City Centre

Lättsam: Manchester’s Swedish meatball cafe bar announces sudden closure

Bosses blamed the changing working patterns of our 'post-Covid world' and the knock-on effect it has had on their city centre business.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 22nd August 2022

A Scandi-inspired cafe bar that opened in the heart of Manchester’s office district in 2020 has it will be closing for good.

Spring Gardens cafe bar Lättsam, popular for its mugs of gravy soaked Swedish meatballs and huge range of beer, has revealed that it will be closing up shop for good.

Opened by the team the behind the award-winning Beatnikz Republic Brewing Co. and NQ Bar, the cafe and bar has occupied the former Brook Street Recruitment Office since 2020.

When owners first got their hands on the site, they thought they would have a steady stream of customers thanks to the offices upstairs.

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Now, they say that the pandemic has put paid to that dream.

mage: LattsamI
mage: LattsamI

Opening in the early days of the Covid pandemic, bosses first had to operate as a takeaway whilst waiting for the city to enter ‘Tier 2’ so it could offer a fuller menu in line with government restrictions. 

It is this, combined with a change of working patterns, that owners pointed to as they announced the restaurant’s closure on social media over the weekend.

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Saying there was ‘no way of knowing what was just around the corner’, they pointed to ‘multiple re-openings over the years’ and the fact that ‘the working landscape had completely changed’ since early 2020.

The team wrote: “It’s with a heavy heart that we announce that tonight we have closed our doors for the last time.

“When we first opened early 2020 we were destined to be in the hub of Manchester’s office district, with no way of knowing what was just around the corner.

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Image: Lattsame

“With multiple re-openings over the years that followed, the working landscape had completely changed and we suffered many of the issues that other city centre hospitality venues have faced over the past 12 months in this post-Covid world.

“Thank you to our loyal customers who loved our chilled out vibes and couldn’t get enough of our gorgeous meatballs, we hope to bump into you in the future.

“Thank you & goodbye (Tack adjö), Team Lättsam”

Read more: A new pasta restaurant is opening inside the old Vertigo site on Cross Street

Replying to the post, one person said: “Ah gutted! Always loved popping in for a beer!”

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Another replied: “Oh No. Truly gutted great coffee, beer and food. All the best folks.”

A third said: “No way, Manchester is packed more than ever, offices are full and building more, Gordon Ramsay is coming, why is sit really closScaning? Every day everywhere is packed more than anywhere else in Europe.”

Feature image – Lattsam

City Centre

One of Manchester’s first vegan restaurants has closed its doors for good

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

V Rev is the latest victim in a spate of closures announced this year by popular vegan restaurants.

Vegan eateries JJ’s Vish and Chips, Chorlton takeaway Zad’s and Liverpudlian concept Frost Burgers have all been forced to close their doors this year, all citing rising costs as a reason.

Now V Rev, one of Manchester’s original vegan restaurants, has followed suit – closing its doors for good on Sunday 25 September.

The Northern Quarter restaurant first opened in 2015 and is widely considered to have paved the way for vegan junk food, serving what was then considered a game-changing menu of plant-based jumbo hot dogs, fried ‘chicken’, loaded fries, burgers and mac balls.

Image: V Rev
Image: V Rev

Initially launched in 2011 by Manchester University graduate Dom Moss as a vegan grocery and record store, in 2013 a small menu was introduced before V Rev eventually became the subterranean diner we’ve known and loved for the past seven years.

In that time, it’s quietly carried on whilst other similar concepts opened on its doorstep. Now, owners have announced that their time has come to an end.

In a statement shared on social media on Sunday, the V Rev team wrote: “Unfortunately, today (25/09/22) will be tour last day open.

“Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us over the past 10 years.

“The past few years with lockdown and restrictions brought us to a point where we’re not able to financially recover and stay operational.

“Obviously, this isn’t how we wanted things to end – this is now out of our hands and we’re absolutely gutted.

“We’ll continue serving today – we are running out of stock so pop in while you can to say your goodbyes and cry intro your loaded fries.’

After the shock post appeared on social media on Sunday, comments flooded in thick and fast as fans shared their heartache that the restaurant was closing so soon.

Image: V Rev
Image: V Rev

Amassing over 1,000 comments on Instagram alone in the last 24 hours, the post has been shared widely as loyal vegans commiserated together.

Yorkshire-based vegan restaurant group Doner Summer wrote: “Pioneers of the vegan food scene in the North, you will be missed”

Mnbvegan added: “Oh my god, we’re so sorry folks. Proper sad to see you go. You guys were one of the first totally vegan places we know of, and it was so exciting! One of the proper originals, you will be missed.”

Read more: Metrolink tram derails near Piccadilly Gardens causing disruption across city centre

Whilst JJ’s Vish and Chips Manchester, who was also forced to closed this year, simply said: “Sending love.”

Feature image – V Rev Manchester

City Centre

Manchester music store Forsyth is giving away free music lessons

The Manc The Manc

Manchester music store Forsyth is giving away a host of free music lessons next month in a bid to inspire people to learn a new instrument, or pick up an old one.

The store is giving new and returning musicians a chance to receive a 10–15-minute free music taster session as part of its Music for All Learn to Play ’22 event.

Taking place across 8 and 9 October between 10am-5pm (8 October) and 1130am-30pm (9 October),short taster music lessons will allow all ages and abilities to have a musical experience that could turn into a lifetime of enjoyment, or even a new career.

Speaking on the free music lesson initiative, Emma from Forsyths said: “The past two years have shown how important music is to all our lives and how it can bring people together even in the most difficult of circumstances. 

“We aim to help as many people as possible understand the unique joys and benefits of learning an instrument (or taking part in a choir). 

“Anyone interested in learning to play an instrument or looking to pick it up again, should come and join us for this two-day celebration of music making. 

“We’re delighted to be part of Music for All’s Learn to Play ’22 event, and we can’t wait to get started.”

OBE Jools Holland, Patron of Music for All, said: “Making music is very important to me. It’s my work, my pleasure, my friend, companion and therapist. 

The charity Music for All believes passionately in the unique power of music to change lives and that is why it runs Learn to Play.

Music for All believes everyone should have equal access to music making.

The charity supports disadvantaged music makers by providing cash grants for tuition and instruments and by donating instruments directly.

Read more: The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 26 September – 2 October 2022

The Learn to Play ’22 event is generously supported by the NAMM Foundation and other partners include Music Industries Association, Musicians Union, Making Music, Music Mark and Black Lives in Music.

Those interested in joining Forsyths for a free music lesson simply need to email [email protected] or pop into the Sheet Music department on the ground floor to register interest.

Feature image – Forsyth

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