Manchester is to get its first-ever bar dedicated to sake, it has been confirmed, with an opening date set for next month.
Whilst the likes of Cottonopolis, Yuzu and The Sparrows are all well known for stocking a (more than) decent selection of premium sakes, this will be the first time that a bar completely dedicated to the fermented rice wine drink has opened up in the city.
Called Monkey Trio, it will offer drinkers a range of different Japanese sake styles, as well as various Japanese-made whiskies and craft matcha beers.
Monkey Trio will open next to the popular match dessert tea house Tsujiri beneath Vita Living North sometime in May.
Details of the exact sake brands are being kept under wraps for now, but we hope to see a selection of sparkling and flavoured sakes on offer alongside more traditional styles like Junmai daiginjo as a minimum.
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The new sake bar comes amidst a bevvy of new food and drink arrivals at the Circle Square development, and will be joined by a new chicken wing specialist and a bubble tea cafe with a Manchester twist.
Image: Supplied
Chicken wing specialists Bird of Prey will bring its superior fried chicken to the Oxford Road site, offering up platters of fiery wings on their own or loaded on top of waffles, American-style.
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A secret dredging and frying method is said to put this chicken as a cut above the rest – although with some serious competition already in Manchester it remains to be seen if Bird of Prey can seriously take on the likes of Kong’s Chicken Shop and Chimaek.
Elsewhere, the development will also welcome a new traditional bubble tea cafe with a localised Manchester menu, featuring classic milk and fruit teas, alongside unique specials like Iron Goddess fresh milk tea and sweet potato boba.
Circle Square also houses Hello Oriental – a three-storey Asian food hall where diners can feast on everything from Chinese roasts to dim sum, baos to noodles, and fried rice to seafood.
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Speaking on the new arrivals at Circle Square, Max Bielby, Chief Operating Officer from Vita Group, said: “Circle Square is fast becoming Manchester’s go-to destination with new restaurants and retailers opening each month, there’s a real buzz surrounding this new community and what’s to come.
Read more:Inside Hello Oriental, Manchester’s giant new three-storey Asian food hall
“We can’t wait for Manchester to get its first Japanese sake bar with Monkey Trio and Tsuiri, showstopping fried chicken and waffles thanks to Bird of Prey and Pan-Asian teas and cosmetics with Uncle T and Momo.”
Feature image – Unsplash
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Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
Police appeal after man seriously injured in Northern Quarter stabbing
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses after a stabbing in the Northern Quarter left a man seriously injured.
The incident occurred around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, on Tib Street near Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene and the victim, a man in his 20s, taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Thankfully his injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
No arrests have yet been made and officers are now appealing for witnesses to assist with enquiries.
DI Geoffrey Machent, of the City of Manchester Division, said: “At around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, we were called to reports of a stabbing on Tib Street.
“A man was subsequently taken to hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening or life-changing. He remains there for treatment.
“At this time, we do not believe the incident presents any threat to the wider public or local businesses operating in the area.
“Neighbourhood officers will be deployed to provide reassurance in the locality over the coming days, including our newly formed Piccadilly Gardens team.
“We would like to appeal to the public for any information, or anyone who witnessed this incident, to please come forward.”
If anyone has information regarding this stabbing in the Northern Quarter, contact police by calling 101, or via the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
Georgina Pellant -
11th April 2022 
