Manchester wine connoisseurs Le Social have revealed plans to open a new wine bar and tasting room in Ancoats, bringing its organic and biodynamic wines into a new permanent sit-down setting for the very first time.
Having found success during lockdown as an at-home wine delivery service, and collaborated on several pop-ups and supper clubs around Manchester, the team is now preparing to throw open the doors to its very own space this weekend, Saturday 29 January.
Here in its new trendy shipping container home, drinkers and diners can expect an ever-changing menu of natural wines, deli boards and continental plates, served on Saturdays between the hours of 2pm and 10pm.
Image: Le Social Wine
Designed for sharing amongst friends, dishes will utilise an array of authentic French, Spanish and Italian produce which, like the wine list, will all be created using responsibly sourced ingredients to help support independent farmers and producers.
You can either select a few plates from a list or create your own bespoke spread, choosing from nibbles including the likes of plump Spanish green olives and salted almonds.
ADVERTISEMENT
Elsewhere, you’ll find delights like Catalan sardines, Italian aubergine fillets, roasted artichoke halves, French duck rillettes and black humus, sourced straight from the Basque Country, to enjoy alongside your wine.
Image: Le Social Wine
There’ll also be a range of different cheeses, selected weekly by local suppliers the Butcher’s Quarter, and fresh bread from Ancoats’ community bakery Companio – perfect to mop up all that olive oil from the aubergine and sardines.
ADVERTISEMENT
Drinks-wise, the shelves are stacked with a diverse range of unique and quirky wines – all handpicked with excellent taste, individuality and character in mind. Guests are welcome to try any bottle they like for the usual retail price, plus a £5 corkage fee.
Bottles will be rotated regularly, including different options at various styles and price points to make sure Le Social’s incredible wines are accessible to everyone – no matter their budget.
Image: Le Social Wine
Due to the small nature of the space, bookings are mandatory – with tables reserved for two hours at a time.
ADVERTISEMENT
As well as opening up for drinkers on Saturdays, Le Social is also launching its new tasting room this week.
Designed for wine tastings, workshops and private functions, a full calendar of events is yet to be announced but will include educational tasting nights, art exhibitions, craft workshops with other Pollard Yard residents and more.
As much a lifestyle brand as a wine connoisseur, social consciousness flows throughout the entirety of Le Social with environmental and social impact factored into every element of the offering.
Beyond a passion for wine, Founder Jérôme’s wider mission is to advocate for a more inclusive and representative wine world by working with independent, sustainable and minority wine producers.
Inside the tasting room / Image: Le Social Wine
His appreciation of community and the environment translates into sourcing and pouring wines which make a positive social impact throughout the supply chain, from the people working in the vineyards to the friends and families who will live a special moment sharing them.
Speaking on the new opening, founder Jérôme Boullier said: “With Le Social I want to create an alternative wine-led space which is centred on experience and inclusivity.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The Wine Bar and Tasting Room will serve as cosy destinations where all are welcome to appreciate delicious wine with a purpose and food that will enhance the experience.
Image: Le Social Wine
“The intimate nature of the bar means customers will gain knowledge as well as try out something new and exciting and meet new people in doing so!
“Wine has always been part of my everyday life, as a child I was often sent to the wine cellar in my grandparents’ house to find a specific bottle for the occasion.
“Family rituals were always accompanied by wines appropriately matched, and I was invited to try from a pretty young age!
“I’m so happy that I now have the opportunity to pursue my passion in a meaningful way. I’m very excited to show the space off.”
Le Social Wine Bar will be open every Saturday from 29 January 2022 onwards. Reservations can be made directly through Le Social’s website here and bookings for the tasting room can also be found on the website.
V.Goode Pies – Michelin-recommended Manchester restaurant to launch new pie shop
Daisy Jackson
A new pie shop is set to open in Manchester this month – and it comes from the same team behind a Michelin-recommended restaurant.
Chefs Shaun Moffat (of Winsome fame) and Sam Grainger (Madre, Belzan, Doug’s and loads more) will be joining forces for V.Goode Pies.
The Oxford Road pie shop promises to serve ‘the kind of pies Manchester’s been waiting for’ that won’t cost the earth.
Shaun and Sam dreamed up the idea following the success of the pie offering at Winsome, which are a highlight of its proudly British menu.
Set to open on Oxford Road, you’ll find four core individual pies as well as breakfast pies.
There’ll be the option to have your pie served in a barm, Wigan kebab-style, or have it as it comes with a pot of gravy to dunk it in.
The pies at Winsome. Credit: The Manc GroupV.Goode Pies will open on Oxford Road in Manchester
As well as traditional fillings, V. Goode Pies will have more out-there bakes like a lasagne pie, where layers of pasta are packed into a pie crust.
You can also expect rotating specials and collaborations.
V.Goode Pies – or, to use its government name, Valerie Goode’s Pies – is inspired by co-founder Tom Fastiggi’s dinner lady grandmother and pie connoisseur.
V.Goode Pies will take over the old Loaf store on Oxford Road and is set to open on 18 November, with a pop-up also planned at Freight Island this winter.
The pie shop will be open Monday to Saturday, from 7am until they sell out.
Strangeways regeneration plans finalised with thousands of new homes and ‘major’ 60-hectare urban park
Emily Sergeant
Plans to regenerate the Strangeways area of Manchester and Salford are set to be formally approved this week.
Following the success of Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Operation Vulcan enforcement programme, you may remember that a consultation was launched earlier this year to gather feedback on the draft framework showcasing the ‘vision’ for the 130-hectare city centre fringe area as a way of helping to guide future development.
Consultation feedback ‘strongly supported’ the regeneration of the area and the vision to create safe, vibrant, and sustainable communities.
Respondents stressed the need for ‘genuinely affordable’ homes, and urged that heritage buildings be preserved and celebrated as best as possible, while many wished to see the existing cultural venues in the area retained.
The framework was described as being a ‘pioneering collaboration’ between both Manchester City Council and Salford City Council.
Strangeways regeneration plans have been finalised / Credit: Manchester City Council
Councils hoped to ‘harness the potential’ of this cross-boundary regeneration opportunity – with the goal of supporting businesses in the area, attracting new enterprises, and developing significant new housing and commercial space.
It’s estimated that 7,000 new homes across seven neighbourhoods are to be built, alongside the creation of around 1.75m sqft of commercial space to potentially provide 4,500 new jobs.
The first developments within the Strangeways area are already underway, including the Brewery Gardens project by Clarion on Trinity Way, providing 505 new homes – 132 of which will be for social rent and 171 for shared ownership.
On top of this, the Strangeways Regeneration Framework also crucially includes the introduction of a major new 60-hectare urban park.
We have opened a consultation this week about the ambitious plans for Strangeways and Cambridge where we want to support existing businesses to thrive, create new jobs and build thousands of new homes – including lots of affordable housing.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) March 26, 2025
Another crucial part of the framework sees Manchester City Council restate the case to the Government for the relocation of HMP Manchester, noting the regeneration opportunity presented by the site and the barrier to development that the prison currently presents.
“The formal adoption of this framework is a milestone that we will remember for Strangeways as we move from vision to delivery and the beginning of a long-term regeneration programme for this part of our city,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.
Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, added: “With strong community roots and a rich cultural heritage, this area is brimming with potential and together we can deliver transformational change creating new homes, jobs, and green spaces that reflect the aspirations of our residents.
“The development of the framework marks a significant step forward in our shared journey to transform the area into thriving, connected neighbourhoods.”
Georgina Pellant -
24th January 2022 
