Manchester

The stunning Manchester wine bar hidden inside a city centre apartment complex

Accessed via a nondescript lift in the middle of an apartment block, this hidden gem is well worth seeking out

Georgina Pellant - 20th April 2023

Hidden inside a Manchester city centre apartment complex there is a stunning wine bar serving up some gorgeous vintages alongside thoughtfully put-together small plates.

Called The Beeswing, it has been open for over a year but its hard-to-find location means it’s still flying way under the radar.

Accessed via a secret lift in the middle of the Kampus waterside garden – overlooking both the canal and Manchester’s gay village – inside you’ll find a well-run bar and kitchen serving up a carefully selected list of wines alongside a mostly vegetarian menu of sharing plates.

Inside, it’s all sleek gray walls and exposed light fittings with a large suntrap terrace that we’re sure drinkers will be clamouring to once the sun deigns to poke its head out again.

Owner Anna is a real veteran of the wine scene, having worked at the likes of Blossom St Social, Reserve and Hanging Ditch over the years, as well as running her own wine bar at Hatch before the pandemic hit.

Serving up wines by the bottle and the glass as well as special wine tasting flights, which give customers the chance to sample any three wines from the menu for £15, owner Anna acknowledges she is well versed in the Manchester wine scene but says the most important thing is ‘knowing which wines aren’t sh*t’.

On her carefully put-together wine list, you’ll find a zesty orange Pet Nat Curtido and a ripe and fruity red Dao Cota, both from Portugal, alongside crowd pleasers such as a low intervention Circumstance South African Sauvignon Blanc and elegant Champagne Lallier Grande Réserve Brut.

On the food menu, meanwhile, discover a fragrant (and perfectly presented) carrot tartare with orange puree, crispy marinated tofu with raw salad, and munchable mini fish koftas served with dill and samphire.

Elsewhere, further plates include the likes of Merguez sausage on flatbread with yoghurt, a spicy chilli jam and finely cut cucumber ribbons, alongside roast new potatoes with oregano, crispy onions, salsa verde, aioli and harissa.

Well worth seeking out, this is currently one of the city’s best-kept secrets – but we don’t expect it will stay that way for long.

Featured image – The Manc Eats