A brand new cafe concept intercepting food that would otherwise go to waste is set to open up in Manchester city centre in just a few months time.
People’s History Museum (PHM) has announced that it is partnering with Manchester’s leading food conscious company, Open Kitchen, to bring a “sustainable food revolution” to its Spinningfields site in May.
Open Kitchen at People’s History Museum will be the first museum cafe and bar in the country to utilise food waste.
Alongside working with a range of food businesses to source perfectly-edible food that would otherwise go to waste, Open Kitchen also purchases ingredients from a sustainable food chain – local, seasonal, organic, independent, short supply chains and Fairtrade – and supports other ethical businesses and social enterprises.
This also makes it the first of its kind in the UK to take this combined approach.
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So, as a place where “ideas worth fighting for” are shared, explored and championed, People’s History Museum appears to be the perfect place for Open Kitchen to call home.
Leading the food revolution: Open Kitchen to partner with People’s History Museum
Open Kitchen @PHMMcr will be a fresh and modern cafe and bar. We will celebrate sustainable & ethical produce with an all-day menu that caters for all.
With a launch date all set to coincide with the reopening of People’s History Museum on Wednesday 19th May, Open Kitchen will be a “fresh and modern cafe and bar” overlooking the River Irwell, and it will “celebrate sustainable and ethical produce” with an all-day menu that caters to everyone, from museum visitors, to after work socialisers, families and more.
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In the evening, the scene will switch to offer table service drinks and small plates too.
Although the full menu is yet to be revealed, you can expect to see a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options, alongside a smaller selection of meat dishes using locally-reared and sourced meat, that all changes with the season.
Open Kitchen will be working directly with farms to highlight the sustainably-produced fruit and veg that is already grown in the North West.
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Sustainability also “feeds into every element” of the cafe, as the cafe’s interior will be kit out using up-cycled, recycled and reclaimed materials, as well as staff uniforms being Fairtrade, organic and locally made, and all of its takeaway packaging set to be 100% compostable.
Open Kitchen at People’s History Museum
“We are a values-driven organisation and we’re very excited for Open Kitchen to be taking its place within the national museum of democracy.” Katy Ashton – Director of People’s History Museum – said.
“We share Open Kitchen’s passion, belief and dedication for access to good food for all and look forward to their brilliant food and drink offer being part of PHM”.
Corin Bell – Founder and Director at Open Kitchen – added: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with People’s History Museum on this exciting new venture [as] affordable good food for all has always been something that we’re really passionate advocates for [and] to site our new cafe within the museum of democracy, equality, and rights, especially as the debate about the Right to Food rages, just feels like a perfect fit”.
“When you work in a huge environmental problem like food waste, you’re always sort of trying to put yourself out of a job by pushing to fix the broken system, hopefully to the point where food waste stops happening in the first place.” Corin continues.
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“It felt important for us to start to demonstrate how we can change our food system to design out food waste.
“We hope that by demonstrating how short supply chains, working directly with producers, buying local and seasonal, etc can reduce food waste, we can inspire people to change their habits around food”.
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Open Kitchen at People’s History Museum will open to the public on 19th May 2021.
Don’t forget to follow @OpenKitchenMCR on all social media platforms too.
Food & Drink
Saddleworth’s new sandwich bar and kitchen with Michelin credentials
Daisy Jackson
It’s not every day you come across a sandwich with *20* different elements inside – but that’s what’s on the table at Fjord, Saddleworth’s newest opening.
This new sandwich bar and kitchen is tucked above barbershop and hair salon Ruger, and is the first solo venture for chef Kieran O’Reilly.
Kieran’s trained in Michelin kitchens across the North West, including Mana and The Forest Side, and wants to apply that level of meticulous prep to the humble butty.
That means sandwich fillings of impressive complexity, like a shallot confit cooked for nine hours, homemade tomato vine oil, a moreish bacon jam, stracciatella laced with confit garlic and lemon zest, and in-house miso.
