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
The Cut and Craft are hosting a bottomless Boxing Day brunch this year
Danny Jones
This holiday season, The Cut and Craft are hosting an extra lavish take on their usual bottomless brunch on Boxing Day.
Suddenly, we’re looking forward to 26 December maybe even more than our mam’s Christmas dinner…
Yes, the much-loved steak and seafood restaurant is already well-known for one of the best bottomless brunches in Manchester, not to mention evening meals, but they always elevate things even further over the festive period.
Promising top ingredients, the best booze labels you could ask for, as well as stunning service in an even more stunning room, you can’t go wrong if you’re looking to make the most of your toasts this Boxing Day – and don’t worry, vegetarians: there are some great options for you, too.
Typically held over a long weekend, The Cut and Craft bank holiday bottomless brunch will be held for the last time this year on the final Friday of 2025. You couldn’t ask for more perfect timing than that.
The group have transformed the beautiful room in the heart of the city into what they’ve dubbed “a scene straight out of Miracle on 34th Street.
Adorned with grand wreaths, the reliable warmth of twinkling fairy lights, stockings hanging in front of the fire in ‘The Gossip Room’, plus Santa guarding the wine cellar, the only thing more inviting than the space is the menu.
Besides the usual 90 minutes of non-stop Moët & Chandon champagne, as well as DJs, live entertainment and dancers, the food offerings include flat iron steak and chips served on a hot stone with a grilled tomato and signature salt.
If you prefer something to steer away from the red meat/have already had plenty over Christmas, you can go for grilled seabass with Duchess potatoes, gremolata, hazelnut and cauliflower sauce, OR opt for the halloumi fajitas packed with roasted peppers and onions, guacamole, salsa and chive sour cream.
You can even load these up even further with the addition of free-range British chicken breast, rump steak (if you change your mind on the day), and even king prawns.
We’re almost drooling just thinking about all this – as are our mates from The Hoot after confirming the same promotion is available at their equally gorgeous sites over in Leeds.
Veggie options are Cut & Craft’s ‘Redefine Flank Steak & Chips’ (tender flank-style cut of plant-based steak), or spicy cauliflower wings, served with broad beans, English garden peas, buckwheat, baby gem, baby spinach, broccoli couscous, toasted cashews, pistachio crumb, and maple-mustard dressing.
Once again, all of this can be tweaked here and there by the exceptional waiting staff; for instance, if you’d rather wine than champers, you can always swap the bubbly for Whispering Angel Rosé, which will be served straight from their limitless fountain.
Guests who fancy visiting Cut and Craft for Boxing Day 2025 can choose between a bar table with unlimited Whispering Angel drinks only from just £55, or go all out with a restaurant table and a dish from the set brunch menu starting from £75.
The full Moët fizz upgrade package will set you back £100, if you’re really looking to indulge yourself this year, and who could blame you? It’s a long, old winter, after all.
If you’re interested in securing your seat at 38-42 Mosley St, bookings are available from 1pm onwards, and you can reserve your table right HERE.
Three Manchester pubs are officially serving some of the best Guinness in the UK
Daisy Jackson
Guinness has released the first edition of its Harp Guide, which has highlighted the best pubs around the UK to grab a pint of the black stuff – and three are here in Manchester.
The iconic Irish brewery has singled out just 35 British pubs that are serving worthy pints of Guinness stout.
Of the three in Manchester that made the list, one is a legendary Irish pub in the city centre, while the other two are neighbours out in the suburbs.
Up first is – unsurprisingly – Mulligans of Deansgate, an authentic Irish pub in the heart of Manchester city centre that’s been a popular watering hole for Mancs for more than a century, selling more than 13,000 pints a week.
The pub expanded last year and now has two spaces – its traditional, den-like ground floor, and its much larger live music space with vaulted ceilings upstairs.
Pádraig Brady, owner of Mulligans, said: “Being recognised in the inaugural Guinness Harp Guide is a real privilege.
“It’s no secret that every pub gets the same kegs of Guinness delivered, but what makes the difference is everything that happens after that.
“The right equipment, correct cellar procedures and conditions, staff who know how to pour it perfectly, the atmosphere, the daily live music – it all matters. We’ve always focused on doing things consistently, and being the sole Manchester city centre pub in the guide is testament to that consistency.”
Mulligans in Manchester is in the Guinness Harp Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
Next in the Harp Guide is Kennedy’s in Didsbury, a pub which has only been open since August following the success of its original location in Altrincham.
The pub recently welcomed Yard & Coop into its kitchens too, so you can get a traditional Irish spice bag with your Guinness.
Kennedy’s said: “We are super excited to announce that we, amongst 34 other bars across GB, have been selected for the Offical Guinness Harp Guide 2026.
“Not only is this an exceptional achievement within the Guinness community, but it’s an accolade that represents everything we work towards here at Kennedy’s Irish Bar.
“The Guinness Harp Guide celebrates those few bars that capture the warmth, character, and vibrancy that makes enjoying a Guinness so special, and of course, those that serve beautiful Guinness’.”
Completing the list is The Station pub, also in Didsbury, a cosy local favourite and key stop on the legendary Didsbury Dozen pub crawl.
This popular Irish pub has sports, live music three nights a week and a serious love of Guinness – and now it’s officially one of Britain’s best spots to drink it.
These are officially the spots to head if you’re a discerning Guinness fan.
Emily Sergeant -
30th March 2021 
