The Alchemist at Media City is taking things up a notch this Bank Holiday weekend and throwing a huge party on its waterside terrace.
Bringing the party vibes to its stunning quayside setting, the inimitable smoke-and-mirrors cocktail bar is welcoming some of the city’s finest selectors to bring the Ibiza party spirit to Costa Del Salford.
The usually chilled-out waterside bar will amp things up in honour of the long weekend, with a mix of disco, house, and techno favourites played out across the outside space all through the afternoon into the early hours.
Starting from Saturday 1 May, those heading down to The Alchemist at Media City this summer can expect a series of DJ weekends, drinks tables and bar service running late into the night.
Image: The Alchemist
The 360-degree wrap-around bar will be stacked and ready to serve, both inside and out, with a host of wines, beers and spirits on offer alongside The Alchemist’s inimitable new cocktail menu.
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Think a fully edible cocktail where you can even eat the cup, a drink that – when flamed – looks like a stick of dynamite, and classic refreshed favourites, such as the Nextpresso Martini – served with an indulgent dark chocolate spoon and caramel caviar.
The bar’s new fully edible cocktail, aptly named The Edible One, consists of Manzana Verde, Avallen Calvados, lime sherbet, salted caramel, apple juice, white chocolate foam.
Elsewhere, you’ll find theatrical concoctions such as the T&T, a fragrant tequila, pink grapefruit, lime, tonic, ‘fire mix’ and flash sting cocktail that, when flamed, resembles a stick of dynamite.
And if you fancy a bite to eat, there’s a brand new food menu on offer too.
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Celebrating the sustainable efforts of the brand, its also suited to a variety of different dietary requirements – with a composition of dishes that means 58% are vegetarian, 38% are gluten-free and 44% are vegan.
Walk-ins are welcome but if you want to secure your seat in advance for the party, head over to The Alchemist’s website here.
Feature image – The Alchemist
Food & Drink
New pie shop with Indian-inspired fillings opens at Greater Manchester train station
Emily Sergeant
At long last, Patel’s Pies – the proper pie shop with Indian-inspired fillings – has got its very own site, and we couldn’t be happier about it.
The business is already a familiar name (to the blue half of the city, of course) thanks to its matchday spot outside the Etihad Stadium, but now, Patel’s Pies will be serving its delicious savoury bakes to the people of the Heatons too – with its brand-new pie shop now opene at Heaton Chapel train station.
Here you’ll find their legendary curry pies with homemade pastry – filled with the likes of keema, butter chicken, and beef madras.
You can grab hot and cold pies to take away, all setting you back an affordable £5.95 each.
Patel’s Pies is now open at Heaton Chapel train station / Credit: The Manc Group
From 11am-2pm, you can also get your hands on the lunch deal, which is any pie, masala mash, spiced mushy peas, and gunpowder gravy.
Patel’s Pies has teamed up with Manc legends Gooey, so you can grab the bakery’s famous cookies and doughnuts here too.
There’ll also be local beers and canned drinks up for grabs.
All pies will set you back an affordable £5.95 each / Credit: The Manc Group
Inside, the shop keeps things traditional, complete with classic pie warmers on the counter and hand-painted signage by Cactus Sign Painting, giving the space the feel of a proper old-school pie shop with a modern twist.
Announcing the new venture, Steve, the owner of Patel’s Pies has said: “We’d love for you to come down, say hello, and support our new venture. It’s our very first day, so please bear with us as we get settled in, we can’t wait to serve you all.”
Patel’s Pies is open now at Heaton Chapel Train Station on Tatton Road South.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Food & Drink
Trendy Ancoats wine bar Blossom Street Social to close after six years
Emily Sergeant
Trendy neighbourhood wine bar Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after nearly seven years serving the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social first opened its doors back in 2019, just months before the country – and the res of the world – was plunged into the COVID-19 lockdowns, but despite all the challenges during the early days, this wine bar went on to become a true staple of Ancoats life – hosting events, exhibitions, wine tastings, and everything in between.
But now, the owners have had to make the heartbreaking decision to close, saying they’ve ‘danced our last dance, played our last record, and poured our last glass of wine in Ancoats.’
Announcing the news in a statement to social media this week, Blossom Street Social said: “Blossom Street Social closes its doors after six and a half years at the heart of the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after six years / Credit: The Manc Group
“When we opened in 2019, just months before the world changed forever, we couldn’t possibly have imagined the journey ahead. Through lockdowns, uncertainty and everything that followed, we somehow managed to build something that became far more than a wine bar.
“Wine was always at the heart of what we did, but so were the conversations, the music, the art and the community that grew around it.
“We’ve hosted tastings, exhibitions, launches, celebrations, social sessions and countless memorable nights. We’ve introduced people to wines they’d never tried before, watched friendships form and shared in some truly special moments.
“We’ve watched first dates become engagements, engagements become marriages, and couples return with babies in tow. We’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, new homes and countless milestones alongside you. We’ve shared conversations, laughter, music and moments that mattered from our little corner of Ancoats. We will never forget them.”
The team then went on to thank ‘every customer, artist, DJ, supplier, collaborator and friend’ who became part of their story.
The owners also gave a special thank you to the staff members who stayed ‘to the very end’ and ‘showed up when it was hard’, admitting that they couldn’t have done it without them all.
Georgina Pellant -
29th April 2022 