And Kieran thinks he and his right-hand man Charlie might have actually invented a new bread for Fjord sandwiches – a puffball, pan-fried focaccia that’s thinner, lighter, and more manageable than its big sister.
Fjord wants to bring Scandinavian simplicity with Italian flavours to Lees, taking over the former Kobe space on Yorkshire Street.
Fjord is making homemade puffball focaccia for its sandwichesMichelin-trained chef Kieran O’Reilly
There’ll be refined brunches in the mornings with Ruger’s own coffee blend, before the offering pivots to Sandi-Italian focaccia sandwiches in the day.
And there’s a beautiful terrace aiming to bring a dose of Sorrento to Saddleworth, designed for long lunches, limoncello spritzes, and sunshine.
In the evenings, Ruger Fjord will shift into a spritz bar and small plates restaurant.
Kieran has credited his long-time friend and mentor Alan Beak for helping to bring the project to life, saying: “Alan has backed me for over a decade – from cutting my hair after school to supporting this opening. Ruger Fjord wouldn’t exist without him.”
A brand-new beer bar has opened in Manchester’s legendary ‘Beermuda Triangle’
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Yes, you heard us right, there’s a brand new edition under the arches on Sheffield Street, in Manchester’s Piccadilly East neighborhood.
This new venue is fully equipped for summer with an outdoor terrace, a screen for the footy, pizza from Nell’s – AND they’re giving away 1,000 free pints.
Now I’ve got your attention, let me introduce you to Pigeon Beer Wanderer, a specialist beer parlour and bottle shop boasting ‘Europe’s finest beers,’ which has opened this week.
This welcome addition to Manchester’s beer scene is situated within the ever-growing ‘Beermuda Triangle,’ a corner of the city where craft beer is king, amongst some of our favourite independents including Track, Cloudwater, Balance and Sureshot.
Founder and Northern beer specialist, Joshua Lightfoot, has one clear aim – ‘to celebrate beer with the same care, craft, provenance and ceremony traditionally associated with wine.’
Pigeon aims to provide a nest/welcome space for beer enthusiasts and newbies alike, to land and come together in a venue that facilitates the discovery of the world-class brewing culture on offer here in Manchester.
He says: “Every beer has its own provenance, its own character and its own ideal way of being served. Pigeon is about celebrating that in a way that feels exciting, welcoming and social.
“We want people to discover styles, breweries and serving traditions they may never have experienced before.”
Pigeon beer bar in ManchesterIt’s joined the many taprooms in the ‘Beermuda Triangle’The bar at Pigeon Beer Wanderer
The team at Pigeon pride themselves on their carefully curated and constantly rotating selection of craft beers, that push boundaries and reward exploration, from some very well-known breweries including Weihenstephan, Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, Fürstenberg and Kasteel.
Pigeon is home to a variety of rare fermentations and small-batch independent releases, from heritage pilsners, weisse beers and saisons to aged wild ales and lambics – so there’s always something new to try. Not to mention they also supply a great range of natural wines from Vibeyard, if that’s more your thing.
What’s more is that guests can click and collect some top-notch, New York inspired, pizza from the well-known and loved Nell’s Pizza, located only a few doors down.
The menu will supply all of our favourites including ‘Double Down Pepperoni,’ Do You ‘Roni Honey?’ and ‘Little Caesar,’ available by the slice or as a whole, accompanied by their sauces all made in house and all carefully selected to pair perfectly with the world-class pints available at Pigeon.
We can’t think of a better combination, can you?
This venue is kicking off its opening with a summer long festival atmosphere, screening FIFA World Cup games on their big screen, creating the perfect destination for footy fans on the hunt for a great atmosphere, without having to compromise on the quality of food and drink.
There really is no time like the present – Pigeon are set to give out 250 free pints a day, between Thursday 4 June until Sunday 7 June.
Simply give @pigeon_beer_wanderer a follow on Instagram and head on down to celebrate the launch this week, to get your hands on your complimentary crisp pints. Don’t hesitate – visit the venue while stocks last or you could miss out.
Emily Sergeant -
30th March 2021 
