Food & Drink

The Oast House is now taking bookings for outdoor reopening on 12th April

The ever-popular Spinningfields sun trap boasts one of the largest outdoor courtyards in the city centre.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 1st March 2021
The Oast House

One of Manchester’s most popular outdoor bars and restaurants has announced that bookings are now live ahead of reopening next month.

Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s unveiling of the government’s roadmap to lift England’s current national lockdown – which has seen all hospitality businesses shut, with the exception of takeaway services, for the duration – beloved city centre hangout The Oast House has revealed that it will be reopening to the public once again on Monday 12th April.

As per government restrictions however, the venue will only be reopening for outdoor hospitality on this date.

But as many Mancunians and visitors to the city will likely tell you, The Oast House‘s outdoor space is undeniably the best bit.

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Given that it boasts one of the largest outdoor dining and entertainment areas in the city centre, many are known to flock to The Oast House to bask in the sunshine with a drink and a bite to eat during the warmer months, but that usual hustle and bustle has sadly been more subdued over the last year amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as, like the majority of Manchester’s hospitality establishments, the ever-popular Spinnigfields sun trap has been subjected to several temporary closures and ongoing COVID-safety restrictions.

With a national goal to lift all limits on social contact before 21st June, at the earliest, though, business looks set to resume as normal before the best of the season is out.

The Oast House

The Oast House will be operating under ‘the rule of six’ once it reopens next month.

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Launching its online booking system for 12th April onwards, and providing customers with important details about the reopening, The Oast House said: “We welcome groups of up to six people to book in our outdoor courtyard.

“We kindly ask you to follow all current guidelines and as such groups may not split across multiple tables.

“To share the love and make it fair for all, bookings will be allocated a two-hour time slot and will be limited to one booking per group per day”.

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Visitors keen to pre-book a table are also advised by that not all of the outdoor courtyard area is covered and it’s therefore best to bring an umbrella along with you to avoid getting caught out in the classic Manchester April showers, and for those looking to turn up on the day, The Oast House has confirmed that: “We have reserved a number of tables for people without bookings which will be available on the day on a first come, first served basis”.

The reopening of The Oast House’s indoor premises are also planned from 17th May, and after this date, outdoor bookings will not be taken.

Group bookings of seven or more are also set to resume from 21st June.

You can find more information and book your table for 12th April onwards via The Oast House website here.

Food & Drink

Siam Smiles, the authentic Thai cafe on a Manchester backstreet

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

When Siam Smiles was still a little cafe in a Chinatown supermarket it received serious rave reviews. Since moving up to Deansgate Mews, however, it seems to have been forgotten about a little.

Most famously described as “the most exciting thing to happen since the days of the Hacienda” by Marina O’Loughlin in a 2014 review for The Guardian, owner May also made headlines for teaching herself to cook on Youtube after her chef left the business one month after opening.

National critics, like O’Loughin and others, were seemingly drawn in by the cafe’s novelty – not one review missed the opportunity to mention the supermarket, or tell you how the ingredients in the dishes were often the same as the ones on the shelves.

But since it has moved over to The Mews, an oft-forgotten back street within the Great Northern Warehouse complex, the reviews have gone suspiciously quiet – so we thought we’d pop in to see if it’s all still up to scratch.

Spoiler alert, it definitely is.

Stir fried chicken Pad Ka Paow with jasmine rice and a fried egg. / Image: The Manc Eats
Inside SIam Smiles on Deansgate Mews. / Image: The Manc Eats

Two years after that rave review from O’Loughlin, rising bills forced the cafe to close – but with a little help, May reopened in 2016 at the Great Northern Warehouse. It’s here that you’ll still find her cooking up a storm today.

With bills firmly on the rise once again, we thought we’d pop in to shine a light on this longstanding Mancunian gem and are happy to report her food hasn’t faltered one iota.

We went for stir fried chicken Pad Ka Paow with jasmine rice and a fried egg, and a steaming bowl of KuiiTiwe Moo Nam Tok with fresh egg noodles and roasted duck breast, with two glasses of Singha on the side.

Read more: The swanky new Manchester cocktail bar housed in an old bank vault

A hearty portion of green papaya salad with dried shrimps. / Image: The Manc Eats
A steaming bowl of KuiiTiwe Moo Nam Tok with fresh egg noodles and roasted duck breast. / Image: The Manc Eats

We also couldn’t help but opt for a hearty portion of green papaya salad with dried shrimps, a dish that’s hard to find but something of a speciality here, as well as a second glass noodle salad with plump prawns and minced pork.

The dressings, always made by May herself, completely hit the spot with their balance of hot, sour, salty and sweet. 

Read more: ‘We are facing extreme economical pain’ – District suggests it could be closing

We strongly recommend you pop in and show Siam Smiles some love. It’s not all just about the shiny new restaurants, after all. We need to treasure the veterans too – and this is one we need to protect at all costs. 

Find the cafe on Deansgate Mews Unit G Upper Level ,Great Northern, 253, Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN.

Feature image – The Manc Eats

Food & Drink

There’s a huge burger food fair happening in Manchester next weekend

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Burger lovers in Manchester should probably get themselves down to the city’s largest street food hub next weekend for a feast like no other.

That’s because GRUB is hosting its very-own burger food fair.

Perhaps it’s not the first city you’d think of when it comes to burgers, but Manchester is absolutely chocked full of an endless list of eateries and food traders serving up some of the most impressive patties you’ll quite possibly ever see in your life.

Whether you’re a meat lover, chicken fanatic, veggie or vegan/plant-based, there truly is something for everyone to tuck into in our city.

And a handful of those finest food traders are coming together all under one roof for the GRUB Burger Food Fair – which is taking over Manchester’s biggest street food venue and events space next weekend from Friday 30 September – Sunday 2 October, and is promising to bring “wall to wall burgers” to the hungry masses.

The Cheetham Hill-based venues’s annual celebration of all things burgers returns for 2022, with traders bringing a special menu inspired by their own take on the humble burger, as well as a whole range of different sides, snacks, and all-American desserts to go along with it.

BON Street Food, Spicy Baby, Thief Street Grill & Waffle, Charlie Mac’s, and The Cookie Smith are some of the traders you can expect on Friday and Saturday.

And then, as is the tradition at GRUB, everything that is served up on the Sunday of the three-day event will be completely “plant-powered”.

GRUB Burger Food Fair is taking over from Friday 30 September – Sunday 2 October / Credit: Thief Street Grill & Waffle | BON Street Food

Vegan vendors Boneless Brigade, and Dohlightful just some of the names lined-up to take part.

Read more:

GRUB Burger Food Fair is free to attend, and will kick-off from 4pm each day of the three-day event, with no need to book any tickets in advance.

It has to be said though, that GRUB’s themed food fairs are always very well attended, so for that reason, the venue recommends that any large groups planning on heading down next weekend should book a table here.

Featured Image – GRUB MCR

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