News

A new Joy Division-inspired bar has opened in Manchester’s Northern Quarter

New opening Disorder brings together a menu of Japanese sandos, pan-Asian tostadas and skewers with 10 lines of fresh beer and a strong sake list.

Georgina Pellant - 15th February 2023

A new Joy Division-inspired bar has opened in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, taking over the old Walrus site on High Street.

Featuring a mural of Ian Curtis by local street artist Akse P-19 and a menu of Asian fusion food with a decidedly Mancunian twist, the space has been completely transformed since its heyday as Walrus.

With restaurant-style seating in front and a speakeasy-meets-nightclub vibe downstairs, new opening Disorder (a nod to the opening track of Joy Division’s seminal album Unknown Pleasures) is the brainchild of longtime Stockport friends James Stewart and Sam Koropisz.

It reminds us of the glory days of Northern Quarter bars, how they used to be maybe ten years ago – in the very best way with drinks and food upstairs and a party waiting to happen down below.

The new green-tiled bar has been shortened to make room for a new snug in the back corner, with sunken Chesterfields in the front windows looking out onto the High Street and a green neon sign nodding to Joy Division’s 1979 album Unknown Pleasures.

As for the drinks, Disorder boasts 10 beer lines with a range of different options on draught and in bottles, as well as a large collection of whiskeys, sake, gin and more.

On the beer list you’ll find lagers and sour beers from local Manchester breweries and established global ones – including DEYA, Schöfferhofer, Guinness, Delirium and Cloudwater, whilst cocktails continue the pan Asian theme with drinks like the Japanese Slipper.

The food menu, meanwhile, features items like Japanese sandos made with black pudding, chicken katsu, pickled watermelon, and fried chicken with PB&J, with sides like kimchi crispy noodle salad, smoked togarashi corn ribs and chicken and oyster mushroom karaage.

Elsewhere, you’ll find skewers loaded with the likes of smoked lamb merguez sausage, mushroom bulgogi, chicken yakitori and pineapple and gochujang tofu, and tostadas with ahi watermelon, smoked cauliflower, chicken karaage, tomago and kimchi.

Underground, a huge DJ booth and club space will welcome in local artists. with an opening weekend set to play host to Manchester legends Bez and Rowetta as well as a live brass band.

Opening in Manchester this weekend, the new bar will be open until late going until 4am on the weekends. To find out more, visit its social media pages here.