shop at A Clubhouse Christmas
Christmas kebabs and pigs in blanket-loaded fries? What more could you possibly want? Kong’s Chicken Shop has created a special festive kebab menu for the Clubhouse Christmas takeover on Spinningfields Square and it is top tier.
There are four kebab options to choose from, filled with pulled turkey, fried sprouts and cranberry hot sauce, chipotle orange and cumin pulled pork, mulled wine braised beef brisket, or slow-cooked mushrooms and fennel – all rolled in pillowy, soft naan bread.
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And that’s not all. Opt for pigs in blanket-loaded fries with baconnaise, and cranberry hot sauce; or Kong’s Christmas poutine, which comes loaded with mozzarella, mulled wine gravy, and more sprouts – plus festive cocktails from the Clubhouse bar.
Open now. Find it at Spinningfields Square, Deansgate, Manchester M3 3AE.
Manchester pub chain providing lifeline for dementia sufferers with vital support sessions
Danny Jones
A regional pub chain is being rightly praised for providing regular and vital support sessions to those suffering from dementia at two beloved Manchester locations.
The brand in question is Joseph Holt Brewery, which was founded behind an old pub on Oak Street in the Northern Quarter back in 1849, and has gone on to become an instantly recognisable British name.
Serving patrons for the best part of two centuries, their watering holes have always served as important meeting places and community hubs, but one of their current local initiatives is one of the most heartwarming we’ve come across of late.
Dubbed the ‘Get Together Group’, these dementia support sessions, which are now being pioneered at two of their Greater Manchester pubs, are truly setting an example for the kind of grassroots work and outreach that publicans do.
Put simply, the Get Together Group hold sessions for those diagnosed with dementia, and indeed, members of families affected by the disease to meet, discuss and support one another.
Currently being hosted at The Goat’s Gate in Whitefield and The Woodthorpe in Prestwich – both beloved Joseph Holt boozers – the idea was started by Sonia Schofield, 53, who now runs the sessions with a band of dedicated volunteers.
“People just seem to love the warm atmosphere and general sense of community,” says Sonia. “There’s free tea, coffee, and biscuits, along with bingo, a raffle, and some fabulous singers who come along to entertain the group.
“Word has spread that this is such a lively and welcoming space that even people without a direct connection to dementia regularly come along – which is so lovely. It also adds to a sense of community, helps break down stigma around dementia and makes the group feel warm, inclusive, and caring.”
Having worked as part of the brewery for more than three and a half decades since joining as an 18-year-old, this became a passion project of hers after her beloved grandmother, Pam, who had raised her from the age of six, developed dementia in her late sixties.
As is sadly the case for many, it soon became clear that support for those struggling with dementia is unfortunately rather limited, with Royal Voluntary Service figures stating that more than a third of people even just caring for loved ones with dementia receive little or no support following diagnosis.
Goat’s GateThe WoodthorpeHere’s hoping it comes to more pubsWith 125 other establishments, this could be the start of something special. (Credit: CAMRA/Joseph Holt/The Manc Group)
Believed to be the first sessions of their kind held in a pub, the reception to the regular work done by Get Together has meant that it isn’t just people living with the condition directly that now attend: people throughout the local areas are turning to the bi-weekly meet-ups for connection and social interaction.
Sonia goes on to note that because “the atmosphere in a pub is far less formal than, say, a healthcare or community centre setting, this helps reduce anxiety and makes interaction feel more natural.
“Holding a support group in an everyday community venue also shows that people living with dementia are valued members of the community, not defined only by their diagnosis. Just seeing this group of people together is so uplifting.”
Joseph Holt‘s director of pubs, Mark Norbury, said of the scheme: “We are a family business with very strong roots in the communities where our pubs are located. The Get Together Club perfectly reflects Joseph Holt’s values – our pubs are about much more than simply serving drinks. They are welcoming spaces where people can come together, socialise, build friendships, and support one another.
“We are incredibly proud of what Sonia and her fellow volunteers have achieved: creating a vital source of support for those who need it, while also providing a warm, uplifting environment where everyone feels welcome.” Hear, hear.
Joseph Holt continues to extend that homegrown, family-run and community-driven ethos across their pubs, and we sincerely hope we get to more stuff like this popping up at their various wonderful sites across the boroughs.
Featured Images — Supplied (via Joseph Holt Brewery)/The Manc
Food & Drink
Manchester Arndale’s Summer Scran Fest returns with the best foodie deals all month long
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Arndale’s Summer Scran Fest is back, and there’s some absolute foodie bargains to be had right across the shopping centre throughout the month.
Looking for the best foodie deals in Manchester city centre this summer?
Summer Scran Fest is back, bringing a month-long celebration of tasty food, refreshing drinks, and unbeatable offers over at Manchester Arndale.
It’s the Arndale’s annual food and drink festival, giving visitors exclusive access to limited-time offers, with a mix of high-street favourites, local foodie hotspots, and even leisure experiences taking part, meaning eating out in the city centre is more affordable ever – whether you’re here for lunch, fuelling a family day out, or just popping in for a mid-shop treat.
Running right through until 31 August, there’ll be discounts across 30+ restaurants, cafes, kiosks and leisure venues, all under one roof.
Manchester Arndale’s Summer Scran Fest has returned with the best foodie deals all month long / Credit: The Manc Group
This year’s lineup includes a balance of Manchester’s most-loved chains and local indies.
Think household names like McDonald’s, Krispy Kreme, and Subway taking part, alongside local gems like Archie’s, Michael’s Coffee House, and Coffee Break, as well as the Arndale’s newest residents like Wingstop and Joe & the Juice joining in the fun this year too.
Shoppers can expect everything from buy one get one free deals, up to 25% off menus, kids eat free promotions, and more exciting ways to save.
No matter whether you’re craving burgers, pizza, milkshakes, matcha, or something in between, Summer Scran Fest has your cravings (and your bank balance) covered.
As mentioned though, ‘scran’ might be in the name, but it’s not just foodie offers you can look forward to this month, as there’s also deals on at leisure venues too – including mini golf and burger combos, free drinks with gaming sessions, and plenty more to keep everyone entertained.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd November 2021 
