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
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
11th April 2022 
